Apple and Rain

Apple has lived with her grandmother since age two, when her mother walked out on Christmas Eve. Now thirteen, she still hopes her mother will return, even as her grandmother provides stability and structure. When her mother finally reappears, Apple must navigate complex emotions and challenging decisions about where she belongs. The story follows Apple as she gets to know her mother again while dealing with changes at school, evolving friendships, and her first crush. She also meets Rain, her mother's other daughter, which forces Apple to adjust her expectations and assumptions about family. Through Apple's experiences with poetry, relationships, and responsibility, she learns about different forms of love and what it means to grow up. The novel explores themes of abandonment, forgiveness, and the bonds between mothers and daughters.

Readers describe Apple and Rain as an emotional story about family relationships and growing up. Many reviews note it handles heavy themes in a way that remains appropriate for younger teenagers. Readers appreciated: - The realistic portrayal of complex mother-daughter dynamics - Integration of poetry throughout the narrative - Character development, especially Apple's growth - The balance between serious topics and moments of hope Common criticisms: - Some found the pacing slow in the middle sections - Several readers wanted more resolution with certain plot threads - A few felt the poetry elements seemed forced Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (8,400+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (180+ ratings) Notable reader comments: "Captures the confusion and pain of family abandonment without becoming melodramatic" - Goodreads reviewer "The poetry woven through helps process the heavier themes" - Amazon reviewer "Too much focus on Apple's mistakes before reaching resolution" - Teen reader review

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🍎 Sarah Crossan wrote Apple and Rain in verse-style prose, using a poetic format that has become her signature writing style across multiple novels 📚 The book explores themes of parental abandonment and unconventional family structures, drawing from experiences many modern children face with separated parents 🌟 The novel won the CBI Book of the Year Award and was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal, one of the most prestigious awards in children's literature 🎭 The character of Rain's obsession with her dolls was inspired by real cases of children using play-acting as a coping mechanism for trauma and abandonment 🏆 The book has been used in schools across the UK and Ireland to help students discuss complex family dynamics and emotional literacy, becoming part of several educational reading programs