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My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic #5
Applejack and the Secret Diary Switcheroo
Applejack starts a diary to record all her hard work bucking fields at Sweet Apple Acres. Whenever her pony friends annoy her in the slightest, she writes about it. It feels good to vent! As the days pass, Applejack's journal entries start to read like lists of complaints when she writes honestly about whatever is bothering her. But when the book falls into the wrong hooves, Applejack finds herself in a real pickle!
After you read Applejack's story, jump into the fun with red activity pages!
After you read Applejack's story, jump into the fun with red activity pages!
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
21 people are currently reading
308 people want to read
About the author
G.M. Berrow
116 books55 followersGillian M. Berrow (G.M. Berrow) is a writer and television industry professional living in Brooklyn, New York. When she was little, she aspired to become either a princess or a magical pony. Things seem to be right on schedule.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
January 25, 2024
Okay so I did like this book, but this is a more of a 3.5 stars because I did have issues with it.
So Applejack is set on making her orchard look amazing so she can win a contest. She has big plans and ambitions, and her friends want to help, but instead they slow down the process and frustrate her. Applejack, though occasionally sarcastic, doesn't really show her distress and instead writes about it in her new journal.
I could completely understand Applejack throughout the whole book. It's hard to have high expectations and then to see them disappointed when it's something important to you. Especially when it happens five days in a row. But instead, there comes a point when Applejack thinks to herself that she's being unfair to her friends. Except...she totally isn't. They ARE making her work more complicated; the real issue here is that she isn't communicating with her friends.
Her friends accidentally end up reading the diary, and they see all the mean things she wrote about them. They aren't really mad, though. Everything is patched up pretty quickly, and Applejack says, "I was bein' a huge jerk and letting my own ambitions get in the way of the most important thing - my friendship with all of you."
Uh, no??? She wasn't compromising her friendship by being ambitious, and she was never a jerk. Her friends were jerks for continuing to read her diary once they figured out what it was, actually, which they never apologized for. (Although Rarity did crack me up by commenting that her diary is way worse.)
The book was realistic and emotionally resonant, and there was a good lesson in there, it just didn't quite hit like it should've. Applejack is such a fun pony to read about and this insight into her thoughts was nice. I just wish her story would've been done justice!
So Applejack is set on making her orchard look amazing so she can win a contest. She has big plans and ambitions, and her friends want to help, but instead they slow down the process and frustrate her. Applejack, though occasionally sarcastic, doesn't really show her distress and instead writes about it in her new journal.
I could completely understand Applejack throughout the whole book. It's hard to have high expectations and then to see them disappointed when it's something important to you. Especially when it happens five days in a row. But instead, there comes a point when Applejack thinks to herself that she's being unfair to her friends. Except...she totally isn't. They ARE making her work more complicated; the real issue here is that she isn't communicating with her friends.
Her friends accidentally end up reading the diary, and they see all the mean things she wrote about them. They aren't really mad, though. Everything is patched up pretty quickly, and Applejack says, "I was bein' a huge jerk and letting my own ambitions get in the way of the most important thing - my friendship with all of you."
Uh, no??? She wasn't compromising her friendship by being ambitious, and she was never a jerk. Her friends were jerks for continuing to read her diary once they figured out what it was, actually, which they never apologized for. (Although Rarity did crack me up by commenting that her diary is way worse.)
The book was realistic and emotionally resonant, and there was a good lesson in there, it just didn't quite hit like it should've. Applejack is such a fun pony to read about and this insight into her thoughts was nice. I just wish her story would've been done justice!
December 17, 2021
Applejack is an honest pony but honesty is hard to maintain when being kind; sometimes the truth hurts. When an opportunity arises for Applejack to help Sweet Apple Acres earn an award, Applejack enlists the help of her friends. However, when her friends do more than just “help” she goes about venting her frustration and thoughts onto her diary pages.
If I recall correctly from the show, Applejack is more like an older sister figure and that’s exactly how she is in this book. Applejack is honest and tries to be kind at the same time. Sometimes that means she isn’t relaying her true thoughts and feelings that could lead to misunderstandings. And this is exactly what Applejack did in this story. She wasn’t being true to herself and let her desires to win a blue ribbon for the farm overcome what’s truly important to her.
The story is a quick read and reflects the character’s personalities in the show. I enjoyed how all of the mane six volunteered and went to help Applejack. Although Twilight and Rarity aren’t given the same story space as the other characters. Most of the other mane six were present for the entire chapter comparatively, however they have more earth elements and skills than Twilight or Rarity.
Overall, this was a fun read about Applejack and I’m glad it was related to something important to Applejack. The story really emphasizes her hard work and commitment in tending to the farm, her family and her friends.
Read more reviews @ Mystic's Review Shelf
If I recall correctly from the show, Applejack is more like an older sister figure and that’s exactly how she is in this book. Applejack is honest and tries to be kind at the same time. Sometimes that means she isn’t relaying her true thoughts and feelings that could lead to misunderstandings. And this is exactly what Applejack did in this story. She wasn’t being true to herself and let her desires to win a blue ribbon for the farm overcome what’s truly important to her.
The story is a quick read and reflects the character’s personalities in the show. I enjoyed how all of the mane six volunteered and went to help Applejack. Although Twilight and Rarity aren’t given the same story space as the other characters. Most of the other mane six were present for the entire chapter comparatively, however they have more earth elements and skills than Twilight or Rarity.
Overall, this was a fun read about Applejack and I’m glad it was related to something important to Applejack. The story really emphasizes her hard work and commitment in tending to the farm, her family and her friends.
Read more reviews @ Mystic's Review Shelf
July 2, 2020
I love the authenticity and originality of this book. It isn't an episode of Friendships Is Magic but I could see it playing out in my head. Applejack was her true self and it was such a her thing to do to vent about her honest frustrated feelings at the time before calming down, and it's so much like her friends to understand the situation and forgive her. I loved Big Mac in this book (such an underrated character), the callback to the previous book as well as episodes of the show, and the reference to Applejack's deceased mother. This is a short and sweet one-sitting read, perfect for any My Little Pony fan!
August 6, 2020
Sweet Apple Acres has been entered into a competition to win best apple farm in Equestria! †Applejack is super stoked about winning the blue ribbon, but she needs to impress the judges. †Luckily, the mane six are always there to help! †I enjoyed hearing the story from Applejack's perspective, and getting to see how much good ole' hard work makes her happy. †The moral of the story was a good one as well, but I don't want to give away any spoilers!
April 12, 2017
We love MLP in this house. This was very fun to read aloud. Great quality writing and true to the tv series. For my children I normally avoid any tv/movie related books, however these MLP chapters are an exception.
March 17, 2018
When Sweet Apple Acres is up for an award, Applejack wants it to be its best. But she's in for a challenge when her best friends offer to help her get the farm ready.
An excellent book about being honest, and about finding out what's really important in life.
An excellent book about being honest, and about finding out what's really important in life.
June 8, 2020
Friendship is honesty.
December 6, 2020
My Little Pony - Applejack ja rehellisyyden keikaus
December 7, 2021
Little Man loved this story! We are still having such a blast with these books at bedtime!
March 7, 2023
Nice and cute but the major conflict (the actual switcheroo) takes up very little time and happens late in the book.
January 20, 2024
something cute and sweet for the kids!! i really love how this book explores applejack's character especially in relation to her element, honestly this should've been an episode LMFAOOO
April 7, 2019
It is a great book.
March 9, 2017
This isn't a bad book, but it's my least favorite of the bunch so far. It takes awhile for the story to build, and the climax was very much a letdown, with all of the buildup being for nothing. Not much happened in this book.
Not to say it's a bad book, as the characters are true to the show, and it was nice to learn a little bit about Applejack's mom. I also liked the twist with the judge. Also, while I didn't see anything wrong with Applejack venting in a private place--as we all do it--I did like how honesty was brought into the moral, and how it caused a shift in perspective.
Overall, it could be better, but it's not a bad book. The author has a clear understanding of the show and its characters, and I could see this being an actual episode in the show (and it probably would have worked better as a twenty minute episode rather than a fourteen chapter story). The climax was the most disappointing bit, but it made me appreciate the Mane 6 even more, and it shows how well they know one another.
Not to say it's a bad book, as the characters are true to the show, and it was nice to learn a little bit about Applejack's mom. I also liked the twist with the judge. Also, while I didn't see anything wrong with Applejack venting in a private place--as we all do it--I did like how honesty was brought into the moral, and how it caused a shift in perspective.
Overall, it could be better, but it's not a bad book. The author has a clear understanding of the show and its characters, and I could see this being an actual episode in the show (and it probably would have worked better as a twenty minute episode rather than a fourteen chapter story). The climax was the most disappointing bit, but it made me appreciate the Mane 6 even more, and it shows how well they know one another.
September 3, 2014
it was alright but the end, once again was a disappointment. so bad this time that I had to put it under "books that pissed me off." first off, apple jack was being honest when she wrote those things. she just wrote them in honest annoyance. she didn't have anything to be ashamed of. it's rainbow dash who was in the wrong thing. As soon as she realized that she had the wrong journal, she should have shut it and given it back to Applejack. that is what a good friend who have done.
And yet she reads it. not only that, she read it all the other ponies. Not okay, and yet this is glossed over, making A.J. look like the bad guy because she vented out her anger. She shouldn't have to apologize for honesty. Rainbow should've been smacked in the face for such a violation of privacy.
And at the same time, the horses weren't as pissed off as they should've been. because as private as that stuff was, it WAS still pretty mean. you'd think they'd be more angry. but their all like "no it's okay, you were just stressed. lets all just forget that we read your private diary."
no, I cant. This story was good until it gets up to this climatic point. there could have been so much drama here, but it's smoothed over oh so perfectly and easily like all the conflicts in this series of kids books. their behavior is just vexing in this. these sorts of things are NEVER solved this easily in real life.
but still. even for kids books, I think we can try a bit harder, don't you author?
And yet she reads it. not only that, she read it all the other ponies. Not okay, and yet this is glossed over, making A.J. look like the bad guy because she vented out her anger. She shouldn't have to apologize for honesty. Rainbow should've been smacked in the face for such a violation of privacy.
And at the same time, the horses weren't as pissed off as they should've been. because as private as that stuff was, it WAS still pretty mean. you'd think they'd be more angry. but their all like "no it's okay, you were just stressed. lets all just forget that we read your private diary."
no, I cant. This story was good until it gets up to this climatic point. there could have been so much drama here, but it's smoothed over oh so perfectly and easily like all the conflicts in this series of kids books. their behavior is just vexing in this. these sorts of things are NEVER solved this easily in real life.
but still. even for kids books, I think we can try a bit harder, don't you author?
March 24, 2015
I feel like the My Little Pony books are really high quality for TV show titles. I am impressed by the level of the writing and the humor. You can tell that Berrow works on the show and knows her stuff!
Applejack does what a lot of us do in our private spaces - vents about frustrations. Yeah, sometimes it feels good to vent and after that she is able to examine what was bothering her. You knew pretty quick where the story was going, we've all seen this story before, but I was happy that the tension only lasts a couple chapters at the end and there is no big fight or drama. Just an honest apology from A.J. and her friends understanding.
Applejack does what a lot of us do in our private spaces - vents about frustrations. Yeah, sometimes it feels good to vent and after that she is able to examine what was bothering her. You knew pretty quick where the story was going, we've all seen this story before, but I was happy that the tension only lasts a couple chapters at the end and there is no big fight or drama. Just an honest apology from A.J. and her friends understanding.
May 29, 2015
I saw a handful of My Little Pony chapter books so I grabbed one to read before rest time at school, not having really that high of expectations. And surprisingly enough, this book was pretty well written for a kids book!The story was cute and the characters were really spot on. I had fun reading it to my class in my best pony voices :-p I'll definitely use these in the future.
December 7, 2015
The best entry in the series, we learned about the Ponyville pie eating competition and the Blue Ribbon Award for best orchard in Equestria. Applejack's past and family were explored. I liked the return of the friendship diary, which was the catalyst of the whole story. It was really great to see Applejack's honesty playing a big role this time.
July 13, 2016
I read this with my ten year old daughter. We have read two more in the series. This one was not as enjoyable as the other two but these books are entertaining for the elementary age and I like the positive themes and use of advanced vocabulary on each of the books
September 15, 2014
Applejack being a little too honest. What a surprise!
October 17, 2014
Liked this one a lot, more overall than the last two. Characters were true, story interesting enough, and the conflict had a nice message about friendship.
January 18, 2015
Fun read for those who like the MLP series.
June 24, 2015
cute!
February 15, 2016
Applejack isn't my favorite pony. Her way of talking can wear on a person.
Read
January 6, 2017funny, great, appliciously amazing
Read
May 11, 2018Finished this month's ago!
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews