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A review by ifollowedthatrabbit
All the Bad Apples by Moïra Fowley-Doyle
5.0
"Bad things happen to the bad apples in our family. You know the kind [...] You'd know them a mile away. The ones who don't look like the others, don't act like the others. The ones who don't conform, don't follow the rules, don't go to church on Sunday [...] The ones who love differently, think differently."
This book... [sigh] I can't find the words to describe how I feel after reading it. I want to say so many things, to try to explain how deep this story is, but I think I won't be able to do it properly, so I'll just say it simple: please, read it.
Why? You may be wondering. Here I'll give some reasons. The story is based on true events. Tragic, horrendous, grievous events lived by women and children throughout the years. Their stories must be told. They deserve we all know their truth.
The author weaves those stories in the lives of the characters, so we learn about the sad secret history of Deena's family. How their lives experiences shaped them all. How she, her sisters, and ancestors have been considered to be "the bad apples" of the family, therefore they've become cursed.
Deena is considered a bad apple because she's lesbian, in other words "she's not a nice, normal girl". Her sister Mandy is considered a bad apple because she's different to the rest of the Rys family; she's a free spirit.
One day, Deena's world started to collapse. She comes out unwillingly. Her father is disappointed, her classmates bully her, and one of her sister suddenly disappears. Everyone believes Mandy is dead, but Deena is sured she's alive, because she's gone to brake the curse. Now, she must find her.
"You tell your story and the story of your family. You speak your truth. You shatter the stigma. You hold your head up to the world and speak so that everyone else who was ever like you can recognize themselves. Can see that they aren't alone."
This book... [sigh] I can't find the words to describe how I feel after reading it. I want to say so many things, to try to explain how deep this story is, but I think I won't be able to do it properly, so I'll just say it simple: please, read it.
Why? You may be wondering. Here I'll give some reasons. The story is based on true events. Tragic, horrendous, grievous events lived by women and children throughout the years. Their stories must be told. They deserve we all know their truth.
The author weaves those stories in the lives of the characters, so we learn about the sad secret history of Deena's family. How their lives experiences shaped them all. How she, her sisters, and ancestors have been considered to be "the bad apples" of the family, therefore they've become cursed.
Deena is considered a bad apple because she's lesbian, in other words "she's not a nice, normal girl". Her sister Mandy is considered a bad apple because she's different to the rest of the Rys family; she's a free spirit.
One day, Deena's world started to collapse. She comes out unwillingly. Her father is disappointed, her classmates bully her, and one of her sister suddenly disappears. Everyone believes Mandy is dead, but Deena is sured she's alive, because she's gone to brake the curse. Now, she must find her.
"You tell your story and the story of your family. You speak your truth. You shatter the stigma. You hold your head up to the world and speak so that everyone else who was ever like you can recognize themselves. Can see that they aren't alone."