Apple Tart of Hope

Reviewed by: Deidre Walsh - Goodall Library, Sanford, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 13, 2016

Review

Is Irish teenager Oscar just missing? Or is he dead? Would he kill himself? These are some of the questions his friends, family and townsfolk are asking themselves since Oscar's bike was found abandoned at the end of the pier. Meg, who is Oscar's best friend, doesn't want to believe that he is dead, let alone killed himself. He was always such a positive person, so encouraging to others. Plus he made the best apple pies. The chapters are titled as slices of Oscar's famous apple pies, the first slice, second slice,etc. And two distinct voices tell this tale set in Ireland. There is Meg, who is determined to find out what happened to Oscar, her best friend and first love. And there is Oscar, who is really alive, but in hiding. With both perspectives, the story unfolds to show us what happened to make Oscar feel that he needed to go into hiding and how clueless the adults in the story are to help. We also see Meg's emotions, her family life and how she feels about Oscar and what has happened to him. Oscar suffers relentless humiliation and bullying. But he never gives up hope completely. This is more than just a romance set in a picturesque Irish town. This is also a well-formed mystery, a friendship story, and a story about the effects and after effects of bullying. But more than this, it is a story of hope and resilience. The message is clear. Never give up or lose hope. This book deals with some weighty issues. It is a slim volume, but a must read. Give to fans of Jenny Hubbard's "And We Stay" and Jennifer Niven's "All the Bright Places". A first purchase for most libraries.

Overall Book Score: excellent