Surviving+the+Applewhites

__Surviving the Applewhites __, Stephanie S. Tolan, Scholastic Inc., 2002, 216 pages.  __Surviving the Applewhites __ is a story about a troubled teen that, through a series of rebellious actions, finds himself in the hands of a delightfully unique family at an alternative school called The Creative Academy at Wit’s End. By the time Jake Semple arrives at the Creative Academy, he has spent his life testing the limits of appropriateness. Smoking at a young age, burning down schools, cursing at old ladies and children just to see a reaction that brings him great joy, Jake has been viewed as a “handful” by every person and institution to cross his path. He meets the Applewhites with quite a few schools already under his belt, one in ashes, and no parental support. For all intents and purposes, Jake has learned to survive on his own through his never-ending ability to shock adults into passing him on to the next place. When he arrives at Wit’s End, however, he has no idea what he is in for. The Applewhites are not only unsurprised by Jake’s attitude and behavior, but they expect him to engage in “self directed learning”. The Creative Academy prides itself on teaching its children by allowing them to pursue their own interests. For bookish E.D. Applewhite, who only wants her family to be normal, it is collecting butterflies one day and writing a paper on oceanography the next. For Lucille, the mother of the family, it is a lovely vegetable garden. For Destiny Applewhite, the young toddler in the family, it is following Jake around with a constant stream of curious questions. Jake finds himself in the midst of this unusual, artsy family, unable to understand how anyone could be satisfied in such a scattered environment. The story takes a dramatic turn when the theater directing father of the family decides to do a multi-racial version of //The Sound of Music. //After hearing Jake sing along with Destiny, he insists that Jake play Rolf, the lovesick German soldier. Jake begins to see a different side of himself, a side that even tempts him to drop the spiky hair and facial piercings. When Mrs. Montrose comes along, angry that her daughter was not cast in the play, she shuts down the theater. When E.D. suggests that they convert the barn into a stage, the family spirals into a 2-week uproar, but will the show go on? Will Jake come out of Wit’s End a new person? Better yet, will Jake Semple learn to love the Applewhites?  I think this is a fabulous novel for the middle school classroom. Jake’s character captures multiple dimensions of adolescent confusion: he struggles with anger, the desire to rebel and shock adults, emotions concerning the opposite sex, and finding a way to enjoy and embrace learning. Furthermore, E.D. narrates portions of the novel. She struggles with the difference between getting straight As and truly learning. This novel addresses the common and difficult questions: “What is the point of school? Is it worthwhile to learn?”. The story also questions the concept of perception to its core. Jake’s physical image is described frequently throughout the novel as his one and only means of presenting his desire to rebel. He relies on it until he finally finds a more genuine way to express the boy inside. Adolescents face the constant struggle to be cool on the outside and somehow still honor the little voice inside. This book whisks them off on a journey with a multitude of road-stop reminders that “fitting in” can often come at the cost of true happiness. The most important message that Tolan sends about adolescents is that they are the masters of their own destiny. The adult Applewhites step aside at every turn to allow room for the children in the family to breathe and learn by exploration. Furthermore, they rely on their children as capable and valuable members of a family that works together on every project. When Jake is brought to Wit’s End, they look past his shocking commentary and rebellious image. They immediately expect him to contribute positively and never balk when he attempts his old tricks to get them to leave him alone. Delicately, Tolan weaves a beautiful tapestry of adolescent emotions through the perspectives of Jake and E.D. and imbues it with the message that young adolescents are full of potential and capable of making a positive contribution to the world.  I would recommend this novel to any middle school student or teacher. Particularly in schools where there are many students in gangs and other notoriously “rebellious” crowds, students who often balk at the “light-core” material of young adult literature, Jake Semple could be the character that finally hits home. The themes in the book are pertinent to adolescent emotional struggles and supportive of the concept of learning to better oneself. Furthermore, the novel is loaded with multiple perspectives, natural imagery, commentary on racial acceptance, and many other learning opportunities that Tolan manages to keep both fascinating and educational for young adults.
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