One Green Apple

By: Eve Bunting

Illustrated By: Ted Lewin
Grade Level: 3-4

Have you ever been to a new place where you didn’t know anyone?  Have you ever traveled to a place where they spoke a language other than your own?   Did you feel alone?  Did you feel scared?   If so, I am sure you can relate to the character Farah in the story One Green Apple by Eve Bunting. 

In One Green Apple, Farah the main character, moved to the U.S. with her family.  She begins going to school in the U.S. and does not know any English.  Farah feels lost in this new world, she feels alone.  Farah does not understand her peers and feels glares from her classmates because she knows she looks and dresses differently.  Her class takes a trip to an orchard to go apple picking; Farah wants to communicate and feel welcomed by her class but the language barrier makes this a challenge.  Finally Farah begins to feel more at ease when a girl introduces herself to Farah as Anna.  This welcoming gesture and smile makes Farah feel better.  As the class goes apple picking; Farah chooses the only green apple in the orchard.  She finds comfort because the apple is different just like her.   The story ends with the students working together to churn the apples into apple juice.  Farah and her classmates had to work together.  By the end of the story another boy introduces himself to Farah.  Farah feels welcomed and has made some new friends despite their differences.

This story is an example of fictional literature.  Rich illustrations support the text in helping the reader understand how characters are feeling as well as understanding the plot and setting.  This story teaches a lesson about reaching out a hand to welcome others despite their differences.  It portrays how we can all connect with one another even though we may speak different languages.  Anna reached out and welcomed Farah and Farah who at first felt alone was able to feel comforted and welcomed by her new friend.  The story is told in Farah’s perspective which helps the reader understand what it may be like for a foreign student beginning school in another country.  Some children may have never had this experience and this story will give them insight on how to welcome new students in the future.  It will give readers empathy and a greater understanding of students such as english language learners.  There are several guiding questions that a teacher could ask her students.  I think it would be important to stop throughout the story and ask students how they think Farah is feeling and why.  Before reading the story I may ask my students if they have ever been to another country or have ever been the “new student.”  A discussion before reading this story would be a great way to later connection students’ experiences with the story.

MA Frameworks:

3.2 Recount stories, including fables, folktales, and myths from diverse cultures; determine the central message, lesson, or moral and explain how it is conveyed through key details in the text.

3.3 Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events.