Scan barcode
jennrocca's review against another edition
I got about half way through. No rating because the book wasn’t written for me. The author says he is writing a mirror where people like him can see themselves. This is not a narrative. These are reflections on his life and his unique experience. I could not really relate or connect, but that wasn’t the purpose of the book.
madlnt's review against another edition
5.0
In his poignant, free-verse memoir, Eric Gansworth explores the liminal spaces of his youth. Commencing the book and weaving throughout is the impact of his grandparents’ time at Carlisle Indian Industrial School on their descendants, addressing a horror experienced by many Indigenous North Americans.
“Apple” is a Native slur that refers to someone “left in that space between two places…red on the outside, white on the inside”. As the youngest child in a family of Onondaga living on a Tuscarora reservation, Eric occupies many spaces by halves. He longs for a deeper understanding of his Native culture while joyfully exploring the pop culture delights of comic books (in particular Batman) and The Beatles. These elements weave seamlessly throughout chapter titles and family reunions to depict the turmoil of adolescence. Siblings and older relatives leave and return, while younger generations work to reclaim their heritage through language and tradition.
Interspersed with illustrations and photographs by the author, the memoir’s dry humor, melancholic nostalgia, and strong narrative voice successfully confront the multi-generational consequences of residential schools while telling the story of a young boy struggling to find his place in the world. Winner of the American Indian Youth Literature and Michael L. Printz Awards, this book will fill out even the most well-rounded young adult (and beyond) collection.
“Apple” is a Native slur that refers to someone “left in that space between two places…red on the outside, white on the inside”. As the youngest child in a family of Onondaga living on a Tuscarora reservation, Eric occupies many spaces by halves. He longs for a deeper understanding of his Native culture while joyfully exploring the pop culture delights of comic books (in particular Batman) and The Beatles. These elements weave seamlessly throughout chapter titles and family reunions to depict the turmoil of adolescence. Siblings and older relatives leave and return, while younger generations work to reclaim their heritage through language and tradition.
Interspersed with illustrations and photographs by the author, the memoir’s dry humor, melancholic nostalgia, and strong narrative voice successfully confront the multi-generational consequences of residential schools while telling the story of a young boy struggling to find his place in the world. Winner of the American Indian Youth Literature and Michael L. Printz Awards, this book will fill out even the most well-rounded young adult (and beyond) collection.
karenzmn's review against another edition
Ran out of time on library loan. Very interesting, but slow. Still want to finish.
asipior's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
This is considered a YA novel, but I a question what 12-18 year old would read this all the way through? It seems much more appropriate for an older audience. The content wasn’t questionable in any way, and it was well-written. I’ve seen other reviews that asked this same question, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it from the very first page. Why is this YA?
marissagoodell92's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
1.75
izzys_internet_bookshelf's review against another edition
2.0
2/5
I liked this book. The story was so interesting. The last time I read a book about Native Americans was during 5th or 6th grade and it was about WWII. The references throughout the book were nice and I loved learning more about this history.
I liked this book. The story was so interesting. The last time I read a book about Native Americans was during 5th or 6th grade and it was about WWII. The references throughout the book were nice and I loved learning more about this history.
rainbowbookworm's review against another edition
3.0
I found the poetry sophomoric.
The experiences told are reminiscent of the stories told in other memoirs by Indigenous People.
My favorite part was the liner notes.
The experiences told are reminiscent of the stories told in other memoirs by Indigenous People.
My favorite part was the liner notes.
roseleaf24's review against another edition
4.0
I am very glad I read this book, but it was not an easy read. The content was not particularly troublesome, though it is a frank look at the life of a Rez Indian. This is a novel in verse, and I struggled to catch the rhythm of it, so the structure was work for me, on top of processing everything the author was saying.
julieannholland's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
2.75