Apple: Skin to the Core explained

Author:Eric Gansworth
Cover Artist:Filip Peraić
Country:United States
Language:English
Apple (Skin to the Core)
Genre:Memoir, young adult literature, novel in verse, coming of age novel
Subject:Native Americans, Onondaga people, Tuscarora Nation, Pop music, Rock and roll, Family
Publisher:Levine Querido/Scholastic Corporation
Release Date:October 6, 2020
Media Type:Print (hardcover and paperback), Audiobook, E-book
Pages:352
Isbn:9781646140138
Isbn Note:Hardcover edition
Awards:American Indian Youth Literature Award, Michael L. Printz Award honor

Apple (Skin to the Core) is a poetic memoir for young adults, written by Eric Gansworth and published October 6, 2020 by Levine Querido. In this book, Gansworth talks about his life as an Onondaga individual, living amongst Tuscaroras, and the impact of residential schooling. As he covers these topics, he discusses common slurs against Indigenous Americans, including the term "apple," which refers to someone who is "red on the outside, white on the inside," that is, who looks Indigenous but acts white.[1]

On top of winning the American Indian Youth Literature Award for Young Adult, Apple was longlisted for the National Book Award for Young People's Literature and was a Michael L. Printz Award honor book.

Reception

Apple: Skin to the Core is a Junior Library Guild book[2] and was generally well-received, including starred reviews from Booklist[3] and Shelf Awareness.[4]

Kirkus Reviews called the book "[a] rare and special read,"[5] while School Library Journal called it "bittersweet but ultimately inspiring."[6] Jen Forbus, writing for Shelf Awareness, noted, "With dramatic textual imagery, nuanced storytelling and evocative illustrations, Apple is a stirring depiction of Indigenous life." Booklist's Kay Weisman, stated, "Gansworth’s art, a mix of gouache paintings, photographs, and collages (reproduced in black and white), is interspersed throughout, adding interest and detail. With language rich in metaphor, this is a timely and important work that begs for multiple readings."

The Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature,[7] NPR,[8] Shelf Awareness,[9] and Time[10] named Apple one of the best books for children and young adults in 2020.

Awards and honors for Apple (Skin to the Core)!Year!Award/Honor!Category!Result!Ref.
2020National Book AwardYoung People's Literature[11]
2021Booklist's Best Biography & Memoir for Youth[12]
YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction[13]
Michael L. Printz Award[14] [15]
2022Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults[16]
Young Adult[17]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Children's Book Review: Apple (Skin to the Core) by Eric Gansworth. Levine Querido, $18.99 (352p) ISBN 978-1-64-614013-8. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220211/https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-64-614013-8 . 2022-02-11 . live. 2022-02-11. PublishersWeekly.com. en.
  2. Web site: Apple (Skin to the Core) by Eric Gansworth. 2022-02-11. Junior Library Guild. 2022-02-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20220214234524/https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/book/landing/detailedview?itemcode=9781646140138J&name=Apple_Skin_to_Core. live.
  3. Web site: Weisman. Kay. August 2020. Apple: Skin to the Core. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220211/https://www.booklistonline.com/Apple-Skin-to-the-Core-Eric-Gansworth/pid=9736108 . 2022-02-11 . live. 2022-02-11. Booklist.
  4. Web site: Forbus. Jen. 2020-10-16. Apple (Skin to the Core). 2022-02-11. Shelf Awareness. 2022-02-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20220211172207/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/readers-issue.html?issue=962. live.
  5. Web site: 2020-08-04. Apple. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220211/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/eric-gansworth/apple-gansworth/ . 2022-02-11 . live. 2022-02-11. Kirkus Reviews.
  6. Web site: Pentland. Courtney. 2021-03-01. Apple: (Skin to the Core). 2022-02-11. School Library Journal.
  7. Web site: Best Books 2020. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220211/https://www.csmcl.org/best-books-2020 . 2022-02-11 . live. 2022-02-11. The Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature. en.
  8. Web site: NPR. Best Books 2021: Books We Love. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220211/https://apps.npr.org/best-books/ . 2022-02-11 . live. 2022-02-11. NPR. en-US.
  9. Web site: 2020-11-24. Our 2020 Best Children's & Teen Books of the Year. 2022-02-11. Shelf Awareness. 2022-12-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20221203162101/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/readers-issue.html?issue=973. live.
  10. The 10 Best YA and Children's Books of 2020. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220211/https://time.com/5914438/best-ya-childrens-books-2020/ . 2022-02-11 . live. 2022-02-11. Time. 24 November 2020 .
  11. Web site: Kantor. Emma. 2020-09-16. 2020 NBA Longlist for Young People's Literature Announced. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220211/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/84340-2020-nba-longlist-for-young-people-s-literature-announced.html . 2022-02-11 . live. 2022-02-11. PublishersWeekly.com. en.
  12. Web site: Smith. Julia. 2021-06-01. Top 10 Biography & Memoir for Youth: 2021. 2022-02-11. Booklist. 2022-02-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20220211172207/https://www.booklistonline.com/ProductInfo.aspx?pid=9749680. live.
  13. Web site: 2021-01-25. 2021 Nonfiction Award Nominations. https://web.archive.org/web/20210126030203/http://ala.org/yalsa/2021-nonfiction-award-nominations . 2021-01-26 . live. 2022-02-11. Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). en.
  14. Web site: Roback. Diane. Kantor. Emma. 2021-01-25. Keller, Goade, Nayeri Win Newbery, Caldecott, Printz Awards. https://web.archive.org/web/20210125213928/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/85396-keller-goade-nayeri-win-newbery-caldecott-printz-awards.html . 2021-01-25 . live. 2022-02-11. PublishersWeekly.com. en.
  15. Web site: Morales. Macey. 2021-01-25. 'Everything Sad is Untrue (a true story)' wins 2021 Printz Award. https://web.archive.org/web/20210126013109/http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2021/01/everything-sad-untrue-true-story-wins-2021-printz-award . 2021-01-26 . live. 2022-02-11. American Library Association. en.
  16. Web site: Serbekian. Michael. 2022-02-03. YALSA names 2022 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults. https://web.archive.org/web/20220203221450/https://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2022/02/yalsa-names-2022-amazing-audiobooks-young-adults . 2022-02-03 . live. 2022-02-11. American Library Association. en.
  17. Web site: Morales. Macey. 2022-01-24. American Library Association announces 2022 Youth Media Award winners. https://web.archive.org/web/20220124160239/https://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2022/01/american-library-association-announces-2022-youth-media-award-winners . 2022-01-24 . live. 2022-02-11. American Library Association. en.