Bad Apple

Merits of Mischief #1

by T.R. Burns

“It’s easy to get drawn into this fast-paced, funny, and entertaining adventure” (Publishers Weekly) about a school where making trouble is highly encouraged.Twelve-year-old Seamus Hinkle is a good kid with a perfect school record—until the day of the unfortunate apple incident. Seamus is immediately shipped off to a detention facility—only to discover that Kilter Academy is actually a school to mold future Troublemakers, where demerits are awarded as a prize for bad behavior and each student is tasked to pull various pranks on their teachers in order to excel. Initially determined to avoid any more mishaps, Seamus nonetheless inadvertently emerges as a uniquely skilled troublemaker. Together with new friends Lemon and Elinor, he rises to the top of his class while beginning to discover that Kilter Academy has some major secrets and surprises in store….

Genres: Middle Grade, Fiction, Mystery, Humor, Childrens, Adventure, Realistic Fiction

354 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 24, 2012

About the author

T. R. Burns sometimes writes as Tricia Rayburn. Or does Tricia Rayburn sometimes write as T. R. Burns? You may never know the answer to that, but you can know that this tattler of tales has tattled plenty for tweens and teens. In the small New York town she calls home, it’s the best way to keep idle hands busy—and out of trouble.

Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't a huge fan of the book in the beginning, but by the end I really enjoyed it. I would definitely recommend this book to others, but only if you don't mind having to read the second book. I can't wait to read the second book because the first one left you hanging.

[Josh Girard · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book may have lots of pages but the pages are full of wonderful adventures. I liked the book but there is a lot of characters in this book.

[Mary Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

My mother picked this up for me as ARC from a small conference she attended. And I sense I'm going to be in the minority on this one. Granted, I'm not the intended audience for this book. With that in mind, enter the spoiler link!

I'd like to think I started this book with very little expectation. I'm not familiar with the author, but I'd like to think I like this sort of literature. It's light, full of action and colorful characters, easy to grasp, and short. And my opinion is that this book fell a bit short.

My main focus on evaluating a book like this is to focus on the main character. His name is Seamus Hinkle and he's twelve years old, and he accidentally kills his substitute teacher with an apple. All throughout this book, I can't quite get my thumb on who Seamus is in the world. He seems like a mostly good, ordinary twelve-year-old. There's very little interaction between him and other people without much explanation, mostly because he himself has no idea what's going on, and we spend most of our time listening to what other people tell him. I think it's hard to write from the perspective of a twelve-year-old, so I give those authors credit. Seamus just didn't seem like a real kid to me. Yes, I know it's fiction. Bear with me. The same goes for the other characters (the least of which are his own parents and his teachers, like Annika, so don't get me started). You have no idea why they are the way they are, and the only characters who have any hint of personality are the ones who seem to display bad characteristics (Abe, mostly, with his "I'm impatient and want to be a leader" exchanges). No doubt, this is the first of a series, but you've got to give a little for us to go on. I have very little interest in reading another book to see what I should have gotten in the first book.

This leads me to what I perceive is the biggest problem with this book: it can't stand alone. There isn't even any closure by the end. What might have passed for closure was cut short, awkwardly so, with another random twist that I suspect is meant to build suspense for the next book. I understand that technique, but I have too many questions at the end, and that makes the book seem not worth it to me.

I was also looking for what I suppose we consider the typical main character/protagonist arc. By the end of the book, I expect to see some development of the main character. Did he learn a lesson? Appreciate something that he didn't appreciate before? Did he change as a person? Apparently this book spans about three months maximum. I felt no character development, and it seems like he didn't learn a darn thing. (Which makes sense, since there seems to be very little, if any, learning taking place at this school.)

I thought about series like Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. The idea is that a child is perfectly ordinary, if not a somewhat outcast, in the normal world, and he (or she) finds a better fit in a completely different sort of school (wizarding school, Greek mythology school, take your pick). That requires quite a bit of creation on the part of the author, in terms of establishing this other world without using half the book to go into a history lesson, while also making this other world relevant as it sits alongside the world we know. None of that in this book. What happens to Troublemakers when they graduate? No clue. Seamus, like Harry and Percy, has a lot of dumb luck. The difference, I think, is that both Harry and Percy needed to do their own share of work. (Granted, that comparison could be unfair, as there are already the seven Harry Potter books and the five Percy Jackson books, versus this one.) The only history, such as it is, is Annika's spoiled and sad beginnings, and the random creation of the school. That's it.

Also, it's been awhile, but I didn't read Hamlet at eleven years old.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

"But if this isn't a reform school . . . what is it?

Houdini's feet drop to the floor. He leans forward. Holds my eyes with his. "A world-renowned, top secret training facility."

I want to look away but can't.

"Kilter Academy for Troubled Youth doesn't accept just anyone," Houdini continues. "Each semester, the admissions board receives thousands of applications and fills only thirty slots. Acceptance is based on a number of criteria, the most important being a student's natural talent for bad behavior."

"Like the kind we get grounded for?" I ask.

"Exactly."

"But we're not here to learn good behavior?"

"Nope."

I try to solve this puzzle on my own, but it makes no sense. "Then what exactly are we training for?"

Houdini's grin takes up his whole face and makes him look even younger than he is.

"You're training," he says, "to become professional Troublemakers."

The problem is, Seamus isn't really much of a troublemaker. It's true, a substitute teacher is dead because of something he did--which makes him the first late-admission Kilter Academy has ever accepted, because of his promise--but it was an accident and he's never really done anything wrong before that incident. And he feels awful about it; he wants to be punished for his crime, not celebrated. But here he is, at a school that secretly teaches kids like him how to get away with pranks and causing all kinds of trouble, and it seems he's the worst of the lot, whether he means to be or not. All he really wants to do is go home. What's Seamus to do?

This is a fun entry in a new series. Not quite as fun as I'd hoped, however, because Seamus wrestles with some pretty serious things that created an odd tension with the lighthearted premise--the idea promises more than the execution pulls off, as there are themes that don't quite gel. Still, vague or not, they are there, I enjoyed them, and there are more books coming, so I'll keep reading to see if they blossom more fully in the next book; I have a feeling issues bubbling under the surface will come to light in a way that makes things "click." And I'll suggest it to young readers, whether they're troublemakers themselves or just looking for a different take on Hogwarts.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seamus Hinkle isn’t a bad kid. When he threw his apple during a food fight in the school cafeteria, he was only trying to prevent the substitute teacher from getting in over her head. He certainly didn’t mean to kill her. Now, he finds himself enrolled at the Kilter Academy for Troubled Youth, and he’s quite certain that he’s in for something truly terrible.

But as soon as his parents drive off, he finds that Kilter Academy isn’t what it first appears to be. He is confused to find that he has something of a celebrity status with the faculty, and the rules don’t seem to make any sense. That’s because Kilter Academy isn’t a reform school…it’s the training ground for professional Troublemakers. It is a topsy-turvy place where earning demerits is laudable and gold stars are bad. Hinkle has trouble adjusting to this new life, but find that he has an almost accidental knack for the kind of troublemaking that is rewarded here.

This book appears to be the first in a new series, and provides an intriguing introduction to a strange world where professional Troublemakers can exist, and where they would need a training academy. The academy itself is unique and creatively described, and should appeal tremendously to the target audience of this book (probably pre-teen boys…just sayin’). But because it seems to be just the opening round in a longer story, there are a LOT of questions that remain unanswered, and the ending leaves the readers hanging. The book is entertaining on its own, but the concepts beg for more development, so hopefully the future installments will not disappoint.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is always a delight to find such a playful and engaging book as this one, especially for intermediate readers. In this story Seamus Hinkle is sent to a school for misfits after accidentally killing his substitute teacher with an apple. Through a series of (mostly accidental) events Seamus becomes a star on campus at a school that rewards troublemaking and punishes tattling and good behaviors. Eventually he bands up with his fellow classmates to make school history.

What I loved most about this book is Burns' ability to keep the book lighthearted and fun while telling a story about bad behavior and trouble. I found myself laughing out loud at several parts and surprised by the twists and turns throughout the book. Readers who enjoyed The Mysterious Benedict Society will love the strange school and unique challenges brought forth in this quick read and playful narrative.

[Henry S · Rating 5 out of 5]

i think this is one of the best books I've ever read in my entire life! It's filled with action, like when Seamus (the main character) accidentally kills his substitute teacher in the lunchroom, and when after he accidentally kills his substitute teacher gets sent to the Kilter reform school which is secretly a... you'll have to read it to find out! It's also filled with comedy like when Seamus calls the... and gets NEGATIVE 20 demerits. The book The Bad Apple should have the nobel prize for being the absolutely great story line and ... well to really get the idea you'll have to read it for yourselfs!

[Janie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The characters seemed a little flat, and every situation worked out a little too perfectly. The suspense was non-existent. Though the idea for this book wasn't bad, it was poorly executed. I didn't hate it enough to stop reading, but I won't be reading the next installment, even though this one ended on a cliffhanger.

[Trevor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was bad in the beginning but left of with an interesting cliff-hanger. One of the problems was that if the cliff-hanger is true, is that she planned it horribly by not leaving any clues at all. Overall, its okay.

[Damian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot. I just have to say right off, that the ending is pretty crazy. Other than that I thought everything was good the whole way. I am excited to read the next one in the series.

[JumpStreet69 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know if this happened to anybody, but i forgot that some characters existed. I liked the book though. I liked the fact that he had 5000 demerits by the end of the book.

[Max]

this was a good book, exciting, but i wish i could of just read the whole thing in like one day instead of having to read like 3 pages every day, i just wanted to like finish it.

[Joshua Birch]

I thought it was a very good book and that I was very shocked when the main character had "killed" the substitute teacher. So this was a good book and I liked it a lot.

[Taylor · Rating 1 out of 5]

I personally wasn't a big fan of this book. I thought it was really boring at points. Other points it was kind of interesting but other then that it was very interesting.

[anya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this book when I was little but I maybe should have left it in the past 🙊

[Layla Conceicao · Rating 5 out of 5]

really great book! made me feel like i was one of the characters. :)

[BAYA Librarian · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book has an intriguing premise: a school that teaches troublemaking and rewards misbehavior. Sadly, this book failed in so many ways, it was barely readable. Let’s begin with the concept that a school for tomfoolery has a very rigid authoritarian structure. Add to that characters whose motivations and reactions make very little sense much of the time and a plot that goes only to the most obvious places.

Seamus Hinkle has killed a substitute teacher and is shipped off to the Kilter Academy which his parents believe is a reform school but is really a home for future troublemakers. Seamus spends the ensuing weeks stewing in guilt and dreading the fact that his new schoolmates will learn that he is a murderer, a quality his new teachers seem to value highly.

Why does this secret school exist? Well… you know how Shakespeare doesn’t really relate to the real world but you study it in school anyway? That is why they study mischief, cuz school doesn’t make sense so why should this. If that logic works for you, enjoy this book. The book ends with so many loose threads, I couldn’t tell if the author just lost track or if she is hoping to drag this on for a lengthy series.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poor Seamus: one incredible, coincidental, horrible throw of an apple and his entire life is changed. That apple? It hit a substitute teacher, in the head, and killed her. And that one action got him sent to Kilter Academy for Troubled Youth, where his roommate, Lemon, has gone through twelve roommates in three weeks thanks to his habit of playing with fire. Seamus is homesick, ashamed of what he did, and hopes only to make it through the first semester so he can go home. But the Kilter Academy is nothing like what he (or his parents) imagine and his natural instincts for trouble and kindness mean he's one of the most successful students at KA.

There are some great Lubar-eqsue moments and if every reader doesn't want a K-Pak, well, they're not reading clearly. This is a great book for middle grade readers... and the ending will leave them wanting to read the next book asap.

ARC provided by publisher.

[Vicki Sansum · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this ARC because the back blurb sounded fun. And fun, it was.

When quiet 12-year old Seamus Hinkle throws an apple to break up a lunch room fight, the apple hits a substitute teacher in the head and kills her. This premise would be horrible if it weren't for the fact that the story takes an unexpected turn to absurdity.

Seamus is sent to what he thinks is a reform school, but instead he finds out that it's a school deigned to improve the talents of troublemakers.

This fast-paced book takes off and never slows down with crazy situations, mysterious characters and unexpected plot turns. Friendships are developed and alliances formed while the students work to reach the next level in their progress of trouble making.

I enjoyed this book immensely and especially loved the best cliff-hanging ending I've read in a long time. Can't wait for the next book.

[Hillari Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. I am the first one to admit that being a realist makes it challenging to read realistic fiction books such as this, because it is SO out of reach of any reality. Most of the time however, I can acknowledge my shortcoming(s) and plug on. While I still "plugged on" with this text (I was doing it as a read-aloud with my students), it was a challenge to do so. And while there are so many examples that I would like to give to support the above comments, I don't want to ruin the entire premise of the book (and don't feel like hiding the review due to spoilers), so I will let it suffice to say, the younger the middle school reader of this book, the better. It was 'just okay' for me.

[Nikki]

I picked up an ARC of The Bad Apple at ALA Midwinters, a few months back. I wish I hadn't waited to read it! It was AMAZING. Full of humor and mystery, mischief and heart. Speaking of hearts, I found my own heart actually racing at one point, I was so caught up in the story. Seriously, folks: palpitations.
My sixth-grade son read it first, loved it, and shoved it on the top of my TBR pile. Glad he did!
We're both a teeny bit desperate for the sequel - one of the great perils of reading an ARC.

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had absolutely no expectations going into this book. I was reading it for a challenge (apple on the cover), and it turned out to be a fast, engaging read. I wasn't crazy about the ending, but it wasn't too unexpected.
Seamus makes a huge mistake and that mistake lands him in reform school. But this reform school is unlike anything you've ever heard of. Troublemaking is required and good behavior is frowned upon. Seamus isn't sure what to make of his new school, but hopefully he can keep his shameful secret to himself and make the best of his time here.

[Eli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing book. I read it a couple months ago, and I was stunned. I wish Kilter were real, It seemed like Hogwarts for troublemakers. The description in this book is amazing, and it keeps you reading up until the very end.

[Jacob shirland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the book and thought that it had an interesting twist in the end, if you like pranks or any thing like that, i suggest the book to you.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this ARC because the back blurb sounded fun. And fun, it was.

When quiet 12-year old Seamus Hinkle throws an apple to break up a lunch room fight, the apple hits a substitute teacher in the head and kills her. This premise would be horrible if it weren't for the fact that the story takes an unexpected turn to absurdity.

Seamus is sent to what he thinks is a reform school, but instead he finds out that it's a school deigned to improve the talents of troublemakers.

This fast-paced book takes off and never slows down with crazy situations, mysterious characters and unexpected plot turns. Friendships are developed and alliances formed while the students work to reach the next level in their progress of trouble making.

I enjoyed this book immensely and especially loved the best cliff-hanging ending I've read in a long time. Can't wait for the next book

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book caught my eye at the library, but I'm glad I was the one to read it first. There are some complex moral questions asked in what seems like a jaunty, silly book. It's a fun little adventure, but I'm not passing the book along to my kids. Murder is the premise of the book, and it comes as a heavy blow to the reader, especially considering the light tone of the narrative.

The mixed moral messages are why my kids are skipping this series. Right and wrong are mixed in an inseparable tangle. Parents with normal expectations of chores and schoolwork are painted as abusers. The main character wins, but he's not exactly a hero. There's too much wrong mixed in with the people who are supposed to be right, and no sign of a redemptive moment.

[Skye · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the creativity used in this story. I think it was a bit confusing and unclear that Miss Parsippany "died" and it could have been made more serious. To me personally, it sounded like he was exaggerating and being dramatic when he said "I killed her." I really liked how the troublemakers were assigned tutors and worked in areas they were talented in. I think the characters are unique and fun to read about too. I enjoyed this book, despite a few things being unclear and somewhat vague. It sort of felt like a rushed story in a way, and it progressed a little too quickly for my personal tastes. Nevertheless, I give this a 4 out of 5, and would recommend it to someone looking for something new.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually read this book a few years ago, and just re-read it this year. Unlike my usual genre of fantasy and magic, this book had none of that. It was about a boy named Seamus, how he accidentally kills one of his school teachers. He is sent to a boarding school to learn how to be a model citizen. He soon finds out that the school is used to train delinquents into being better delinquents. The worse you are in class the more points you get. Seamus has some catching up to do to get to the top of his class, but he makes new friends, and learns a family secret that ties him to the boarding school he is now attending.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a random pick up from my daughter's bookshelf. I didn't realize it was the first in a series, so that was a little disappointing when I realized it wasn't going to wrap up. The premise is a little confusing (obviously, I guess, since there's more to the story). That said, I picked up the other two books because now I want to see how it all comes out.

[Sarah Fawzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Another book that's no longer in print I think. I love children's books they're safe but also adventurous (?) and this one has the kind of mystery that's sort of dangerous but like phrased in a kid-friendly way (?) so I was like oh ok guess we're not going to think too deep about that. Anyway fun read!