The Last Apple Tree

by Claudia Mills

When feuding neighbors Sonnet and Zeke are paired up for a class project, they unearth a secret that could uproot Sonnet’s family—or allow it to finally heal and grow.

Twelve-year-old Sonnet’s family has just moved across the country to live with her grandfather after her nana dies. Gramps’s once-impressive apple orchard has been razed for a housing development, with only one heirloom tree left. Sonnet doesn’t want to think about how Gramps and his tree are both growing old—she just wants everything to be okay.

Sonnet is not okay with her neighbor, Zeke, a boy her age who gets on her bad side and stays there when he tries to choose her grandpa to interview for an oral history assignment. Zeke irks Sonnet with his prying questions, bringing out the sad side of Gramps she’d rather not see. Meanwhile, Sonnet joins the Green Club at school and without talking to Zeke about it, she asks his activist father to speak at the Arbor Day assembly—a collision of worlds that Zeke wanted more than anything to avoid. 

But when the interviews uncover a buried tragedy that concerns Sonnet's mother, and an emergency forces Sonnet and Zeke to cooperate again, Sonnet learns not just to accept Zeke as he is, but also that sometimes forgetting isn't the solution—even when remembering seems harder.

Award-winning author Claudia Mills brings enormous compassion and depth to this novel of unlikely friendship and generational memory.

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Friendship, Fiction, Family, Childrens, School

272 pages, Hardcover

First published June 18, 2024

About the author

Claudia Mills is the author of Nixie Ness, Cooking Star, 7 x 9 = Trouble!, Zero Tolerance, Write This Down, and many other books for children. She was born in New York City in 1954. She received her bachelor's degree from Wellesley College, her master's degree from Princeton University, and a Ph.D. in philosophy from Princeton University. She also received an M.L.S. degree from the University of Maryland, with a concentration in children's literature. She had a second career as a professor of philosophy at the Colorado at Boulder, until leaving that career in 2014 to write full time. She now teaches in the graduate program in children's literature at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia. All of her books have been written between 5 and 7 in the morning while drinking Swiss Miss hot chocolate.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/claudi...

Reviews

[Amina · Rating 3 out of 5]

✰ 2.75 stars ✰

“But there are things the mind forgets, or thinks it forgets, but the heart still remembers, the body remembers.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ They say when someone dies, an entire archive of history is lost - stories yet untold, stories that could be forgotten through time or even in our own memories. Memories, because sometimes remembering them can be so painful, that we wish we could forget them. Forget and they would cease to exist - 'they have never been written down. Some can’t be written down because they have already been lost.' How important is it to record those moments to share in both the happiness or the tragedy that remains by recalling them. It is in the years spent and the ages passed that stories pile up and we want to know more - yearn to protect them before they cease to exist. Even when it hurts to remember, and all we wish is that we could forget the pain that continues to break our hearts. It's a challenge, as much as it is a blessing to share in the history of a life that we may not have been a part of, but at least we can protect its existence. 😔

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ I adore the cover; just look at those stunning colors - it's enough to get lost in its vibrancy! 😍 Just look at the tree - the tree that carries its own share of stories that it can never voice, forever etched away in its own memory. It is also what primarily led me to check out Claudia Mills' latest middle grade book, a story that depicts how important it is to protect the integrity of our memories - be it in the human mind or that of an ancient tree - for once gone, it's gone forever. 😞 It is up to the younger generation to do whatever they can to protect the integrity of those ancient stories, for once they're gone - they're gone forever. 'It’s a gift to know what questions to ask, and a bigger gift to know how to listen to the answers.' And when twelve-year-old Sonnet and Zeke are both assigned to interview an elderly person for their English project, they both decide to interview Sonnet's Grandpa Granger, who she and her mother and five-year-old sister, Villie, have come to live with after the tragic passing of his wife. Still feeling the grief of her loss, it will be a daunting challenge to have him open up about the past that hurts just to remember, as well as uncover the buried secrets of the heart, that may even break a heart upon being revealed. 😥💔

“Important truths, lifesaving truths, planet-saving truths—and especially truths people often don’t want to hear.””

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ And the truth shall set you free - even if it hurts. That is the hard lesson for the price of seeking out to uncover the truths of the past that neither Sonnet or Zeke were prepared for, but somehow was important and vital in order for others to move on. The Last Apple Tree that exists as the dividing line between their two neighboring houses, as well as something that shares a pivotal connection rooted deep in Grandpa's subconscious and past has a story of its own to tell. 🥺 One that slowly comes to light as the two of them literally butt heads in their investigative methods of well, not exactly attacking or demanding Grandpa with the facts and that he reveals all his intimate dark secrets, but it is that not only need to know, but also to let him unburden his own heart of his pains that makes it a valuable lesson for both of them. That by even silencing the truth can leave a lasting impact - both good and bad. 😢

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ What surprised me was how unlikeable both Sonnet and Zeke appeared to me - at first. Even if they got off on the wrong footing upon their first meeting, there was always so much doubt and animosity stemming from Sonnet over even Zeke's good intentions that befuddled me. do understand where Zeke's dark cloud of frustration comes from; as well as his lack of empathy, too. It doesn't mean I approve of it, but I get it. 😮‍💨 Sonnet, on the other hand, often behaved so self-centered and self-righteous - I guess, learning about Grandpa's life was in a way for them to learn how inappropriately they have behaved... She was only protecting her Grandfather's well-being it just seemed to come off the wrong way at times - so very annoying! It just took awhile to sink in that I could not get beyond my own annoyance of perplexed confusion at how unfavorable and so unsavory their attitudes were - with each other, and at home. 😕

“The best teacher is just life,” he told her. “Life is what teaches you things you didn’t even want to learn in the first place.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ I don't quite get the extent of Zeke's father behaving as he did; I know that there is a lesson of preserving the environment and not destroying the trees any more than we should, but I still could not grasp the extent of why he was so limited with giving lee-way to his son's freedom and enjoyment, especially since how much being homeschooled in the past has affected him. 'Your generation is the one that’s going to have to live in a world ruined by the sins of generations past.' Yes, I get his intentions are noble and good, but it did not translate as good parenting, in my opinion, even if his hard treatment came from a place of love. 🙆🏻‍♀️

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Granted, the end result was a believable and realistic one; change certainly does not happen overnight, but the door has opened for room for talk - that the apple does not really fall very far from the tree, when we learn to communicate and see both sides of the story. So there is that. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Plus, I did appreciate the informative facts that he shared with Zeke about the benefits of trees and how critical it is not to let them die out; it was a nice tie-in to the other storyline, as well. But, as once a child, myself. I did still sympathize with Zeke's wishes to live a normal life; as subjective as the term normal may be, I know how difficult it is to be on the receiving end of being different. And no, I did not approve of his said actions about saving himself from ridicule, but the consequences that followed opened each side to a new perspective, so I guess, it did work out well for anyone. 🫂

“But sometimes the things nobody talked about were the things that left the longest-lasting scars.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ It's just the journey there that is so messy and traumatic and rather hard, that makes it difficult to stomach. It helped that it was a quick read before bed; for those who have lost someone close to them, it definitely rings true of how many stories were left unsaid or unheard because they never shared them before their time came - '...if it doesn’t feel that way right now. In the long run, truth is what saves us.' Like the saying goes, the truth hurts, but it heals. ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ If anything, what Sonnet and Zeke learned about themselves and the past was how important it is to also listen - listen and share your thoughts and feelings, because you don't know how much harm you may be doing by staying silent. Grandpa Granger's love was so rooted in sadness, that he forgot that he was not alone in sharing in one's pain. And his eagerness - his willingness to find a person wanting to share in his own tales and experiences was both heartbreaking and beautiful, too. It is the reminder of how we can't take the moments we have for granted - because there is a lifetime that will cease the moment their life ends. If they could have shared in the painful memories together, then perhaps there could have been a way to create happier ones, too. 💐

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful, wonderfully written book. There are parts that will have the reader giggling aloud, and scenes that will cause a huge lump to form in the throat. I have a definite case of “book hangover” after finishing it (in one day, because I could not bear to put it down).
Unusual for me to say this, but I think this book could be adapted into a great movie…just an idea!

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was completely moved by this poignant middle grade story of grief, loss, preteen angst, and family secrets. Beautifully written with such a gorgeous cover, the tale of Sonnet and how her family changes after her grandmother dies, and of Zeke, embarrassed by his activist father, pulled at my heartstrings. Also, the family's once vibrant apple orchard is down to one tree.

When Sonnet and Zeke are paired on a school project, they uncover long hidden secrets in her family. Will the truth destroy them or will the family finally be able to heal? Highly recommended for MG readers who appreciate sensitive tales.

Thanks to author Claudia Mills and Margaret Ferguson Books for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

[Jolene Gutiérrez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sonnet’s going through so many changes: her mom just moved their family across the country, her grandma has passed away, and her grandfather is having some cognitive struggles. A school assignment leads to Sonnet and her neighbor Zeke working together on an oral history project interviewing her grandfather, but Sonnet wants to be careful with her grandfather’s emotions because he’s so sad. Zeke asks the tough questions, though, and his questions uncover long-buried secrets. This beautifully written story is told from multiple points of view: Sonnet’s, Zeke’s, and the last remaining apple tree in what used to be an orchard. Claudia Mills handles the different voices/characters expertly. I loved the free verse poetry of the tree’s voice, I enjoyed Zeke’s sarcasm, and I laughed often at Sonnet’s little sister Villie’s antics. This book is a love letter to family and community connections and a testimony to the power of sharing personal stories to help promote healing. Claudia Mills has woven so many beautifully teachable topics into the story as well--oral history, apple trees and Johnny Appleseed, and many facets of environmentalism are touched on and could easily be further investigated in the classroom. I highly recommend this book for homes, classrooms, and libraries!

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Dana Shepherd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a wonderful read! The story covered some big topics (grief, love and acceptance, the power of story) with care and tenderness. So many powerful life lessons woven into a very well- crafted and well-written story. I would happily recommend this book to readers of any age.

[DaNae · Rating 4 out of 5]

A duel narrative told by two disgruntled middle-school neighbors. Sonnet is the new kid, dealing with a grieving Grandfather, sliding into forgetfulness, a mother distancing herself from family dynamics and a little sister who demands all the attention. Zeke is new to school, after a lifetime of being homeschooled by an overbearing father who seems to care more about the environment than is own son. Their lives continue to brush up against each other in both satisfying and prickly encounters. Zeke is intrigued by a family mystery belonging to Sonnet’s family, while she wants nothing more than to slam the door shut on it, obliterating the dangling threads her Grandfather seems to want unveiled.

One of the best middle-grade books I’ve read this year. It shares a lot of overlapping story points with Lois Lowry’s exceptional Tree. Table. Book.
All of the characters are complex and identifiable. Both exasperating and then very dear.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read from ARC:

Middle School student Sonnet moves from Colorado to Indiana with her sister and single-mother to live with their grandfather after their grandmother passes away. The family had only visited Gramps once before the funeral and Sonnet’s mother avoids any discussion of why she chose to stay away. When Sonnet notices that her grandfather sometimes cries she makes it her goal to make him happy. He begins to cry when his late wife is mentioned, even when telling how he proposed under the last remaining apple tree in his former orchard, and Sonnet is quick to change the subject. To make matters worse, Gramps sometimes calls Sonnet’s mother by his late wife’s name. When Sonnet reluctantly works with neighbor and fellow student Zeke interviewing Gramps for an oral history project, the two learn secrets that have been long buried. Zeke is hiding issues of his own with his father and unusual family and the two children learn that buried secrets can cause more pain than discovering and facing the truth. A heart-warming story of how we can only heal when we stop pretending that things never happened.

[CLM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Family and friendship are central in this middle school pleaser!

https://perfectretort.blogspot.com/20...

[Jessica Di Salvio · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a cute family history about elders and memories. It was about secrets, but also what we can learn from our elders, that aren’t eternal and might lose their memories, memories that can’t be found anywhere else. It was a book on friendship and accepting other for their differences. It was really cute and a good book for pre-teen!

[Leonard Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comparable to and arguably sadder than Lowry’s Tree. Table. Book.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Sonnet and her mother and younger sister Villie have moved from Colorado back to her mother' hometown of Wakefield, Indiana, after the death of Sonnet's grandmother. Her father left before Villie, who is about five, was born, and her mother has quit her job in insurance, cleaning houses and dedicating herself to writing poetry instead. Gramps is 80, and his health is failing. The grandmother's illness forced him to sell off some of the apple orchards that had been in the family for years, and there is a new housing development that has been built on the property. There is only one apple tree remaining. Sonnet is not terribly happy having to go to 7th grade in a new school, and after meeting neighbor Zeke when her grandfather's cat Moo-Moo gets out of the house, is not impressed with him. Zeke, who spend most of his life being home schooled by his highly opinionated journalist father, is having a hard time fitting in at school. His lack of video games and phone, along with his family's environmentally friendly lifestyle, makes him a little different, and even the one boy he has befriended, Carson, makes fun of him. When their teacher assigns an oral history project, Zeke tells the teacher that he will interview his neighbor, who is of course Sonnet's Gramps. She is angry about this, and insists that they must work together. Gramps is having memory issues, frequently thinking that Sonnet's mother is his wife, Lenore, and is often sad. During one of the interviews, information comes out about a long held family secret. Sonnet investigates, and finds out it is true. This complicates her relationship with Zeke, her mother, and her grandfather. How will she be able to use this information to heal her family and make the most of her grandfather's sunset days?
Strengths: Wakefield is a town like many of us have seen; here in Ohio, there is an Intel chip plant being built in Johnstown, and I'm sure stories similar to Gramps' will happen again and again. Change is hard, and Sonnet is trying her best to regulate the change that occurs. She and Zeke do manage to get along, but are both rather prickly and react against each other accordingly. I really enjoyed Zeke's contentious relationship with his father; there should be more of this in middle grade literature. Not all children are in sync with their parents, and given Zeke's father's strong opinions and social activism, it is not a surprise that he is a bit embarassed by him. The grandfather misses his wife, and the way that the family tragedy was treated makes sense given the time frame. I always enjoy Mills' work, and the cover of this is absolutely beautiful.
Weaknesses: This is more of a character driven story rather than a plot driven one, which won't appeal to readers who want things to explode. Not a problem, just something to keep in mind when recommending the book to readers.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who want a contemplative title involving a changing landscape, like Perkins' Hope in the Valley, or one dealing with a grandparent who is struggling with the effects of aging and how this affects family dynamics, like Campbell's Rule of Threes or Turley's The Last Tree Town.

[Jamie Steinberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Precious. That is exactly how I would describe Claudia Mills’ book The Last Apple Tree. Sonnet is a precocious twelve-year-old who has just moved across the country with her family to live with her grandpa, who recently lost his wife of many years. Gramps lives in a once prominent apple orchard and all that remains is one heirloom tree. While Sonnet loves spending time with her Gramps, his memory isn’t what it used to be. Adding to Sonnet’s concerns is the annoying boy next door whom she shares a class with – Zeke (or Zebra as he’ll affectionately be known). When a class project unearths a dark family secret, Sonnet is stuck between a rock and an apple tree. The Last Apple Tree is a sweet tale of family, memories (good and bad), environmentalism and reminder to keep an open mind.

Sonnet has been rubbed wrong by neighbor Zeke since the moment he brought the family cat Moo-Moo back to her worried arms. When the teacher assigns the class a project to interview an older individual to ensure oral histories are passed down, Zeke has the nerve to pick Sonnet’s grandpa – and without asking her permission! Worried that doubling up on the questions will cause heartache and strain on her grandpa, the two agree to partner up for the project. Shockingly, when Zeke deviates from the questions provided by the teacher, he unearths a family secret long held by Gramps and Nana. Added to this sweet tale is Villanelle (“Villie”), Sonnet’s little sister who has a knack for coming up with lands that have a theme. Plus, Sonnet’s hardworking mom Julie who cleans houses to support her true passion – writing poetry.

Author Mills intersperses the family’s history with beautiful apple themed poems, ones you imagine Sonnet’s mother has been hard at work on. Adding to this warm tale of Zeke and Sonnet’s rivalry is a subtle lesson in saving the environment and a heavier reminder that our parents love us – no matter how different we may be from them. It all combines for an intriguing reminder that life is fleeting. Readers will quickly endear themselves to Sonnet and her strong will and stick around for how her forced partnership brings her closer to Zeke – something she truly tries to fight wholeheartedly.

They may say an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but this is a book you will enjoy so much you might be able to savor it in one sitting. Certainly, young readers will be eager to make a bowl of popcorn and reach out to the older family members to learn more about their histories and their life lessons. And those that find themselves working on a family tree after they read this book, be sure to thank Claudia Mills for helping you keep your legacy of ancestry alive.

[Elizabeth Wrenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last Apple Tree, by beloved children's author Claudia Mills, is about two tweens, Sonnet, and Zeke, who aren't friends, "just" new neighbors. They become enemies when they accidentally become partners on an oral history project for school and uncover new and old family secrets on both sides. A family crisis leads them to discover that secrets almost always push people apart, while the truth almost always brings people together.
This touching chapter book will be a balm to the soul of kids who feel "othered" at school (i.e. every kid!), or feel their parents don't listen and aren't always honest with them (i.e. every kid!). The alternating points of view, chapter by chapter, between Sonnet, who recently moved house and is the new kid at school, and Zeke, who has lived there his whole life but has only recently transitioned from homeschooling to public school, gives readers a view into the different eyes and hearts of the two main characters. Mills deftly shows how the same things happening to and between two people can be felt and interpreted in very different ways. Mills navigates with humor and care the unique and often sensitive family situations with skill and precision, yet always keeps the story going and the action flowing.
Sonnet and Zeke, like all kids, are at times proud of their family, and at times ashamed; so too are they proud of their budding skills and abilities, and ashamed of their perceived weaknesses and differences. Mills shows how even those feelings that seem utterly unique and personal are, in fact, almost always universal, and that "the truth can set you free." All of this is woven into a compelling and vibrant story with a lot of heart at its center. Perhaps the most heart comes from the intermittent short prose poems from the old apple tree. The poems are lilting and reverent, subtly revealing truths and wisdom.
The Last Apple Tree is an inspiring ode to tweens about navigating the line between family and friends, pride and shame, honesty and integrity, joy and grief, and, most of all, fear and hope.

[Hillary Homzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last Apple Tree by Claudia Mills is now firmly rooted in my heart. This middle grade gently explores why the truth will set you free. Why tamping down sorrow/shame only leads to further pain and misunderstanding. In this character driven work--with plenty of interpersonal drama and ironic misunderstandings--Mills adds much levity and charm.

The chapters go back and forth between middle schoolers Sonnet and Zeke who are frenemies and neighbors. Additionally, we also enjoy short chapters in the voice of the last apple tree in Gramp’s orchard. Why we get the old apple’s tree POV (told in moving free verse) and how the tree figures into the overall story will be revealed towards the end. Believe me, it’s worth the wait. And yet, the wait won’t feel long because this novel is so well paced, and the characters feel so real.

Sonnet has reluctantly moved from Colorado to Indiana with her little sister Villie (short for villanelle, as in the poem) and her mom, a poet who cleans houses to help pay the bills. They have moved in with Gramps whose memory is fading after their death of his wife. Sonnet is in hiding mode. She wants to push away any conversations that might make anyone sad, and has lost confidence in her art. Meanwhile Zeke is dealing with learning how to navigate mainstream boy culture after being homeschooled by his vegan, environmentalist parents. Zeke’s dad doesn’t understand or listen very well to Zeke’s desire to just fit in, and Zeke is beginning to act out. And oh, boy does he ever act out.

The consequences of his actions will push the story into its engaging emotional climax. I want to say more but I can’t because I don’t want to spoil it for anyone. I do have to give a shout out to Sonnet’s five-year-old sister Villie who makes up the best worlds like the land of Socker (a sock world) and Happy Land. I fervently hope that there are more books with these characters, and I would love to see Villie star in her own tale. The Last Apple Tree is a poetic, profound and uplifting novel that definitely took me to Happy Land.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is yet another middle-grade novel [3.5 for me!] by the always reliable Claudia Mills that will have high appeal for its intended audience. While parts of the plot will be familiar--a new transplant trying to find her way in a new school--others concerning family secrets and family history may seem fresh and new, especially in the hands of this gifted storyteller. Twelve-year-old Sonnet has moved to Indiana with her mother and little sister, Villie, to stay with her grandfather after the death of his wife. After an unpleasant encounter with Zeke, a neighbor boy who has been homeschooled until recently, Sonnet is decidedly not thrilled when she ends up working with him on a class family history project involving interviewing the elderly man. Sonnet prefers to stick to the script during the interviews while Zeke senses that he has stories to tell and allows Gramps to dictate the direction they take, even if it means that he'll have moments of sadness and cry. After all, life has both bitter and sweet moments, something that Sonnet and her mother seem determined to forget. When one of his memories is particularly painful and earthshattering, the revelation challenges what Sonnet knows about her family and her own mother's childhood memories. All of the characters are interesting although Sonnet's poem-writing mother is less developed than the others, and it's encouraging to watch the two neighbors stumble back and forth between enmity and friendship, especially after Zeke makes a very big mistake. The topics of loss and transplantation are woven into the narrative in appealing ways, and readers will recognize that running away from hard things doesn't make them go away.

[Melissa (Nissa_the.bookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
👀 enjoy multiple POVs
🍎 love to eat apples
📚 like middle grade reads
😢 are looking for a book to pull at your heartstrings

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

Twelve-year-old Sonnet’s family has just moved across the country to live with her grandfather after her nana dies. Gramps’s once-impressive apple orchard has been razed for a housing development, with only one heirloom tree left. Sonnet doesn’t want to think about how Gramps and his tree are both growing old—she just wants everything to be okay.

Sonnet is not okay with her neighbor, Zeke, a boy her age who gets on her bad side and stays there when he tries to choose her grandpa to interview for an oral history assignment. Zeke irks Sonnet with his prying questions, bringing out the sad side of Gramps she’d rather not see. Meanwhile, Sonnet joins the Green Club at school and without talking to Zeke about it, she asks his activist father to speak at the Arbor Day assembly—a collision of worlds that Zeke wanted more than anything to avoid. 

But when the interviews uncover a buried tragedy that concerns Sonnet's mother, and an emergency forces Sonnet and Zeke to cooperate again, Sonnet learns not just to accept Zeke as he is, but also that sometimes forgetting isn't the solution—even when remembering seems harder.

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

This was such a cute read! The story revolves around two young middle schoolers who are paired together on a school project. Both of them have had a tough time lately in their own ways, and when they get together, they are able to talk through it all. I loved the way this story was written. It flowed nicely, and it really pulled at my heart in a lot of ways. I loved the perspective from the lone apple tree as well. This is a great read for all ages!

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second middle school grade book I've listened to lately and I have been reminded why I fell in love with reading all those years ago.

This was a good story. It dealt with deep family secrets and kept it engaging, I mean as a 31 year old adult, I was intrigued with how the truth would all come out. I appreciate that the author wrote about family secrets and did it in a way that was acceptable for the grade level it is.

After all has been revealed and the truth comes out, I am not ashamed to admit that I teared up. This book was the break I needed from all the romances I have read lately and was so much more than I was expecting it to be.

The dual POV was reminiscent in ways of when I first read Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen and I loved how you saw insight to both children's home lives and how they each had their own struggles. Zeke feels like an outcast having been homeschooled for years and not being allowed to do most of what other kids are able to. I think in some ways his dad went overboard and didn't take the time to actually listen to his son (thankfully he later acknowledges this) but I see that he was trying to raise his son in the way he thought best. Sonnet is trying in ways to be a mini adult and in some ways I think her mother has entrusted too much responsibility on her but after certain events later on, I feel like that will get better.

In between both children, the old apple tree has a POV sprinkled in every now and then which I felt added to the story as a way to help the reader see the bigger picture of the story. Just because something can't physically talk doesn't mean it hasn't seen a lot.

Overall, I loved this story and would highly recommend to anyone of any age for a nice quick read.

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sonnet and her sister and mother have moved across the country to live with Gramps after Nana died. She is in mourning for her old life, and does her utmost to help Gramps not be sad over the loss of his wife. The annoying boy Zeke who lives nearby does not help matters: when she decides to interview Gramps for a school oral history project, Zeke wants to interview him too. Zeke didn’t ask her, and when they collaborate, he asks all sorts of questions that prompt sadness in Gramps. When Gramps reveals painful hidden memories from the past, Sonnet must decide whether she can continue the project.

There is so much meaty content in this moving book: there’s the grief on the part of Sonnet and her family; there’s the opening up of the past through the oral history project; the fate of the one remaining apple tree in Gramps’s orchard and its environmental impact; and, how each kid comes to terms with the family they have. The story is told from alternating points of view – Sonnet’s, Zeke’s, and a poetic voice that weaves through the story and may actually be the last apple tree’s witness of the past and present drama. Mills really builds each child’s character nicely – each is flawed but relatable, and you really want them to grow through the story, which they do. The poetic voice of the apple tree is beautiful and heartbreaking. I liked that each adult was also noticeably flawed, but loving, and they grow too. I really enjoyed this thoughtful character driven novel, and I think kids will too. All characters cue as white.

[Susan Wroble · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me, this story had so many personal connections. Like Mill’s main character, Sonnet, I too moved during middle school, to take care of a grandparent with the beginnings of dementia. And as in the story, our land, which once held a thriving orchard, held only a few surviving ancient apple trees.

With that as background, I know that Sonnet’s struggles to find how to fit into the new home and new school—and how to deal with a grandparent who is failing—ring very true. I remember those days of standing, unspeaking and awkward and sometimes angry, at a bus stop with a neighbor who is not yet a friend. Mill’s captures that anxiety and worry perfectly, as well as the anxiety of neighbor Zeke, whose years of homeschooling made him, like Sonnet, an outsider in their school community.

The novel is told from three points of view: Sonnet’s, Zeke’s, and that of the Last Apple Tree. The Apple Tree’s chapters are in sparce, lyrical verse, and often hint of hardships and family secrets that the children have yet to discover. Zeke’s relationship with Gramps reveals the truth of what happened in Sonnet’s family, and their shining the light of truth on that long-buried secret sets all the characters free.

This is a quieter, character-driven book, perfect for thoughtful readers. I highly recommend it.

Thanks to Margaret Ferguson books and author Claudia Mills for an a review copy. Opinions are my own.

[Jane Healy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This middle grade novel is told from the points of view of Sonnet, her neighbor & classmate Zeke, and the old apple tree. The apple tree tells its part of the story with poetry, with the column representing the tree's trunk. Sonnet and Zeke have nothing in common, though they wait together at the school bus stop every day. What they don't know is that they are both relatively new to the school and wish they had friends. When their teacher assigns an oral history project, Zeke signs up to interview Sonnet's grandfather. Sonnet is angry about this, but agrees to proceed as a team. Sonnet's grandfather has recently lost his wife, is deeply grieving, living in the past, and sometimes confused. Sonnet wants to stick to easy questions suggested by the teacher, but Zeke is more curious and asks deeper, more probing questions that make Gramps cry, upsetting everyone. Zeke wants to be normal and is embarrassed by his tree-hugging dad and his non-mainstream upbringing. Through it all the tree tells what it knows, Sonnet's creative little sister Villie provides comic relief, and truth, including feelings, family secrets, and failures are brought into the light. The Last Apple Tree is ultimately a book about the importance of telling the truth, honoring the connections among all living things, and learning what it really means to be a friend.

[Stephanie Ward]

In this multi-generation, contemporary middle grade novel, tweens Sonnet and Zeke clash over a class project that shows just how differently two people can approach the same challenge. But additional layers reveal issues of dementia, family tragedy, parent-child relationships, environmentalism and even a bit of botany. A cornucopia of drama and emotion from the very first page.

It was fascinating to read about the transformation of two children who, at first, avoid each other, but eventually learn to accept both their own and each other's strengths and weaknesses. The realistic scenarios and interactions between school kids felt spot-on and easy to relate to. (Case in point, I know one twelve-year-old child who is just as embarrassed about his parents coming to school as poor Zeke!) As the drama unfolds, it is easy to feel empathy for these characters and all that they are going through and it was hard to put the book down before reading the warm, comforting ending.

As someone just embarking on writing for middle grade readers, I found The Last Apple Tree to be a masterclass in creating complex, multi-dimensional characters who are realistic and engaging. I especially enjoyed the dual-narrative point of view which gave such deep insight into each character's mindset. This is a wonderful middle grade novel for both children and aspiring middle grade authors.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zeke and Sonnet are neighbors and take the same bus to Wakefield Middle School. They are both twelve years old and in need of friends. Sonnet has just moved to town and Zeke was previously homeschooled. Their friendship grows slowly, fraught with misunderstandings. Each preteen has their own difficulties with family dynamics and self-esteem, causing friction between the pair. Alternating chapters beautifully capture the voice of each character as they navigate their emotions and perspective of events. The novel is framed by narrative poems told from the perspective of an heirloom apple tree. These haunting poems appear periodically between chapters hinting at the events and emotions soon to unfold. Deep inside the novel is a powerful exploration of secrets and how “sometimes the things that no one talked about left the longest-lasting scars.” Readers will be drawn into the characters of this touching story and emerge with renewed understanding for the intricacies of the human heart.

[Laura Roettiger · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know the feeling when you don't want a book to end, when you want to linger on each page, between the beautiful alternating voices of the chapters? That's how reading The Last Apple Tree feels. Claudia Mills has a disarming writing style that captures the familiar in a fresh way adding layers of relevance and connection for any age reader from middle grade on up! The interactions of classmates Sonnet and Zeke who are neighbors then frenemies forced to work together, each with their own personal challenge and ways of handling things, no spoilers so that's all you'll get from me here. But I will give a shoutout to a wonderful imaginative little sister who adds so much to the book it would be impossible not to mention Villie who is charming and everything you want in a character, a little sister, a friend. And the third voice POV is the beautiful title character, The Last Apple Tree who writes in free verse poetry which is beautiful and adds so much to this fabulous book that is still on my nightstand even though I finished it more than 2 weeks ago. It's a work of art.

[Lori Lovato · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first time I read The Last Apple Tree by Claudia Mills, I was intrigued by its opening poem which began with good times but hinted that bad were to come. Reading on, I was soon immersed in the story because the protagonist was so engaging and real. Gradually, I realized all of the characters were interesting and integral to the plot. The drama that builds and the resolution, which is the only one that makes sense for this story, make for a satisfying journey into another world. Middle grade readers will enjoy it just for the story, but hopefully they will learn something along the way about relationships, families, and small-town America.

I am rereading The Last Apple Tree now because, as a recently retired middle school teacher, it’s my nature. I see this book as a part of a literature unit that could be developed in a number of ways. I wish I’d had it last year when I could have been the teacher doing just that.

I highly recommend this book to readers of ALL ages. Enjoy!

[Kim Wilch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sonnet and Zeke couldn’t be more different—or more annoyed to be stuck together for a class project. She’s the new girl juggling a forgetful grandfather, a distracted mom, and a high-energy sister. He’s fresh out of homeschooling, with an eco-obsessed dad and zero social experience. But when their worlds collide, they dig up a family secret that could either tear Sonnet’s family apart or finally bring it some peace.

Told in dual perspectives, this story is packed with heart, humor, and a dash of mystery. Both Sonnet and Zeke are complex, frustrating, and utterly endearing—like real kids figuring life out one awkward moment at a time. It’s a touching tale about friendship, family, and the importance of listening to the stories that came before us. Sweet, thoughtful, and perfect for middle-grade readers, this one lingers long after the last page.

[Martha Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not only an excellent story with interesting, relatable and sometimes funny characters, an engaging plot and thought-provoking big themes, it is elegantly written and psychologically astute. Mills touches on friendship and family ties as well as the value and consequence of hard truths - to reveal or not to reveal? The story of Zeke, known as Zebra by his new five-year-old friend, who must navigate around an eccentric parent to find acceptance in middle school, is both time-honored and fresh. Sonnet, the protagonist, takes the weight of the world on her shoulders, and the insightful reader will see the echo of this attitude in the family secret that forms the story's heart. Plus - you'll learn about apple trees. Another outstanding book from Claudia Mills!

[Julie Danneberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished The Last Apple Tree and I LOVED it. I wish I was still a middle school teacher. It would be on the shelf of my classroom library and I would be recommending it, one-on-one, to specific students. It is a powerful read because it subtly speaks to the perennial issues faced by middle school students, not just those new to the school, but those quiet souls who don't feel like they fit in. It also speaks to grandchild and grandparent relationships and how often, kids feel responsible for protecting the happiness of the adults in their lives. And it shows the pain many kids feel when they aren't supported by their parents. All of this relatable drama is wrapped up in a strong story!!!

[Martha Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starts out pretty similar to other books but by the end - wow! This is a story about stories and their power over our lives and the necessity of truth telling despite its sadness. The author has written over 60 books for kids and her mastery of the discipline really shows. Sonnet and Zeke are new to school; her family has just moved in to care for her grandpa and Zeke’s been previously homeschooled. They live in the same neighborhood and ignore each other as they wait for the bus to pull up every morning. Over the course of the story they each inadvertently change each other’s lives and the family dynamics they each live with. A theme of parents trying their best and still not doing the right thing emerges as well as the difficulties in making friends. A beauty.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gramps is missing Nana something awful. Mom is having a difficult time returning to her childhood home with her two daughters, because it had been a place she'd always wanted to leave. Sonnet wants everyone to be happy and is afraid if obnoxious neighbor boy Zeke comes to interview Gramps for an oral history report, they'll be stuck as partners and worst of all, Zee will upset Gramps as he recalls his past.
Then we get some surprising healing for Gramps as he talks about what he misses and for Mom as she confronts the secret from her past. Due to Gramps interacting with Zeke's dad, Zeke is able to reconcile the struggle with his dad. Sonnet gains understanding of her family and learns that sometimes the things nobody talks about leave the longest lasting scars.