Book Review: Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie Tolan

Jake Semple is a kid who made a record by being kicked out of every school in Rhode Island. He burned down his old school, as some says. After his parents were arrested, Jake had to move to his Grandpa's but his grandpa, who didn't care any one thing about him, decides to send him to Wit's End, where the Applewhites live. The Applewhites are very unlike any other families. It's a house for creative people. While living with them, Jake seeks for his talent and starts to change from a troublemaker to an Applewhite member.
  After reading this story, I learned about how our environment around us could effect us so easily and that we have to control ourselves to go towards the straight road. Zedediha Applewhite, the leader of the Applewhites founded the creative acedemy and made the younger Applewhites to follow their own dreams. Jake wasn't familiar with the creative acedemy because he wasn't given the ammunition to follow his own dream and he didn't even knew his dream.
  When Randolph Applewhite, a director who is chosen to direct the 'Sound of Music' going to be held in Traybridge Theater hears Jake singing, learns about his potentials. So Jake, while learning varieties of curriculums with E.D Applewhite, starts to practice in Trabridge theater rehearsels but the show is soon canceled because of Mrs. Montrose, the theater owner. Consequently, they fall down but soon stands up because of E.D's proportion about having their own show in the barn. They all prepare, which shows extreme cooperation and results in a great ending of the show. Before the show starts, Jake cuts all of his red, spiky hair and pulls out all the earings in his face. I was so impressed by this part of how Jake changed his perspective towards himself and his life.
  Life is certainly an adventerous quest that gives us opportunity to learn and intake knowledge. I wish Jake had grown up into a famous singer!