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kbrownreads's review against another edition
5.0
all I can say is wow. this book was amazing. more later
saidtheraina's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this book. I wasn't sure I would, but it was funny. And at the same time dealt with some pretty heavy stuff. See, Tola has a reputation for getting into trouble. And now is the worst ever. She's in the middle of a scandal about romance between student and teacher. I liked how the author incorporated Tola's art into the story. I loved the romance. I loved the on many levels realistic resolution. And the character relationships were complex and still heightened. In some ways, Tola's ostratization reminds me of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Sad and unjustified and really makes you think about how reputation of someone can be skewed. Great stuff.
kaitrosereads's review against another edition
4.0
Bad Apple is not the kind of book you think you would laugh at. I know I didn’t expect anything funny when I started it but that is exactly what I got. I found myself bursting out laughing at most of Tola’s thoughts and actions. All the crazy ideas she had and the stupid stuff that came out of her mouth was just so funny. And it wasn’t even like she was trying to do it.
Bad Apple is the story of a girl who allegedly had an intimate relationship with one of her teachers. And the story is about that but it also deals with so much more. Tola has so many problems with her life. At home Tola has to deal with a depressed and crazy sister and a mother who thinks she’s a liar. At school she has to deal with a former best friend who is now her worst enemy and everyone believing she’s a huge slut. I think I would probably break under all that stress.
The story was just really good. It wasn’t your typical story and it really entertained me and kept me interested. I have always really liked Laura Ruby’s books and this one didn’t disappoint. It’s a great book for teens going through family problems or school problems. It’s got a great heroine who kept me laughing, even while I was feeling sorry for her and her situation. The only thing that was kind of weird for me was Tola’s relationship with Seven. It was just a little odd to me and it didn’t ever really get explained very well. I would have liked a little more elaboration on that but it wasn’t that big a deal for me.
Overall, Bad Apple goes to the top of my recommendation list. It was a quick read that I really enjoyed and think a lot of others will too. It’s on shelves now so go find yourself a copy! =]
Bad Apple is the story of a girl who allegedly had an intimate relationship with one of her teachers. And the story is about that but it also deals with so much more. Tola has so many problems with her life. At home Tola has to deal with a depressed and crazy sister and a mother who thinks she’s a liar. At school she has to deal with a former best friend who is now her worst enemy and everyone believing she’s a huge slut. I think I would probably break under all that stress.
The story was just really good. It wasn’t your typical story and it really entertained me and kept me interested. I have always really liked Laura Ruby’s books and this one didn’t disappoint. It’s a great book for teens going through family problems or school problems. It’s got a great heroine who kept me laughing, even while I was feeling sorry for her and her situation. The only thing that was kind of weird for me was Tola’s relationship with Seven. It was just a little odd to me and it didn’t ever really get explained very well. I would have liked a little more elaboration on that but it wasn’t that big a deal for me.
Overall, Bad Apple goes to the top of my recommendation list. It was a quick read that I really enjoyed and think a lot of others will too. It’s on shelves now so go find yourself a copy! =]
mermaidprincess1129's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was a good read. I really enjoyed it, even though it is classified as young adult.
librariann's review against another edition
3.0
Ages 12+
Another student accuses her of having an affair with her art teacher (an incident weird-girl Tola denies ever occurred). But this isn't a book about illicit relationships, more about family dynamics and the drama that comes with being her high school's resident weird girl. Sort of about cyberbullying, sort of "the things adults worry over/believe," it kept me reading quickly but never really cohered. Maybe it was the flat characters (especially the adults). A good plot and a few good moments keep it entertaining, but the ending just made me sigh.
Another student accuses her of having an affair with her art teacher (an incident weird-girl Tola denies ever occurred). But this isn't a book about illicit relationships, more about family dynamics and the drama that comes with being her high school's resident weird girl. Sort of about cyberbullying, sort of "the things adults worry over/believe," it kept me reading quickly but never really cohered. Maybe it was the flat characters (especially the adults). A good plot and a few good moments keep it entertaining, but the ending just made me sigh.
margaret_j_c's review against another edition
3.0
Clever writing (almost too clever sometimes), good pacing, a decent amount of conclusion for a novel that leaves you asking more questions at the last page then you were on page 3. Surprisingly good characterization for the most part, although the MC's sister Tiffany is far more interesting and well-executed than Tola is herself.
Ruby handles the slight romantic subplot with tact that delights me. And I respect that she didn't make Tola some prodigy, only a kid who likes to make art and doesn't really care what anyone thinks of it - or at least, she thinks she doesn't. Also relatable.
Ruby could have kicked herself in the knee with the glibness of her dialogue and the format of her novel, but it worked. Surprisingly, it worked. And maybe that's why I'm having trouble consolidating my thoughts enough to write this review. It's a glossy cover, for sure. A story that entertains. But it doesn't leave me with the feeling I usually have after reading a novel that "worked," whatever that means.
Perhaps I'm picky. Perhaps I'm only disappointed that YA is the future of literature like abstraction is the future of art. Perhaps I hoped that this book would deal with the nature of the heavy issues it addresses, instead of distracting the reader with the unreliability of its narrator. Because when I think back on how little critical-to-the-plot information Ruby actually conveyed, I feel dissatisfied.
In my mind, writing a book that makes your reader end up feeling dissatisfied is akin to playing a game of cards with only half the deck, or worse, replacing the missing cards with the wrong ones. There's no purpose for it. But hey, I'm not Laura Ruby.
Ruby handles the slight romantic subplot with tact that delights me. And I respect that she didn't make Tola some prodigy, only a kid who likes to make art and doesn't really care what anyone thinks of it - or at least, she thinks she doesn't. Also relatable.
Ruby could have kicked herself in the knee with the glibness of her dialogue and the format of her novel, but it worked. Surprisingly, it worked. And maybe that's why I'm having trouble consolidating my thoughts enough to write this review. It's a glossy cover, for sure. A story that entertains. But it doesn't leave me with the feeling I usually have after reading a novel that "worked," whatever that means.
Perhaps I'm picky. Perhaps I'm only disappointed that YA is the future of literature like abstraction is the future of art. Perhaps I hoped that this book would deal with the nature of the heavy issues it addresses, instead of distracting the reader with the unreliability of its narrator. Because when I think back on how little critical-to-the-plot information Ruby actually conveyed, I feel dissatisfied.
In my mind, writing a book that makes your reader end up feeling dissatisfied is akin to playing a game of cards with only half the deck, or worse, replacing the missing cards with the wrong ones. There's no purpose for it. But hey, I'm not Laura Ruby.
suzannekm's review against another edition
2.0
Meh. I like the style of writing and the author certainly has a gift with the young voice. But overall the book just didn't ring for me.
valchic868's review against another edition
4.0
Tola, a 16 year old junior in high school is caught in the middle of a scandal involving her art teacher, Mr Mymer. An innocent encounter in an art museum cafeteria is painted as something so much more perverse and illicit. The story contains themes such as cyberbulling, adolescent angst, depression, blended families, divorce and parental absenteeism. It was a nice easy read that I enjoyed alot.
tilejumper's review against another edition
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0