6. Madapple

Meldrum, Christina. Madapple. New York: Borzoi Book by Alfred A. Knopf, 2008. Print.

Annotation:

“When I was growing up, Mother called the weed a variety of names.  Madapple at times.  Devil’s apple at times.  And green dragon and stinkwort and angel’s trumpet.  No matter, her warning was always the same: deadly.”

Justification for Rejection:

Christina Meldrum’s Madapple is an extremely powerful, thought provoking, intellectually written and complex story.  The story revolves around Aslaug, a 16-year-old, who has lived her life being home schooled and isolated from the outside world by her mother, Marin.  Marin teaches Aslaug about plants and their medicinal purposes.  Aslaug is taught more about nature and plants than she is about the outside world.  When Aslaug’s mother dies, Aslaug is accused of her murder (and later of the deaths of her aunt and cousin).  The plotline switches between current day while Aslaug is on trial and flashes back to Aslaug’s life with her mother, prior to her death.  Aslaug narrates the story dealing firsthand with her life with her mother, while the trial sequences are written as if torn from the transcripts of a real-life trial.  The story takes a turn when Aslaug finds out she does not have a father.  Rather, her mother had Aslaug by way of an immaculate conception.  Themes of virgin births, Christianity and questioning its beliefs, human nature, nature, botany, and science are all running themes throughout Madapple.

Meldrum writes an extremely smart and detailed novel.  There are areas of the book where I lost interest and became quite confused, but then Meldrum would draw me back in with her suspense and foreshadowing.  Through the confusion and the mundane parts, the story ties up nicely in the end.  In hindsight, I’m able to appreciate the book as a whole after reaching the end.  It was rough getting there though, I must say.  Meldrum’s characters are very well thought out and well rounded.  Some of the characters are unlikable.  While that may be so, they still provide a depth to the story.  I think many young adolescents may grow tired of Meldrum’s detailed writings of plants and long explanations dealing with religion.  Madapple may be better suited for older teens to adults instead.  There is no doubt in my mind that others will find this book intriguing and unique. 

Despite all this, however, I do not think Madapple is deemed worthy of a nomination for the Mock Prinz Award for it does not meet the qualifications of a young adult novel.  First, the developmental themes in Madapple do not involve the themes generally associated with YA literature -- revenge, popularity, getting a guy, or attaining beauty, just to name a few.  It is actually hard to determine exactly what the developmental themes are.  Some may argue that Aslaug is striving to figure out who she is.  Sure, she does not have a father – literally, does not have a father – but this being  in the supernatural genre, Aslaug is not particularly concerned about that.   

Second, while Aslaug is an absolute social misfit, like the uncertainly of not knowing who, or if, she has a father, it doesn’t affect her.  She doesn’t mind that she is different.  She is not sitting at home on a Saturday night, wondering “hmm, I wonder who my father is” or “why didn’t so-and-so ask me to the Prom.”   Rather, she doesn’t realize she’s a social misfit until after her mother dies and she’s forced into the modern world.  And even then, it’s not particularly at the top of her list to ingratiate herself into society.

Third, Aslaug is not presented as a confused teen.  As stated above, she lives a very sheltered, simple, isolated life with her mother.  She knows nothing otherwise.  That’s been her life for 16 years.  Lastly, it was difficult for me to be able to relate to any of the characters, let alone imagine a young adolescent finding some semblance in any situation and/or character.  To be considered as a YA nominee, I want to be able to relate and see myself or my former teen self in a character or a situation. 

Madapple is one of those examples of a good book, but not a great book. 

Genre Category:  Supernatural, Multicultural, Mystery