Apple in the Middle

Apple in the Middle follows Apple Starkington, a teenage girl caught between two worlds. After living her whole life in suburban Minnesota with her white father and stepmother, she spends a summer on the Turtle Mountain Chippewa reservation where her late mother grew up. During her stay with her maternal relatives, Apple must navigate unfamiliar customs, family dynamics, and expectations. She learns about her Native American heritage while confronting her own assumptions and biases about identity and belonging. In North Dakota, Apple encounters new friends, extended family members, and community traditions that challenge her previous understanding of herself. Her summer experience forces her to reconsider her relationship with both sides of her cultural background. The novel explores themes of cultural identity, family connections, and self-discovery through the perspective of a biracial teenager seeking to understand her place in two distinct worlds. Apple's journey represents the complex reality of growing up between cultures in contemporary America.

Readers found this middle-grade novel provides insight into Native American culture, identity, and family relationships. Several readers noted the book offers an authentic perspective on growing up between two cultures. Readers appreciated: - The realistic portrayal of a biracial teen navigating her identity - Details about Ojibwe traditions and customs - The protagonist's character growth - The incorporation of Ojibwe language throughout Common criticisms: - Some found the pacing slow in the first third - A few readers noted dialogue felt unnatural at times - Several mentioned the ending felt rushed Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (245 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (48 ratings) One reader on Goodreads wrote: "The cultural details and family dynamics ring true." Another noted: "Important perspective but the writing style took time to adjust to." School Library Journal gave it a starred review, highlighting its "authentic voice" and "meaningful exploration of identity."

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🔸 Dawn Quigley is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe and draws from her own experiences growing up as a biracial Native American to authentically tell Apple's story. 🔸 The Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation, where part of the story takes place, is located in north-central North Dakota and is home to the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians. 🔸 The book was selected as a Notable Children's Book by the American Indian Library Association and received recognition from the American Library Association. 🔸 Traditional Ojibwe practices featured in the book include wild rice harvesting, a vital cultural and economic activity that has been practiced by the Ojibwe people for centuries. 🔸 The author is not only a writer but also serves as an education professor at St. Catherine University, where she specializes in teaching Indigenous education and literature.