Surviving the Applewhites facts for kids
Cover of Surviving the Applewhites
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| Author | Stephanie S. Tolan |
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| Original title | Surviving the Applewhites |
| Cover artist | Laurie Keller (2004 HarperTrophy edition) |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Fiction |
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
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Publication date
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2002 |
| Media type | Hardcover |
| Pages | 216 |
| Awards | Newbery Honor |
| ISBN | 0-06-623602-9 |
Surviving the Applewhites is an exciting children's novel written by Stephanie S. Tolan in 2002. This book won a Newbery Honor in 2003, which is a very important award for children's literature. It also received many other honors.
Contents
What the Story is About
The story follows a 13-year-old boy named Jake Semple. Jake has had a lot of trouble in school and has been sent away from several schools in Rhode Island. After a big problem at his last school, Jake's grandfather, Henry Dugan, decides something different needs to happen.
Jake's grandfather arranges for him to live with the Applewhites, a very unusual family of artists who teach their children at home. Their school is called The Creative Academy, and it's not like any regular school. Jake now has to figure out how to fit in with this artistic and free-spirited family.
He meets E.D. Applewhite, a 12-year-old girl who likes things to be organized, which is different from the rest of her family. Jake and E.D. learn to understand each other, use their different strengths, and help each other succeed. If Jake can't get along with the Applewhites, he might have to go to a special school for kids who get into trouble.
Meet the Characters
The Applewhite Family
- Edith Wharton "E.D." Applewhite: She is one of the main characters. E.D. loves order and plans, which is very different from her creative and spontaneous family. She and Jake don't always get along at first, but they learn to work together.
- Cordelia Applewhite: E.D.'s older sister. She is very artistic and independent. Jake finds her interesting.
- Destiny Applewhite: E.D.'s four-year-old brother. He is full of energy and asks many questions. He becomes good friends with Jake.
- Hal Applewhite: E.D.'s older brother, who is fifteen. He is often in his room and mostly comes out at night to eat. He is a sculptor.
- Randolph Applewhite: The father of the Applewhite children. He has a strong personality and can be difficult at times. He has shaggy dark hair and a goatee.
- Debbie Applewhite AKA Sybil Jameson: The mother of the Applewhite children. She wears glasses and is a famous mystery writer. She starts writing a new book during the story.
- Lucille Applewhite: Archie's wife and a poet. She is very happy and was the one who thought of Jake coming to The Creative Academy.
- Zedediah Applewhite: The father of Randolph and Archie, and the grandfather to the Applewhite children. He is the head of the family and works in his own woodshop, making furniture with Archie.
Other Important Characters
- Jake Semple: One of the main characters. He feels confused because his parents are away, and he has been expelled from several schools. He needs to learn to adjust to life with the Applewhites.
- Henry Dugan: Jake's grandfather and a neighbor to the Applewhites. He arranged for Jake to join The Creative Academy after seeing Lucille's workshop.
- Archie Applewhite: A wood sculptor and Randolph Applewhite's brother. He works with Zedediah in the woodshop.
- Winston: The family dog who becomes very attached to Jake.
- Jeremy Bernstein: A young journalist who stays with the Applewhites to write about their artistic projects.
- Govindaswami: Lucille's spiritual teacher. He cooks very spicy Indian food and enjoys meditating.
Awards and Recognition
Surviving the Applewhites was recognized as a Newbery Honor book in 2003. It was also chosen as an ALA Booklist Editors’ Choice and a Book Links Lasting Connection.
The book also won the William Allen White Children's Book Award for Grades 6–8 in 2005.
