Bad Apple by Laura Ruby

Ruby, Laura, Bad Apple. HarperTeen, 2000. Pgs. 256. Language: PG-13 (15 swears, no “f”s), Sexual Content: PG-13, Violence: PG

Junior, Tola Riley’s life is far from perfect. She’s a misunderstood fairy tale-loving artist whose sister, Tiffany is going crazy, her father and mother recently remarried and the steps are horrible, particularly her stepmother. Wit a stepmother who wants Tola’s father to have nothing to do with his daughters, life gets almost unbearable for both girls. Tola turns to her art teacher for moral support and accidentally comes across him at a museum. The bully of the school, Chelsea Patrick makes up a story about seeing the art teacher and Tola doing inappropriate things at the museum. This leads to a fiasco of Tola’s art teacher getting accused of having sexual relations with Tola. Both claim that nothing happened, but the scandal grows out of control, especially with a mysterious person posting things on blogs that trash Tola’s reputation. No one, however, believes Tola, not even her parents. Can Tola save her reputation and teacher’s? Will Tola put an end to Chelsea’s bullying once and for all?



A seemingly over-exaggerated novel. The characters are over-the-top, the parents don’t seem believable. The plot is simple and would have a hard time of keeping the average reader’s interest. Readers, however, who are victims of cyber bullies or like reading mean girl realistic fiction would probably enjoy reading this book. MS. HS. OPTIONAL. Reviewer: Jessica M, Library Media Specialist, Olympus Jr. High.