LitPick Review
The Cilantro in Apple Pie, Kimberley Nadine Knights’ contemporary young adult debut, reveals 16-year-old Trinidad and Tobago native Rubie Keane's journey to Mellowbrook, Massachusetts, where Rubie’s older sister Violet and Violet’s new husband Dennis Peterson live—and where Rubie’s ailing parents decide she’ll continue her education at nearby private high school Lumiere Hall, essentially a feeder school for the Ivy League.
Due to undisclosed events in her past, Rubie is reluctant to make friends with the privileged students at Lumiere. For the most part, the feeling seems to be mutual. They view her as exotic and speculate on her mixed ethnicity, but ultimately keep their distance—that is, except for the wealthy, mysteriously broody Gil Stromeyer, who is determined to befriend her, despite the disparity in their respective backgrounds. Rubie isn’t sure what to make of this not-so-gentle giant, who has violent outbursts but then speeds to the rescue of his popular older brother Reed when the elder Stromeyer gets too drunk. Eventually, Rubie and Gil form a bond, which centers largely on a lack of emotional probing. But Gil harbors dark family secrets of his own, and one explosive night will see tensions rise to the breaking point, leaving Rubie, Gil, and relationships with the people they love hanging in the balance.
Opinion:
I truly appreciated the diverse background of the protagonist and her family, as well as the Trini slang, dishes, and other cultural aspects woven into the novel. The discussion of faith was welcome, even if it was a bit conspicuous in places. It was also quite refreshing to see a platonic relationship as the focus of a contemporary YA. However, while the characters are generally likeable, there are instances in which some of their emotional reactions seem overblown and unrealistic, and the reason Gil wants to befriend Rubie in the first place seems rather strange, even for a misanthropic teenager. Additionally, while the first-person narrative flows well (if a bit unevenly paced), there’s a perspective switch from Chapters 16-18 that feels unnecessary, and the abundance of adverbs becomes grating by the end of the novel.
Ultimately, the book lives up to its title: It’s perfect if you’re looking for a twist on something classic, sweet, and a bit indulgent, but it’s tinged with the presence of ingredients it could probably do without.
