Apple and Rain

Gr 7–10—British teen Apple Apostolopoulou has been raised by her grandmother after her mother went off to America 11 years ago to try to make it as an actress. Thankfully, there's never been any question about living with her father and his wife Trish, whom 13-year-old Apple can't stand. But it drives Apple crazy that her grandmother keeps such a tight rein on her, making her attend church every Sunday, picking her up from school every day, and not allowing her to hang out with the girls from her class. So when Annie returns and asks Apple to live with her, Apple eagerly agrees, hoping to discover the truth about why her mother left without her. But things don't turn out the way she expects; she discovers that her mother doesn't live alone. Apple has a sister named Rain, and Annie can't look after herself, let alone her two daughters. The protagonist's pride keeps her from asking for help, until Annie disappears for two days. This is an enjoyable YA novel, but a lack of character motivation and development make it less appealing to more seasoned readers.