Madapple by Christina Meldrum

Bibliographic Information:

Meldrum, C. (2008). Madapple. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN# 9780375851766

Plot Summary:
Aslaug Datter has grown up in the isolated world created by her mother. She is home schooled. Though her mother exposes her to the state approved curriculum, anything deemed inappropriate has been blacked out of Aslaug’s books. Aslaug and her mother live in isolation without electricity and use herbal remedies. When Aslaug’s mother dies, Aslaug performs some burial procedures and begins to dig a pit for the burial. She is taken into custody and tried for murder. After being acquitted, as her mother died as cancer, Aslaug finds and lives with her aunt and cousins in the church that her aunt runs. Aslaug is strangely attracted to her cousin Rune. There is some mystery about Aslaug’s birth; rumor has it that she was of a virgin birth. Aslaug becomes pregnant. But while she understands the physical process, she doesn’t know how she became pregnant. Her cousin, Sanne, and aunt begin to think that Aslaug’s unborn child is also the product of a virgin birth and plan to use/teach the child his/her importance. Because of this concept, Aslaug becomes a prisoner within the church. After the baby is born, Aslaug is denied access to her. When the church is burned down, and Sanne and her aunt’s bodies are found in the charred wreckage, Aslaug once again finds herself on trial for murder. Now not only is her innocence being questioned, but so is her sanity. Could she possibly have grown up the way she claims? Was she really treated that way by her aunt and cousins? Did she even have a baby? She even starts questioning herself.

Critical Evaluation:
It is hard to imagine that this is Meldrum’s first book. The concepts are at times very difficult to accept/understand, but the book is so well-written that you won’t want to put it down. I read it in one day. Meldrum uses an interesting technique to tell the story. The first chapter details a past event. The following chapter discusses the trial. By going from past to present in alternating chapters, the reader gets a complete picture of what is currently happening in the trial and what lead up to that specific incident without giving away the ending of the story. The reader gets a real feel for Aslaug’s confusion about her birth, her family, and the strange events that happen to her. While reading you are on the edge of your seat wondering and hoping about what will happen. Meldrum researched this book thoroughly and uses her background studies to bring this story to life. There is a comprehensive bibliography at the end of the book divided up by subject so that the reader can find more information on any of the given subjects: Religion and Mythology; Science and Nature; Locations and Culture; and Poetry.

Reader's Annotation:
Never knowing who her father is, Aslaug has grown up in the sheltered, well-controlled world created by her mother with no electricity and lots of herbal remedies. When her mother dies, Aslaug is tried and acquitted of her murder. She finds and lives with her aunt and cousins in the church run by her aunt. She becomes pregnant (by a virgin birth?) imprisoned, and finds herself on trial again, this time for the murder of her aunt and cousin.

Information about the author:
Meldrum has a bachelor’s degree in both religious studies and political science. She also earned “her Juris doctor from Harvard Law School [and] has worked for the International Commission of Jurists in Geneva, Switzerland, and as a litigator at the law firm of Shearman & Sterling.” Madapple is her first book. She lives in San Francisco, California with her family.

Genre: Realistic fiction

Curriculum Ties: Language Arts

Booktalking Ideas:
• How is a trial conducted?
• How are herbal remedies used in this book?
• How is religion portrayed in the book? Is it different for different characters? How?
• What is the significance of the butterfly?
• What denotes guilt or innocence?
• Discuss the guilt/innocence of each main character.

Reading Level/Interest Level:
While the text is accessible to younger students, based on the concepts this book would work best with students 15 – up.

Challenge Issues:
Religion; sex; imprisonment; death; herbal drug use; murder; rape; incest; virgin birth; physical/emotional abuse; drinking; arson

If the book is challenged:
• Listen calmly to the complainant.
• Ask if s/he has read the entire novel.
• Show positive reviews of the novel.
• Show the selection policy.
If the complainant still has issues with the book:
• Request that the complainant read the entire book if this has not already occurred.
• Have the complainant fill out a reconsideration form.
• Set up a reconsideration meeting.
o Provide the reconsideration meeting members with:
 Positive reviews
 Selection policy
 Reconsideration policy

Selection Process:
I did a search on Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database with the following criteria: Award winner, reviews available, and age range from 15 – 18.

Eight positive reviews

Awards/ Best Books Lists:
• Appears on eight Best Books Lists
• Appears on two state/provincial reading lists
• Has received two awards

Reading/Interest level, selection process information, reviews, and Awards/Best Books Lists were accessed using the Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database at http://clcd.odyssi.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/cgi-bin/member/search/f?./temp/~2nWFor:1 accessed through SJSU and not available to everyone.