Apple and Rain by Sarah Crossan

Apple and Rain

by Sarah Crossan

When Apple's mother returns after eleven years away, Apple feels whole again. But just like the stormy Christmas Eve when she left, her mother's homecoming is bittersweet. It's only when Apple meets someone more lost than she is that she begins to see things as they really are.

A story about sad endings.
A story about happy beginnings.
A story to make you realise who is special

I received a review copy from readingteen.net

There was something very familiar about this story, but I couldn't pin point where that feeling was coming from.

Apple lives with her grandmother. Her mother left them years ago searching for something different in life. Her father is nearby and visits sometimes. What Apple gets from her grandmother is steady and dependable. She is expected to go to school, church and to always respect others.

When Apple's mother returns out of the blue and offers a different option to Apple by offering for her to come live with her, Apple's world is thrown upside down with secrets, constant parties and new responsibilities.

This is a story with a lot of first times. Apple gets more independence, experiences love, loneliness and along with her new responsibilities has to grow up too fast. I enjoyed the story but didn't love it because I felt it was too familiar to me. My favorite part of the story was the connections and relationships that are built between Apple and other characters. The characters are what really makes this story, very memorable and overall heartwarming.