Reviews

Apple Crush, by Lucy Knisley

Only show reviews with written explanations

In "Stepping Stones," Jen spent the summer getting used to farm life and her new stepfamily. In "Apple Crush," her world expands a bit: it's fall and she's the new kid in school, and she's got a weekend job at a pumpkin patch. In both worlds, she finds herself alienated by romance, as her stepsister flirts with the pumpkin patch boy and her new classmates tease her for having a friend who's a boy. Jen's frustration and constant refrain of "WE'RE NOT BOYFRIEND AND GIRLFRIEND WE'RE JUST FRIENDS" was very relatable and reminded me of experiences I had at that age, and would likely be relatable to anyone who's ever been a preteen on the late bloomer / queer / aromantic spectrums. As in "Stepping Stones," there are no easy answers, just acknowledgement that things are kind of messed up and solace in the support of friends/family.

I love how INTENSELY seasonal these entries have been so far - Stepping Stones was extremely summer and this one is over-the-top autumn. I hope we also get a winter and a spring.

This one felt a little less elegantly simple and more busy/pulled in different directions than "Stepping Stones," but that is also kind of reflective of the seasons.