Lisa Samson, Apples of Gold

Apples of Gold

Lisa Samson

Waterbrook, Aug 2006, $10.99

ISBN: 1400070937

Kind hearted island Governor St. Juste summons the two Carpenter sisters, just turned seventeen Kate and almost eighteen Liza. Just his calling for them terrorize the siblings who cannot understand what they did wrong even as they rationalize that the governor owes his life to their father. Still he is their benevolent ruler so they heed his beckoning.

He explains that his eldest son Claude is coming home after a tour with the Royal Navy. He gives each girl a red apple that they are to protect before giving it to Claude. The one who keeps the apple properly will stay in Claude's home. Who will pass the test depends on how each sees the importance of cherishing and nurturing the apple but neither understands the hidden agenda well beyond keeping house for an aristocrat.

Those who push abstinence down teen throats expecting sheepish obedience need to take a close look at the low keyed parable Apples Of God; a fantastic fairy tale that emphasizes sexual wholesomeness is a reasonable choice. Liza is a terrific character struggling with the possibilities of intimacy that her sister seems to enjoy, but believing as difficult as it seems she feels not ready and sticks to her convictions. Though simplistic, this "parable of purity" is a well written message targeting young teens as sexual pressures to do it bombard her from every angle as NPR recently reported with even young children's TV shows.

Harriet Klausner