Surviving the Applewhites

Surviving the Applewhites is a children’s novel written by American author Stephanie S. Tolan and was first published in 2002.

The narrative follows Jake Semple, a troubled teenager forced to move in with the unconventional and eccentric Applewhite family following an incident at school. Jake struggles to fit in at first but gradually sheds his past transgressions and undergoes a transformative journey toward self-discovery and redemption. The novel touches on Personal Growth and Transformation, Individuality Versus Conformity, and The Importance of Family and Community.

Surviving the Applewhites received recognition as a Newbery Honor Book in 2003, among other awards. In 2006, it was adapted into a theatrical production at the Columbus Children’s Theatre. The novel is the first installment in a trilogy, with two sequels delving into the further adventures of the Applewhite clan.

This guide uses the eBook edition of Surviving the Applewhites, published by Harper Collins in 2012.

Content Warning: The source material uses outdated terms regarding ethnic backgrounds.

Plot Summary

Surviving the Applewhites is told through the perspectives of two narrators: Jake Semple and E.D. Applewhite, the novel’s protagonists.

Thirteen-year-old Jake, a troublemaker with spiky red hair, earrings, an eyebrow ring, and a penchant for black clothes, finds himself in a precarious situation.