The Poison Apples

We all know the stories of Cinderella, Snow White, and Rapunzel. But have you ever heard of Alice Bingley-Beckerman, Reena Paruchuri, or Molly Miller? Of course you haven't. Not yet. What these girls have in common with their fairy tale sisters is this: They are the stepdaughters of three very evil stepmothers. And they're not happy about it. They think they are alone in their unhappiness until they arrive at Putnam Mount McKinsey, a posh boarding school located in lovely rural Massachusetts. Here is where they will plot their revenge. But first they have to meet.

“Archer makes a wickedly funny debut. . . . The teens’ initial misjudgments of one another fuel much of the initial comedy, while Archer’s knowing prose gives even the old-fashioned moral a hip ring.”—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
“Archer displays a sure sense of teens’ dialogue, anxieties, and, best of all, humor . . . Clever, hip, and satisfying, this will attract many readers, who will look forward to the sequels suggested at the story’s close.”—Booklist
“This pleasant read offers food for thought for even the most reluctant reader. The strength of the story lies in its realistic portrayal of teen insecurity and the need to have love and structure in a seemingly hostile world. . . . Fans of Ann Brashares’s Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants will enjoy this tale of feisty young women on the brink of adulthood.”—Voice of Youth Advocates
“The Poison Apple members . . . are entertaining and their hyperbolic tales of woe might be what’s most appealing to gossip-loving adolescents.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Good fun.”—School Library Journal
“[A] Funny, often poignant first novel . . . What sets the book apart from many in the boarding school genre is the underlying compassion these three retain, despite their new and uncertain circumstances. . . . Readers will hope for more from this likable trio—and this talented storyteller.”—Shelf Awareness