ARTICLES,
REVIEWS,
ESSAYS,
&
PRESENTATIONS on TEACHING
ENGLISH
ARTICLES,
REVIEWS,
ESSAYS,
&
PRESENTATIONS on TEACHING
ENGLISH
Title:
Surviving the Applewhites, by Stephanie Tolan, Scholastic Inc.,
Genre:
Young adult fiction, Ages 11 to 14
Characters:
Jake Semple, E.D. Applewhite, Lucille Applewhite, Cordelia Applewhite, Destiny
Applewhite, Zeddediah Applewhite, Sybil Applewhite, Hal Applewhite,
Plot: Jake Semple has always been the "bad kid." He causes problems, swears, smokes, and supposedly set fire to the local school. He has been kicked out of every school he has ever attended, and his grandfather is ready to give up on him. First, though, he agrees to take Jake to Wit's End, where the Applewhite family lives. The Applewhites are all artists in some way, except for E.D. E.D. is the only one who likes organization and plans, the rest of the family just lives life as it comes. All of the Applewhite children create their own curriculum, learning what they want to learn.
At first, Jake tries to continue his bad boy ways, smoking, swearing, and taking no interest in school or anything to do with learning. Over time, though, Jake learns that no one here reacts the way most people do when he misbehaves. Before long, Jake realizes he didn't like his old self, and he begins to slowly change. Destiny, the youngest Applewhite child, and Winston, the family dog, both become very attached to Jake, helping to change him for the better. When Randolph Applewhite, Destiny and E.D.'s father, begins directing a "racially blind" version of The Sound of Music, Jake is cast as one of the characters, and the entire Applewhite family comes to understand just how much they really do need one another.
Touchy Areas: There is mention of swearing, but the words are not actually used. And Jake is only 13, and smokes, but it is always portrayed in a negative manner as opposed to idealizing him for smoking.
Related
Titles: The Fudge Books by Judy Blume
Movies: Cheaper by the Dozen, Raising Helen
Music:
Jack Johnson's Banana Pancakes--The song is about wanting to have time alone
and there is a good part of the book where Jake feels this way because he is
overwhelmed by all that is going on.
Evaluation: Surviving the Applewhites is an easy read that readers of all ages will enjoy and can relate to. The book is very funny, with a number of events that readers can really get a picture of in their head and think of how it might relate to their family. The dynamic Applewhite family has a lot to offer, but they have to learn this lesson together. The book would be great for a class novel read in middle school because it is at a low reading level, but there is a great deal to talk about and analyze within in the story. I think the book would be a great tool in teaching predictions, understanding words using context, and to talk about how family shapes people. I really enjoyed this book and I think that just about anyone could laugh at the book and get something out of it. I would rate this book an 8 out of 10.
Reviewed
by: Kelly Altepeter,