One lovely autumn day, Mr. Tiffin takes his students to an apple orchard. He kicks off the visit by posing a riddle, and as the students learn about picking apples and making cider, they try to guess the answer to Mr. Tiffin's question. No one tries harder than Tara, a slow, quiet, dreamy child the others often look down on. She may not be quick-witted, but her special way of thinking could be just what the class needs to find the riddle's solution.
Although books about apple orchards seem to be popular these days, The Apple Orchard Riddle takes things a step further by including a puzzle for both the characters and readers to figure out. The answer is not only satisfying but informative. As a fairly main character, Tara is likable and sympathetic, and it was nice to see that her way of thinking can sometimes be advantageous. The book also has an interesting afterword with extra information about apples. The length may make it difficult to share with a class or use for bedtime reading, but it is well-suited for those who want a longer, more in-depth story or are learning about orchards.
EL -- ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Caryn
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