Apple and Rain by Sarah Crossan

Apple and Rain
Written by Sarah Crossan
Contemporary
Published September 1st 2014
329 Pages
Thank you to Bloomsbury Australia
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RATING ★★★★★
When Apple's mother returns after eleven years of absence, Apple feels whole again. She will have an answer to her burning question, why did you go? And she will have someone who understands what it means to be a teenager, unlike Nana. But just like the stormy Christmas Eve when she left, her mother's homecoming is bitter sweet, and Apple wonders who is really looking after whom. It's only when Apple meets someone more lost than she is, that she begins to see things as they really are.

Like a brilliant hybrid of Cathy Cassidy and Jacqueline Wilson, Sarah Crossan entices you into her world, then tells a moving, perceptive and beautifully crafted story which has the power to make you laugh and cry.
She left eleven years ago on Christmas Eve. Her mother was arguing with her grandmother on their doorstep, leaving for America to follow her dreams of being a star and leaving her daughter behind. Since, Apple has lived with her Nanna, a strict yet loving woman who has raised her only Granddaughter to be a polite and well adjusted young lady. Apple still pines for the mother she barely knew, believing each Christmas she'll return. But when Apple is called to the office and whisked off to the hospital to supposedly see her ill Nanna, rather it announces the return of her mother, a woman that Apple now can barely recognise.

With a new shiny car and effervescent personality, her mother breezes back into her life promising that her return will bring the mother that Apple so desperately needs and she wants to play a part in Apple's life, asking the now teen to live with her.
People change. Everyone deserves a second chance.
But with no job, money or place to stay, Apple is more than willing to wait until her mother finds her feet again, much to the disappointment of her Nanna and the quirky boy next door Del. But when she arrives with her bags Apple is in for a surprise, in the form of ten year old sister Rain, a sibling that her mother neglected to share. Rain is smart mouthed, quick witted and also carries with her a doll affectionately named Jenny, who she believes is a real baby. Her mother insists she's sought professional help for Rain, but seemingly refuses to deal with the issue, a sign of what will be her mother's lack of duty of care to either child, only caring for herself.

Wild parties, alcohol and leaving for hours at a time, it becomes apparent that Apple's mother still isn't ready to take on the role of responsible adult. Apple is forced not only to miss school for weeks on end, but when her mother leaves the two girls overnight and fails to return, it's left to the thirteen year old to take on her responsibility. But when a fight results in Rain running away, Apple has no choice but to turn to her Grandmother and her former quirky boy next door.

Living with her mother hasn't been what she needed and Apple starts to learn that she should have been more careful what she wished for.

MY THOUGHTS

When a review copy arrives with included tissues, you know you're in for an emotional read and Apple and Rain didn't disappoint. Apple is an intelligent young lady, but she's never been able to overcome her mother leaving. Although she loves her grandmother dearly, she so desperately pines for a relationship with the woman who left and never looked back. It was only then did I realise how incredibly young Apple is emotionally, and that is also reflected in new sister Rain as well. Both girls are seemingly well adjusted, but as the storyline progresses, it's apparent that their mother has neglected each girl resulting in Rain's inability to to function without Jenny, and Apple needing to please her mother for her approval. It was incredibly sad to see Apple, who is still a child herself, taking care of her younger sibling both mentally and physically. Apple had no one to turn to, not wanting her grandmother to know that her mother was unfit to care for both girls. She was forced from school, with the only alternative being leaving Rain at home alone and before long, Apple herself became the mothering figure in Rain's life.

The only brightness in Apple's world had become the journal given to her by her English teacher, and encouraged to continue her love of poetry. Apple's life is falling apart, she had lost her best friend to the token malicious popular girl, her first kiss was at the insistence of her mother's drunken idea and now she's left alone to cope with Rain while her mother avoids coming home. It felt as though the words had seeped through the pages and tore through my heart, I was emotionally invested in the lives of these two girls and wanted nothing more than to rescue them from the situation their neglectful and self absorbed mother had inflicted.

THE VERDICT

Beautifully written. This is my second Sarah Crossan novel, after attempting to read the first installment in her young adult dystopian series, Breathe. But where I couldn't immerse myself in the series, Apple and Rain was phenomenal. So incredibly emotional, where the reader will find themselves invested in Apple and Rain's plight. Tragically beautiful.

34 comments

  1. Woah. This book sounds very beautiful, but tragically so. I knew it was on my TBR for a reason. I'm so glad you loved this, Kelly - and thanks for a wonderful review! I'm so excited to get my hands on a copy soon.

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    1. It was one of those books where you find yourself absorbed and emotionally invested completely. Gosh, my heart broke for those poor girls. Can't wait to see what you think of it.

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  2. What a coincidence that I am eating apple crisp while reading this. BUT ANYWAYS, I really want to read this book because I need a sad read in my life (lol). And the cover is gorgeous! I had no idea that this book involved two sisters, that have never known each other before. And the mother sounds just horrible. I am already feeling sad and I haven't read this yet.

    Thanks for the review Kelly! :D

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    1. You know what that means right... Now you HAVE to read it. It's fate I tell you, FATE!
      It's just brilliant, you need this book in your life.

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  3. Great to see you liked this one too Kelly! Sarah Crossan's writing like you said definitely was beautiful, and the story itself was enough to bring a tear to my eye. Fantastic review! :)

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    1. Thanks Eugenia. It was tragically beautiful wasn't it. I love an emotional read that will break me, then put me back together again. It was absolutely incredible.

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  4. Wonderful review! I think I've lost count of how many great reviews of this I've read, which is a sure sign that I must read this one. It does sound sad though, so I'll be sure to keep some tissues on standby. :)

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    1. I think most young adult fans will fall in love with Apple and Rain, or close to it. The storyline broke my heart. Can't wait to see what you think of it.

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  5. I finished this yesterday and ohhhh my goodness, the feels. It was simply amazing. And I loved how complex it was, especially for middle grade. I really want to read The Weight of Water now :)

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    1. Me too. I'll have to grab a copy soon. It was pretty complex for middle grade wasn't it, and touched on issues such as alcohol abuse and neglect. I'd be careful if I were a parent with preteens reading this one though.

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  6. This sounds absolutely amazing Kelly! I've heard quite a lot about it from fellow bloggers, and each of them has given it glowing reviews, so I am so glad that you enjoyed it too! It sounds like such a sad story, but I suppose that sad stories are necessary because they really help remind us about everything we take for granted. Definitely going to pick up a copy of this because I LOVE beautiful writing and strong character development! Thanks for sharing Kelly, and, as always, BRILLIANT review! <3

    ~ Zoe @ The Infinite To-Read Shelf

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    1. Couldn't have said it better myself Zoe. It made me look back at my own childhood and appreciate how much my mother did for me at that age and the emotional support. Can't wait to see what you think of Apple and rain, it was just phenomenal.

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  7. I had heard of this book and even have it on my TBR list but I mustn't of read the blurb properly because I didn't realise this was a book about sisters. It's sounds really good. Great review, thanks for sharing.

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    1. Rochelle, you need to read this one. Gosh, I can't express how brilliant it truly was. It was such an emotional read, I just wanted to grab those poor girls and mother them.

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  8. I really enjoyed this too, a bittersweet sort of story.

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    1. So glad you enjoyed it too Shelleyrae, it was brilliant and so incredibly emotional. Thanks for popping by.

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  9. I'd never read Sarah Crossan before this, but woah, it was an amazing book. I didn't need the tissues though. AM I COLDHEARTED? (Don't answer that.) I was so angry at their mother! But just Apple's character development was amazing. The only part I nearly cried about was the grandmother. Omg, they just left her and she needed them.

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    1. I tried her dystopian series, but only made it a quarter the way through book one, it was a little too slow on the packing for me. Will give it another go eventually though. I cried more for the grandmother actually, she spent her life caring for Apple as her own and she just up and left.

      You? Cold hearted? Please, even when calling Mime an antelope you do it with love... And perhaps a snigger.

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  10. I'm so excited that you liked this!! When I saw Joy add it to her TBR list I had to check it out and loved what I read in the blurb! I love beautifully written novels with intriguing stories like this one.. and what a name! Apple! I will definitely have to bump this up my TBR list.. pronto! So excited to get stuck into this one! Lovely review! :D x

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    1. Her full name is actually Greek, but shortened to Apple. It was simply beautiful Alana, it'll warm your heart, break you and then put you back together again. It's incredibly simplistic, but packs an incredible punch. Can't wait to see what you think of it.

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  11. I didn't read her Breathe series so Apple & Rain is the first book of hers I've read. And I must say I'm very, very impressed! I didn't actually cry as much as I'd anticipated (with the tissues and all) but my heart broke for both girls. Especially for Apple and her need to impress her mother. I liked that the ending was about forgiveness and change. And that family is and always will be family. Beautiful review Kelly xx

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    1. The Breathe series (from the quarter of book one that I had read), has a completely different feel and the pacing was so much slower. I loved that too Joy, that her mother wasn't perfect, far from it, but she still had a role to play in Apple and Rain's lives. It was just lovely.

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  12. Oh, yes! I'm literally so happy right now with the fact that you gave the book five stars. Great to see you enjoyed it, since I am extremely excited to read this novel. I've heard a lot about this book and I've seen nothing but glowing reviews. Also seeing that it comes with tissues..Well, definitely moving this further up my TBR list. Brilliant review!

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    1. The tissues that Bloomsbury Australia sent along with the review copy, that was an indication of how emotional this one is. They were completely right. It wasn't ugly crying, but weeping for both girls who deserved so much more than their mother was willing or able to give them. Especially ten year old Rain. It's brilliant Naban, can't wait to see what you think of it.

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  13. How had I not heard about this one? This one totally escaped my radar and just reading the synopsis and now you review makes me want it SOO BAD! AHHHH I love everything i'm hearing about it! Great review :)

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    1. Thanks Lily. It's relatively new and the only blogger reviews I've seen so far have been from my fellow Aussies. It's absolutely brilliant. You need this book!

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  14. I've been hesitant to pick this one up it seems like such a sad story! I'm thinking I might need to risk it after reading this review! Another one to add to the TBR pile :)

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    1. It's sad, but also joyful and will give you that happy ending you'll need. It was brilliant Philippa, I'm hoping you'll be able to pick this one up soon. Thanks for visiting.

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  15. This book sounds beautiful! I sometimes like emotional, touching stories and this sounds like the perfect book when I'm in such a mood. Apple sounds like a character I will like.

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    1. I think even as adults, most of us will be able to relate to Apple. Especially with the need to make her mother proud or yearning for that happy home life. It's incredibly emotional and really surprising for a middle grade novel.

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  16. Oh god this sounds totally beautiful and totally heart breaking, I don't know how I'm going to pick up YET another sad emotional contemporary! Especially with Apple taking care of her own sibling and the lack of parenting skills of their mother :( Oh my heart. I can't take it. great review though, sounds like those tissues came in handy.

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    1. I felt exactly the same way Jeann, it was heartbreaking. But through the heartbreak, there's such a touching message of forgiveness and family. I really hope you enjoy this one as much as I did.

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  17. Ohh, I'm so happy you loved this one as much as I did. I absolutely loved this book and it was so heartbreaking! Did you cry during this one? Love your review :) xx

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    1. I did, not sobbing crying but more so that silent, tear filled eyes and cannot read type. It was heartbreaking and so incredibly beautiful. Rain was my favourite, she was a little bundle of sass, but the emotion behind the life she'd been dealt was so emotional. I just wanted to rescue them both. I'm so glad you loved it as much as I did Gina.

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