Tsvi Jolles

Category: Guides

  • Notable Quotes from Apricots

    apricots cover
    • “What’s funny about the things that stay the same is that if you look close—really close—you start to see how they’ve changed, too. Or maybe you changed right along with them. Like you and everything else moved a little each day—but nobody said a word about it, so it feels like nobody moved at all.” (The Quiet Things That Stay)
    • “Sometimes the bravest thing isn’t wrestling a monkey or sneaking through the forest at night. Sometimes it’s walking through a door you used to be too scared to open. And finding out it still opens just fine.” (Paper Boats in the Soft Light)
    • “The silent road always has more branches on the ground, pits, holes, thorns, nettles, brambles, and tangly vines—plus wasp nests in the trees, under the leaves, or dangling from the darkest corners. So, yes, it’s tempting to choose the other one—the smooth, easy-looking path that keeps saying, Come here, come here. But if you pick the thorny road—the one that doesn’t call you in—a strange thing happens. You get scratched, you get bruised, you get muddy … but the deeper you go, the better you feel.” (Paper Boats in the Soft Light)
    • “You imagine the worst things first—even when there’s no sign they’ll happen.” (Dark Chocolate and Persimmons, Mrs. Karabach to Gilly)
    • “When you have too many thoughts storming inside, always try to choose the one that makes you feel calmer—and ditch the troubling one. If you practice that, Gilly, I promise you, everything will start to feel a little lighter.” (Dark Chocolate and Persimmons, Mrs. Karabach to Gilly)
    • “Some stories we never hear can have more effect on our lives—and on the lives of those around us—than the ones we do. Isn’t that the strangest kind of magic?” (Bad Star Constellation)
    • “The one reader you truly owe everything to—the only one who really understands what you’re writing, and why, and for who—is you. And if you ever turn your back on that loyalty to yourself, then every word you ever write down will be just a puncake lie.” (A Story for Me)
    • “His whole heart was with Oggy. It’s also my reason to believe he didn’t actually poison his new brother. We were just caught in the panic of it all.” (The Song I Never Sang, Gilly about Monty)
    • “Oggy will return. No need to worry. But the crying—that’ll be both your friend and your enemy. Don’t fight it. Accept it. Please. For your own good.” (The One Called Nine, Nine to Gilly)
    • “No suffering for free.” Which means that if you have to suffer—like from a body ache or your soul being tormented—one day, somehow, it’ll turn into something good. Something surprising. Something worth it.” (No Free Lunch)
    • “Because when you read a book, your brain doesn’t think you’re alone or lost. It thinks you’re part of something that’s moving, changing, doing things. So in that way, reading is its own kind of compass. It points you somewhere—you’re just not sure if that somewhere is north, or maybe someplace warmer.” (Writing from the Bottom of the Forest)
    • “What a horrible sentence to write. But I wrote it—and ever since everything that happened, I’ve decided not to erase what I write. Just learn to read it the way it is, until it stops hurting so much.” (The Way It Is, Gilly about Monty’s aim)
    • “And how, even from a distance, he felt more like home than almost anyone else. Which is a strange thing to realize while holding hands with your best friend.” (Three Popsicles, Gilly about Monty)

  • A Companion to Apricots and The Gilly Diaries

    A guide for teachers, students, parents, and curious readers who want to explore the world of Gilly more deeply. Learn about the characters, themes, and ideas behind “Apricots,” the second book in “The Gilly Diaries” series—where writing, wonder, and emotional growth take center stage.

    apricots alternate cover

    What is “Apricots” and how does it relate to “The Gilly Diaries” series?

    “Apricots” is the second book in “The Gilly Diaries” series, written by Tsvi Jolles. It continues the story of Gilly, a young girl who chronicles her experiences and thoughts in her diary. The first book in the series is titled “Tangerines,” which introduces readers to Gilly’s world, her close relationship with her father, and her adventures with her best friend, Oggy. “Apricots” delves deeper into Gilly’s life, introducing new characters and exploring more complex emotional themes.

    Who is Gilly, the protagonist of “Apricots,” and what are some of her defining characteristics?

    Gilly is a perceptive and sensitive 10-year-old girl who expresses herself profoundly through her diary. She has a deep connection with nature, particularly her tangerine tree, Orti, and the surrounding forest. Gilly is observant, imaginative, and enjoys counting things. She values honesty and is fiercely loyal to her loved ones, especially her best friend, Oggy, and her father. Despite facing challenges and emotional complexities, she possesses a remarkable resilience and an innate ability to find wonder and magic in the world around her. She often processes her experiences and emotions through writing, creating stories, and engaging in “tangerine meditations.”

    What is the significance of the “apricot trees” in the story?

    The six apricot trees planted in Oggy’s garden are a symbolic gift from Mr. Bloom to Mrs. Bloom and their new foster son, Monty. They represent an attempt to make Monty’s transition into the Bloom family easier, as he used to care for an apricot grove in his previous foster home. The trees also become a point of contention and a marker of change within the narrative, particularly in relation to Oggy’s feelings about Monty’s arrival and the shifts in family dynamics. Gilly also associates apricot jam with feelings and finding romantic love, suggesting a broader symbolism of sweetness and connection.

    Who are the key characters in Gilly’s life and what are their relationships to her?

    Gilly’s life is populated by a vibrant cast of characters:

    • Mom: Gilly’s mother, who, despite her own struggles, is a source of comfort and support. She is protective and intuitive about Gilly’s feelings.
    • Dad (Ari): Gilly’s father, who lives separately from them but maintains a special bond with Gilly through their Tuesday visits. He is sensitive, and Gilly sees a deep connection between his experiences and her own.
    • Oggy: Gilly’s best friend and “soul sibling.” He is boisterous, imaginative, and often makes up words and rules for games. Their friendship is a central pillar of Gilly’s life.
    • Gilma: Gilly’s newborn baby sister, whose arrival brings both joy and new dynamics to the family.
    • Mississippi, Odelia, and Eternity: Friends of Gilly’s mother, who are significant adult figures in Gilly’s life, often playing cards together. Mississippi, in particular, acts as a supportive, older-sister figure to Gilly and offers life advice.
    • Monty: Oggy’s new older foster brother. He is a musician, initially seen as quiet and perhaps troubled, but Gilly develops a complex understanding of him. His presence significantly impacts the Bloom family and Gilly’s own life.
    • Elis: The gardener, whose presence becomes increasingly significant and complex throughout the narrative, especially in connection to Gilly’s mother and the dramatic events that unfold.
    • Mrs. Karabach: Gilly’s creative writing teacher, who recognizes Gilly’s talent and provides guidance, even if Gilly sometimes finds her advice challenging.
    • Sabigail: A yanaka (a unique forest creature resembling a llama), who is Gilly’s loyal animal companion and confidante.
    • Nine: A mysterious man who lives in a cave, a keeper of books and stories, who reveals hidden truths about Gilly’s father.
    • Jim: The mailman, a seemingly ordinary character who unexpectedly shares his own story of loss and connection with Gilly.

    What are some of the main themes explored in “Apricots”?

    “Apricots” explores several profound themes:

    • Change and Acceptance: Gilly frequently grapples with changes in her life, from her mother’s new baby and Oggy’s new brother to the shifts in relationships and personal growth. A recurring lesson from Nine is the importance of acceptance.
    • Loss and Grief: The narrative deeply addresses themes of loss, particularly the absence of Gilly’s father in her daily life and, later, the tragic circumstances surrounding his death. It also touches on Oggy’s feelings of displacement and his foster family’s past losses.
    • Family and Belonging: The book delves into the complexities of family—biological, chosen, and foster—and the search for belonging within these structures. Monty’s struggle to fit in and Oggy’s feelings about sharing his space are prominent.
    • Imagination and Storytelling as Coping Mechanisms: Gilly’s diary and her vivid imagination are central to how she processes her emotions and experiences, transforming challenging realities into manageable narratives. The act of writing itself becomes a source of comfort and understanding.
    • The Power of Words and Connection: The story emphasizes how words can shape reality, offer comfort, or cause pain. Gilly’s and Oggy’s made-up words, Mrs. Karabach’s advice, and the unexpected connections formed through conversation all highlight the power of language.
    • Nature as a Sanctuary and Metaphor: The forest, trees, and natural elements serve as a constant backdrop and a source of wisdom, calm, and metaphorical understanding for Gilly. Her tangerine tree, Orti, is a particularly important confidant.
    • Perception vs. Reality: Gilly frequently questions what is real versus what is imagined or perceived. Characters’ differing perspectives, secrets, and misunderstandings contribute to this theme.

    How does Gilly’s writing style evolve throughout the story, and what influence do her teachers and experiences have on it?

    Gilly’s writing style is a blend of childlike observation, poetic descriptions, and deep introspection. Mrs. Karabach, her creative writing teacher, encourages her to make her stories “flow” like a train to a clear destination and to use “hats and scarves” to make sentences more descriptive and cozy. While Gilly initially resists these formal suggestions, believing her “jumpy” style is authentic, her writing subtly evolves. Her experiences, especially the dramatic events surrounding Oggy and Monty, push her to record events with increasing detail and emotional depth, transforming her diary into a more cohesive narrative. She learns to use her writing to process trauma and to find truth, even when it’s painful, embodying the idea that “the one reader you truly owe everything to… is you.”

    What role does mystery and secrets play in “Apricots”?

    Mystery and secrets are integral to the plot and character development in “Apricots.” Gilly often encounters situations or learns information that is partially hidden or withheld, whether it’s the undisclosed reasons for her father’s separation, the “secret” about the apricot trees, the true nature of Monty’s past, or the circumstances surrounding Oggy’s disappearance. This constant unveiling of secrets keeps Gilly (and the reader) engaged in piecing together the full picture, reflecting the complexities of human relationships and the gradual process of understanding. Characters like Nine hold significant secrets, which, when revealed, shed new light on Gilly’s family history and personal identity.

    What is the overall message or overarching idea conveyed by “Apricots”?

    The overarching idea of “Apricots” is the transformative power of acceptance, connection, and storytelling in navigating life’s inevitable changes and challenges. Despite experiencing profound loss, uncertainty, and the complexities of growing up, Gilly learns that even in the darkest moments, there is potential for growth, understanding, and finding one’s authentic self. The book suggests that by embracing honesty in self-expression, fostering genuine connections, and learning to accept difficult truths, individuals can find resilience and moments of profound beauty, much like a thriving garden that weathers all seasons.