Summary
This book is about a girl named, Apple Starkington and how she steers away from her Native American roots after being bullied based on her appearance. After being evicted by her father, she agrees to visit her Native American relatives and experiences the shock of living in a different culture when trying to search for deceased mother. When trying to balance two diverse cultures and meeting her relatives for the very first time, Apple develops her personal identify being in a segregated world.
Theme(s):
Identity, Bravery, & Acceptance
Personal Response
After reading the book, it helped me to realize the importance of connecting to our native roots and remembering the importance of sticking to our true colors, regardless of what other people may say. I have always found it to be extremely interesting learning about the Native American culture, so it brought me much joy reading about Apple’s journey and her bravery when faced with hardship.
Teaching Ideas
After engaging in the read-aloud, the students will be given a writing activity that helps to boost self-confidence. I will explain to the class that they will be provided with a “I like myself because….” sentence starter that they would then elaborate on as to what they like about themselves, whether it be external or internal. After, the students would then draw a picture of themselves to match what they wrote. Following this, the students would sit around in a circle and share their art.
Recommended Reading Level
Grade 01, Grade 02, Grade 03
