Applesauce Weather
Helen Frost, Author
Amy June Bates, Illustrator
Candlewick Press, Fiction, Aug. 9, 2016
Pages: 122
Suitable for Ages: 8-12
Themes: Apples, Loss, Multigenerational families, Family relationships, Storytelling
Book Jacket Synopsis: When the first apple falls from the tree, siblings Faith and Peter know that it’s applesauce weather. And that means Uncle Arthur should be here. But maybe he needs a little more time to grieve? This is the first year without Aunt Lucy, after all. When Uncle Arthur does finally arrive, it’s clear that something besides one of his fingers is missing. Where are the stories? Where’s that twinkle in his eye? With help from Faith’s love and patience, and sparked by Peter’s growing interest in the girl next door, Uncle Arthur might just have the start of a new story.
Why I like this story:
Written by award-winning poet, Helen Frost, “Applesauce Weather” is a heartwarming story about the love and support of family following the loss of Uncle Arthur’s wife, Lucy. She gives a fresh, crisp feeling of a lovely fall weekend filled with family and traditions.
This is a perfect book to introduce older children and teens to a novel written in verse. The chapters are short and written in the alternating voices of Faith, Peter and Uncle Arthur. This allows readers to get to know the characters from three different viewpoints. There are also seven special verses of “Lucy’s Song” interspersed throughout the book that reveal snippets of the Uncle Arthur and Aunt Lucy’s life together and the great love they once shared. They reveal stories about the bench Uncle Arthur makes for Lucy that still sits under an apple tree and the day they carved their initials into a nearby tree.
Amy June Bates’ black and white pencil drawings have a charm about them and give the reader a peek at the characters and a strong sense of the vivid setting. The illustrations add a nice touch to the overall story.
Helen Frost is the author of Step Gently Out, Sweep up the Sun, Among a Thousand Fireflies, Monarch and Milkweed, and six novels in poems for children and young adults. She was awarded a Printz Honor for Keesha’s House.
Check other Middle Grade review links on author Shannon Messenger’s Marvelous Middle Grade Monday post.
Children's Books Heal 
Frost is so talented! Tbank you for putting this book on my radar.
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Cathy, you would really appreciate Helen Frost’s free verse novel about intergenerational families, loss, memories and healing. And, it is a perfect autumn read. Makes you want to start baking.
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Sounds like a wonderful book.
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It is a beautiful book in verse — a quiet book. I loved it!
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I’m not a big fan of books in verse or alternating POV’s but I love the story line. Heartwarming is just what I need after a few of the books I’ve recently finished. Thanks for the heads up on this one. I’ll be looking for it.
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This book is a beautiful tale and a very quick read for reluctant readers. The story is heartwarming and makes you want to go apple picking.
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Oh that sounds lovely, Pat.
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Yes, it does make you feel that autumn is arriving and time to make apple sauce, apple crisp and apple pies. You’d like the free verse. So poetic.
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This sounds like a lovely book & perfect for apple season.
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It is a perfect read for apple season. I loved this intergenerational story. It is so heartwarming. And, it makes you think about baking.
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I think it’s good to have options for kids to start reading novels in verse, whether it’s their favorite or not, reading without walls is super important! Thanks for the review.
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Tara, I agree with you. Like your thoughts about reading without walls. This is a perfect book to introduce tweens to verse with a beautiful story.
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I just got my copy of this, but it’s three books down on the TBR stack. Can’t wait!
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It is a very quick read! I hope you love it as much as I do. I’m a sucker for intergenerational stories. Helen Frost has written a beautiful story. Great for reluctant readers, too.
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Books about family are always welcome.
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Yes, intergenerational stories are so important! Uncle Arthur is a master storyteller and we learn a lot about his life. It’s also a love story between Uncle Arthur and Aunt Lucy, who is not present for the apple picking this year. Through sharing their memories, the entire family heals together. Also a perfect book for autumn!
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A great book all around!
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Yes, I really enjoyed this beautiful intergenerational story!
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This sounds like a lovely book. I love the inter generational aspect. It’s always nice to see kids close to aunts and uncles, not just parents and grandparents. And since we made applesauce and apple butter this summer, I love the apple picking theme. Thanks for featuring this!
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It is a book with family, traditions and great storytelling. I’m glad you enjoyed my review.
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I really love this book as well. I never would have thought of using it with older kids. To me, it seemed perfect for younger middle-grade, but that might be an interesting idea. Thanks for the post.
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I’m glad you enjoyed the book. It is a book for younger middle-grade, but I think it is a good book for older kids to read, because of the verse.
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I just love the title, Applesauce Weather, it makes it seem so poetic and interesting, It sounds like a heartwarming story of grief and the strength of family, thanks for the rec! 🙂
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I just love the title as it conveys so many positive images. You’d enjoy this quick, poetic read.
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Sounds like a real charmer for the harvest season. Great review, Patricia!
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It is a charming story. Full of family and traditions.
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This sounds like a good book to talk about loss.
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Yes, but it’s also about keeping memories alive and keeping family traditions.
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