Surviving the Applewhites.

by Stephanie S. Tolan
Ages: 11+

Jake Semple is trouble with a capital "T". Rumor has it that he burned down the last school, he attended. Then, the Traybride Middle School kicks him out after a few weeks into the school year. His last hope is a home school run by a quirky and creative family, the Applewhites. E.D. Applewhite is the only non-creative Applewhite and she is not happy because Jake is the same-age and she has been paired with him in the family experiment of "cooperative education." The only thing they have in common is the desire and determination to survive the eccentric family.

The school year is filled with the family coming together to support E.D.'s father, in a production of "The Sound of Music." E.D. and Jake learn about supporting each other and the special gifts and talents they have.

I know why this book received the Newberry Honor in 2003. I enjoy reading about "weird" families learning to work together in crisis including anyone around them. The energy and creative is contagious.