Northern Spy

The Northern Spy apple is a symbol that appears twice in the narrative: when Tessa is making an apple pie for Finn and as the book’s title. Northern Spy apples are known for their ability to thrive in harsh and cold conditions. Allegedly, the first apple tree of its kind was found in New York State and proved capable of weathering the terrible winters of the area. In both instances of its inclusion, the apple comes to symbolize the resilience and adaptive quality of not only Tessa and the Daly family as a whole but also of the people of Northern Ireland, given their perilous and violent history. The apple is also a bit of a play on words, aptly describing Tessa’s role as an informer, or spy, for Northern Ireland. Both the people and land have also come to showcase some of the apple’s known qualities. Though Tessa and her sister are often found in dangerous situations, they both find a way to forge on and accommodate their situation. Likewise, though the people of Northern Ireland have seen and continue to see abundant horrors and deaths, they remain capable of having a daily life. Textually, therefore, it helps to support the theme of mundanity in civil warfare as it signifies how resiliency and adaptability are integral parts of surviving in a constantly dangerous environment like Northern Ireland.