FlumeAward – Madapple Discussion page for Madapple by Christina Meldrum
I found this book attractive on many levels. It is a book that will appeal to females (teens as well as adults.) I highly recommend for the list. I also would like to add that the audio version was extremely well-read and engaging, also. I was fascinated by the biology portion (the plants and herbs) but am unsure how well it will go over with the teens, but the rest of the book will carry them anyway.
~Kathy Watson, Kimball Library.
A beautifully told story of a young woman whose mother thinks she was a "virgin birth"….it weaves plant lore into a compelling courtroom drama with twists and turns. A novel that could easily be a bridge between typical "teen" fiction and books written for an adult audience. I’d love to see this on the list. -Amy Inglis
LOVE this book. The adult readers like it as well as teens. I’d like to see more readers read this.
-Kelly Budd, KHS
I loved this story! I found it intriguing and beautiful, but I wonder how many teens had the patience to see it through? Also not sure how boys would find it, as it’s really a female-centric story. Wonderful book, though. -Kirsten Rundquist Corbett, Lane Memorial Library, Hampton, NH
A great story, but will definitly only appeal to older teens who are already readers. My review:
Maren tells her sister she is pregnant. Maren tells her sister she is still a virgin. This is how Aslaug’s story begins. Aslaug has only ever known her mother Maren and she knows of their lone neighbor. Maren home schools her and teaches her of other religions and beliefs and many languages. When her mother dies Aslaug doesn’t know what to do. Thrust into a world she has never know Asluag must figure out how to survive based on a few hints and clues her mother has seem to have left her. This story told in alternating chapters between 2003 when all this begins and her trial in 2007 reveals Aslaug’s story and how it all turns out in the end.
Wow. What a great story. What’s that I see in the back of this book? A bibliography. AWESOME! So I had checked this book out a few times and never got around to reading it. I sure am glad I finally did. Christina Meldrum writes a wonderful portrayal of a girl kept from the world and well educated in everything except social standards. I don’t want to say to much and ruin it but I really enjoyed this book. Christina Meldrum adds in lots of myths and ancient religion along with many facts about plants and their powers. Aslaug ends up remembering a place her mother once had them drive to and there she finds some of her family and they try to help her piece together who her father was. You really have to sit down and read this; it is in its own league a truly unique tale that will certainly keep you wanting for the next page.
-B.Moore Hall Memorial Library
Plant lore, mythology, religions mingle together in this amaing book. A teen girl, raised in an isolated setting, quite brilliant, knows different ancient languages and so much more, is suddenly thrust into her aunt’s home after her mother’s death. Her aunt is a Charismatic preacher and her two cousins raised in this atmosphere. Lyrical, jarring, and most of all enlightening this will be on my top ten list for this year. ~Sharon Taylor
This story held me in its grip for a long time, and the teachers who have read it like it as well. Great combination of myths, herb lore, and religion. However, despite being on some classroom reading lists, it’s not getting read much by teens.Maybe being on the Flume list would change that. I think it would have to be for older readers – and they must have patience.
Kelly Budd
Keene High School
I really enjoyed this story and it really makes one think about things not always being how they seem. I like the trial unfolding as the story is told. I do wonder if teens would like it as well. I worry that they would not be as interested in the herbs and religious history parts. Karen, Nesmith Library
I finally finished reading Madapple and would not recommend it for the list. It was well written, but very unusual, and did not keep my interest. Honestly, I didn’t find it really interesting until the final chapters. I don’t think it will hold students’ interest long enough for them to find it enjoyable. – Judi Shea, Nashua High School South
I just finished listening to "Madapple" & really enjoyed it, although it is not what I would call a fast-paced story. The botany aspects were very interesting to me, but I can see teens maybe glazing over, despite their importance to the story. My main complaint was every court scene seemed to be mainly taken up by the opposing lawyer objecting to every question asked of every witness ("Objection- argumentative, speculative, leading, hearsay." "Sustained. Strike all comments after the witness said ‘No.’")- I’ve fortunately avoided criminal courts myself, but that seemed a bit much, and a bit unrealistic, and just served to lengthen those scenes a bit longer than necessary. By the end I was yelling at my car stereo for every objection. 🙂
Still, the story really captured my attention, leaving me sitting in my driveway for various amounts of time just to finish some portion of the story (it’s OK- my neighbors think I’m odd anyway. Like they can talk!). As Judi said above, the action really does pick up in the last few chapters (or hour & a half if you’re going audio), and you see all the details from throughout the story finally weaving a full picture (just like the Fates the narrator often talks about- oooh!). I would recommend this book to the right teen- patience is definitely required.
-Lucia V., Wiggin Memorial Library