An easy-to-follow story set in China during the late 1940s involves nine-year-old Ying, an active girl whose constant activities bring almost daily mishaps. Ying's determination to get an apple for her grandmother requires her to do boring chores, and she gets into one scrape after another. The idea that there are children as well as adults who have only read about but never tasted "sweet and crunchy" apples will intrigue many U.S. readers. The fast-paced plot includes cultural details that do not get in the way of the sparkling dialogue that may have a few too many American idioms; however, these will make the short "chapter book" even more appealing for U.S. readers, even as a "read-aloud." (Ages 6-9)

Ying knows the perfect birthday present for her grandmother--a shiny, crunchy red apple. But they live in Hong Kong, where apples are "rich people's fruit". Ying has the perfect plan to earn the money--if she can keep out of the school bully's way.