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Me and Emma
Determined to save her younger sister from their drunken and abusive stepfather, eight-year-old Carrie makes preparations for them to escape their violent home, but before they can leave, a random act of brutality forever changes all of their lives.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
348 people are currently reading
24.1k people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Flock
9Ìýbooks304Ìýfollowers Former print journalist Elizabeth Flock reported for TIME and PEOPLE magazines before becoming an on-air correspondent for CBS News. Her acclaimed debut novel, BUT INSIDE I'M SCREAMING, chronically the psychological struggles of a young television reporter in New York, was released in 2003. Her second novel, ME & EMMA, became a New York Times bestseller and was an Indiebound (formerly Booksense) Notable Book of 2005. EVERYTHING MUST GO, Elizabeth's third novel, loosely based on a clothing store in Connecticut, was published in 2007. Elizabeth's books have been translated into seven languages and published in twelve countries.
Her fourth novel, SLEEPWALKING IN DAYLIGHT, came out in 2009, and was chosen as an Indie Next List (formerly Booksense) title. WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SISTER, a follow-up to ME & EMMA, will be published by Random House on August 7, 2012.
Elizabeth Flock lives in New York City.
Her fourth novel, SLEEPWALKING IN DAYLIGHT, came out in 2009, and was chosen as an Indie Next List (formerly Booksense) title. WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SISTER, a follow-up to ME & EMMA, will be published by Random House on August 7, 2012.
Elizabeth Flock lives in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,077 reviews
May 13, 2017
What can I say what an absorbing read this was I loved tis book Me & Emma by Elizabeth Flock was a well written novel that dealt with a delicate subject of child abuse & was delicately handled. The story was told by Caroline's POV which I found interesting for a child to tell the story & the maturity she showed.
Caroline & Emma were sisters, living a horrid life with their mother Libby Parker & her husband Richard who was a wife beater they coped with their life as best as they could but one day Caroline 8 & Emma 6 decided to get a job at Mr Whites store to get away for a while. Their mother Libby who was struggling with her own problems gave them permission Mr White liked the girls so much that he looked out for them.
Then one day both girls decided to run away as they were finding it hard to cope, until one of the neighbours recognised them & sent them back home, as their struggle got worse Caroline decided to write to her Aunt Lillibit (AKA Elizabeth that's what Emma called her) so eventually after so many letters she came to see Libby who was completely shocked to see her, telling Libby a few home truths Lillibitt leaves.
What happens from here on is 2 children who are so afraid of Richard their stepfather they decide to kill him.
DO THEY GO THROUGH WITH THEIR PLAN OR DO THEY HAVE SECOND THOUGHTS!!!
This is a harrowing read as its subject is disturbing & chilling what happens in the end shook me no end. 5 BIG FAT STARS.
Caroline & Emma were sisters, living a horrid life with their mother Libby Parker & her husband Richard who was a wife beater they coped with their life as best as they could but one day Caroline 8 & Emma 6 decided to get a job at Mr Whites store to get away for a while. Their mother Libby who was struggling with her own problems gave them permission Mr White liked the girls so much that he looked out for them.
Then one day both girls decided to run away as they were finding it hard to cope, until one of the neighbours recognised them & sent them back home, as their struggle got worse Caroline decided to write to her Aunt Lillibit (AKA Elizabeth that's what Emma called her) so eventually after so many letters she came to see Libby who was completely shocked to see her, telling Libby a few home truths Lillibitt leaves.
What happens from here on is 2 children who are so afraid of Richard their stepfather they decide to kill him.
DO THEY GO THROUGH WITH THEIR PLAN OR DO THEY HAVE SECOND THOUGHTS!!!
This is a harrowing read as its subject is disturbing & chilling what happens in the end shook me no end. 5 BIG FAT STARS.
July 8, 2008
This book was heartbreaking. I read it in the car as Nathan and I were driving back to Colorado Springs from Boise and many times, Nathan would look over to find me sniffling as tears streamed down my face.
Caroline and Emma Parker are sisters suffering after the tragic, unexpected death of their biological father. Living in a home with an angry, abusive stepfather and an emotionally absent mother, Caroline and her sister decide to run away from home to escape and, when they are found, their lives take a tragic and disastrous turn for the worse. Caroline attempts to protect herself and her younger sister by escaping into the world of her imagination, but she cannot protect herself when her own survival instinct bursts forward with tragic results.
This book was reminiscent of The Glass Castle in that it was about the abuse of children. For me, however, Me & Emma is more emotional than The Glass Castle because it is told from the point of view of an 8-year-old and not with the removed objectivity of a grown-up. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.
Caroline and Emma Parker are sisters suffering after the tragic, unexpected death of their biological father. Living in a home with an angry, abusive stepfather and an emotionally absent mother, Caroline and her sister decide to run away from home to escape and, when they are found, their lives take a tragic and disastrous turn for the worse. Caroline attempts to protect herself and her younger sister by escaping into the world of her imagination, but she cannot protect herself when her own survival instinct bursts forward with tragic results.
This book was reminiscent of The Glass Castle in that it was about the abuse of children. For me, however, Me & Emma is more emotional than The Glass Castle because it is told from the point of view of an 8-year-old and not with the removed objectivity of a grown-up. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.
January 9, 2015
SPOILER ALERT. DO NOT READ THIS REVIEW IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW HOW THE BOOK ENDS!!!
I'll be honest, the twist at the end really got me. I was guessing at all kinds of things. I was thinking that the mom did it and that we would find out that she killed her first husband too. But when it came out that Emma was imaginary it really took me by surprise. I flipped back through several of the scenes in the book and re-read them to find all the clues hidden along the way. Well done on the twist.
The problem is that the twist had nothing to do with the rest of the story. If you go back to high school literature and think about plot with the inciting incident, building story until the climax that answers the dramatic question. In this case the dramatic question was "how will they resolve the situation with Richard." In the end the question is solved when Richard dies, but that has nothing to do with the fact that Emma is imaginary. The twist ending is totally gratuitous. The story works with or without Emma. Without Emma (or with Emma being real) it is a story about abuse. With Emma, it is a story with a crazy, Hollywood-esque ending.
An example of a well-done twist is in the movie Sixth Sense. The Bruce Willis character is trying to make peace with himself on two levels: first, because he could not help the patient who shot him, he needs to help the new little boy who sees dead people. Second, he needs to heal his marriage. Both story lines are wrapped completely around the fact that he is dead himself.
Also, the tone of the book was too serious and realistic to end with a literary device. To use the Sixth Sense as an example again, throughout the movie it feels like a story, not real life. The book Emma and Me reads almost like a memoir. The voice of this eight-year-old girl and her descriptions of everything from her abuse to her school humiliations are very real. It reminded me a lot of Glass Castle, which is in fact a memoir. And the topic of abuse is a pretty serious thing to base your story around. We had to wade through a lot of miserable stuff just to get to this crazy twist. I thought the book was going to be about the affects of abuse or overcoming abuse or something. But it turned out the book was really about nothing. The only thing the abuse accomplished is that I really hated Richard by the end. But, you know what, I hated Richard within the first ten pages. This book could have been a short story instead of a novel. In fact, there were several times when I would stop and think, where is this book going? Nowhere! It just wallowed in muck. If I have to wade through that much misery, I want there to be something at the end that makes it worthwhile. She didn’t have to be in an abusive family to have an imaginary sister. She was schizo before Richard even showed up! The twist could have come out some other way.
So that’s why I only gave it two stars. I really didn’t enjoy reading it because there was too much mucky abuse stuff that turned out to be all for nothing (although, kudos to the author for not unnecessarily detailing the sexual abuse! She earned points for that for sure). It’s like there are two different stories, the abuse story, that had no redeeming point at the end, and the schizo story that didn’t have anything to do with the rest of the book. But the twist did get me big time at the end. Overall, it’s not a book I would recommend.
I'll be honest, the twist at the end really got me. I was guessing at all kinds of things. I was thinking that the mom did it and that we would find out that she killed her first husband too. But when it came out that Emma was imaginary it really took me by surprise. I flipped back through several of the scenes in the book and re-read them to find all the clues hidden along the way. Well done on the twist.
The problem is that the twist had nothing to do with the rest of the story. If you go back to high school literature and think about plot with the inciting incident, building story until the climax that answers the dramatic question. In this case the dramatic question was "how will they resolve the situation with Richard." In the end the question is solved when Richard dies, but that has nothing to do with the fact that Emma is imaginary. The twist ending is totally gratuitous. The story works with or without Emma. Without Emma (or with Emma being real) it is a story about abuse. With Emma, it is a story with a crazy, Hollywood-esque ending.
An example of a well-done twist is in the movie Sixth Sense. The Bruce Willis character is trying to make peace with himself on two levels: first, because he could not help the patient who shot him, he needs to help the new little boy who sees dead people. Second, he needs to heal his marriage. Both story lines are wrapped completely around the fact that he is dead himself.
Also, the tone of the book was too serious and realistic to end with a literary device. To use the Sixth Sense as an example again, throughout the movie it feels like a story, not real life. The book Emma and Me reads almost like a memoir. The voice of this eight-year-old girl and her descriptions of everything from her abuse to her school humiliations are very real. It reminded me a lot of Glass Castle, which is in fact a memoir. And the topic of abuse is a pretty serious thing to base your story around. We had to wade through a lot of miserable stuff just to get to this crazy twist. I thought the book was going to be about the affects of abuse or overcoming abuse or something. But it turned out the book was really about nothing. The only thing the abuse accomplished is that I really hated Richard by the end. But, you know what, I hated Richard within the first ten pages. This book could have been a short story instead of a novel. In fact, there were several times when I would stop and think, where is this book going? Nowhere! It just wallowed in muck. If I have to wade through that much misery, I want there to be something at the end that makes it worthwhile. She didn’t have to be in an abusive family to have an imaginary sister. She was schizo before Richard even showed up! The twist could have come out some other way.
So that’s why I only gave it two stars. I really didn’t enjoy reading it because there was too much mucky abuse stuff that turned out to be all for nothing (although, kudos to the author for not unnecessarily detailing the sexual abuse! She earned points for that for sure). It’s like there are two different stories, the abuse story, that had no redeeming point at the end, and the schizo story that didn’t have anything to do with the rest of the book. But the twist did get me big time at the end. Overall, it’s not a book I would recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2014
In the tradition of Ellen Foster, and Bastard Out of Carolina, the 8 year old narrator's guileless voice grabbed me from page 1 and never let go--hence the rating of 5. I know this one is going to haunt me.
A tragic, heartbreaking read--there are parts I found sickening and hard to keep reading. But, I couldn't bear to not know what happened to Carrie and Emma.
A tragic, heartbreaking read--there are parts I found sickening and hard to keep reading. But, I couldn't bear to not know what happened to Carrie and Emma.
January 28, 2009
I was really torn between giving this book and awful review, and giving it a great one. So I compromised and put it smack in the middle of the star continuum.
This book was very difficult to read. The tales of abuse chronicled in Me & Emma prompted me to close the book and take a "break" from it many times.
Though I thought I knew what the ending would be, and dreaded it for most of the book, I was thrown for a loop. Although the character I thought was going to die did not, I strangely didn't feel relieved. I'll admit it, I cried during this part. It's a very deep, sad look into the coping mechanisms children resort to when forced to experience death, trauma, and physical and mental abuse. It was the type of ending I had to read twice (and yes, i cried just as much the second time). However, the ending leaves a lot of questions and a lot of concerns for the characters' well being, as it ends somewhat abruptly (the only thing in this book that ends abruptly - it tends to draw out *too* much at many other points).
In my opinion, Me & Emma is worth reading, but make sure to follow it with a book by David Sedaris, because you will need a pick me up.
This book was very difficult to read. The tales of abuse chronicled in Me & Emma prompted me to close the book and take a "break" from it many times.
Though I thought I knew what the ending would be, and dreaded it for most of the book, I was thrown for a loop. Although the character I thought was going to die did not, I strangely didn't feel relieved. I'll admit it, I cried during this part. It's a very deep, sad look into the coping mechanisms children resort to when forced to experience death, trauma, and physical and mental abuse. It was the type of ending I had to read twice (and yes, i cried just as much the second time). However, the ending leaves a lot of questions and a lot of concerns for the characters' well being, as it ends somewhat abruptly (the only thing in this book that ends abruptly - it tends to draw out *too* much at many other points).
In my opinion, Me & Emma is worth reading, but make sure to follow it with a book by David Sedaris, because you will need a pick me up.
September 25, 2017
Carrie and Emma are sisters, ages eight and six, who have suffered a great deal of tragedy and loss in their young lives. Their father was brutally murdered and their mother retreated into her bedroom until meeting their step-father who was a horrible man. In fact both parents were horrible which made this a very sad read but even so, it was a good story. Four stars.
January 31, 2009
I could not put this down. Extremely well-written and engaging, although emotionally manipulative.
Some scenes are unbearably heartrending. There is a surprise finish that will make you want to immediately re-read the book. Heartily recommended, but not for the faint of heart..
Some scenes are unbearably heartrending. There is a surprise finish that will make you want to immediately re-read the book. Heartily recommended, but not for the faint of heart..
May 26, 2021
This story physical abuse of children and physical abuse of their mother. The abuse was at the hands of their stepfather Richard who was just a mean cruel man. They also lived in poverty and did not have much food. The end of this book had a twist I definitely wasn't expecting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 25, 2015
by is a story of terrible childhood abuse and neglect. 8 year old Carrie and her younger sister Emma are abused by their stepfather and their mother (also abused by him) does nothing to help them. Carrie's father was murdered several years earlier and no one has recovered from his death.
The abuse in this book is brutal and at times made it hard to read but Carrie is a compelling character and her life in a small town in North Carolina town draws you in and keeps you reading. I grew to care greatly about her and Emma.
The book was a good though not great read with enough suspense to carry you through the painful details of Carrie's life. More than this I can not tell without risking spoilers.
The abuse in this book is brutal and at times made it hard to read but Carrie is a compelling character and her life in a small town in North Carolina town draws you in and keeps you reading. I grew to care greatly about her and Emma.
The book was a good though not great read with enough suspense to carry you through the painful details of Carrie's life. More than this I can not tell without risking spoilers.
August 8, 2007
This was a "2005 Highlights" recommended book from the Independent Bookseller List (I have liked several from this list including The History of Love, Banishing Verona, Any Bitter Thing, and A Complicated Kindness)...
I would give it 2 1/2 stars. Several things bothered me. It seemed like a slightly cliched version of a "typical" poverty-stricken little girl getting abused by her stepfather while uttering adorable southern phrases. The only problem is that I feel like I've read a dozen books like this with 2 major differences 1) they were better written (ie Book of Ruth, Bastard out of Carolina) 2) the author was actually southern so knew how to cleverly and consistently use southern lingo.
With that said, this one DID have a twist at the end, which saved the book for me.
I would give it 2 1/2 stars. Several things bothered me. It seemed like a slightly cliched version of a "typical" poverty-stricken little girl getting abused by her stepfather while uttering adorable southern phrases. The only problem is that I feel like I've read a dozen books like this with 2 major differences 1) they were better written (ie Book of Ruth, Bastard out of Carolina) 2) the author was actually southern so knew how to cleverly and consistently use southern lingo.
With that said, this one DID have a twist at the end, which saved the book for me.
March 6, 2009
This story is told from the point of view of an abused and all but abandoned 8 year old girl named Caroline (Carrie) who is in a desperate family situation.
Emma, the tough-as-nails younger sister, and Richard, the wicked stepfather, join with Carrie's mother, herself a victim of spousal abuse, and together the family moves to a new town, away from their haunting roots, only to set up in an area where the main attraction for the older folks is playing a banjo in the back of a general store and perfecting their shotgun technique on tin cans.
Carrie is in an awful situation at home, constantly bearing witness to the physical and mental cruelties of Richard. She misses her father, who was brutally murdered when she was just a small child, and she finds it difficult to do well in school, make more than one true friend, stay out of trouble at home. Emma is her only salvation, her only guts and defense in a cruel and heartless existence.
I can't say much more for fear of ruining the story. Suffice to say you will be mesmerized by the poignancy of this story, your heart will absolutely break for their suffering, and you will be torn between rooting for a happy ending and just wishing the pain would stop at whatever the cost. There were chapters that left me shaking in sobs, I was so in pieces over the graphic abuse. And reading it from a child's perspective is what made it all the more heart wrenching.
You won't close this book with a smile on your face, rather, with a heavy heart. It is tremendously hard-hitting and will stir your soul.
Emma, the tough-as-nails younger sister, and Richard, the wicked stepfather, join with Carrie's mother, herself a victim of spousal abuse, and together the family moves to a new town, away from their haunting roots, only to set up in an area where the main attraction for the older folks is playing a banjo in the back of a general store and perfecting their shotgun technique on tin cans.
Carrie is in an awful situation at home, constantly bearing witness to the physical and mental cruelties of Richard. She misses her father, who was brutally murdered when she was just a small child, and she finds it difficult to do well in school, make more than one true friend, stay out of trouble at home. Emma is her only salvation, her only guts and defense in a cruel and heartless existence.
I can't say much more for fear of ruining the story. Suffice to say you will be mesmerized by the poignancy of this story, your heart will absolutely break for their suffering, and you will be torn between rooting for a happy ending and just wishing the pain would stop at whatever the cost. There were chapters that left me shaking in sobs, I was so in pieces over the graphic abuse. And reading it from a child's perspective is what made it all the more heart wrenching.
You won't close this book with a smile on your face, rather, with a heavy heart. It is tremendously hard-hitting and will stir your soul.
March 7, 2008
This book is very well-written, though it's terribly sad. As a therapist, I had the end figured out in the first 20 pages, so in that regard, I felt like it was predictable. Having worked so long with abused children, there was nothing surprising about Carrie/Emma killing Richard or the fact that Emma is real to Carrie, even after the murder.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 26, 2008
Excellent with an unexpected twist at the end. I couldn't put it down.
April 2, 2019
Carrie (Caroline) en Emma zijn 2 zusjes van respectievelijk 8 en 6 jaar. Ze hadden een gelukkig leven totdat hun vader brutaal vermoord werd en toen hun moeder hertrouwde met Richard meer om de eindjes aan elkaar te kunnen houden in hun leven wordt hun leven een hel. Richard drinkt veel en kan zijn handen niet thuis houden. Op school gaat het Carrie ook niet voor de wind. Ze wordt veel gepest terwijl Emma de meer zelfvekerde is en populairder. Wanneer Richard nieuw werk krijgt in een houtzagerij in een andere stad verhuist de ganse familie en denkt Carrie een nieuw leven te kunnen beginnen in een nieuwe school met nieuwe vriendinnen. Daar leert ze dan ook Wilson kennen die een grote rol in hun leven zal spelen. Maar dat einde gaat ik nu echt niet zien aankomen. Ergens wel maar dat andere gedeelte niet. Eigenlijk krijgt het boek 3 1/2 sterren maar die halve bestaan hier precies niet.
January 3, 2012
Let me state it: Me & Emma is about child abuse. Maybe it's not exactly ponies and rainbows, but that's not my main problem. I can't really complain about the topic, because I did know what it was going to be about, still I can't stand this book and I admit the topic could be partly blaimed. However, I did like Elizabeth Scott's , didn't I? So that's not like I couldn't stand any book dealing with child abuse, I just loathe this one.
I didn't like to read about Carrie and Emma, about what they had to put up with, for me it was a horrific experience and I skimmed almost whole second half, I just read the end, which was really surprising. I can tell you I would love the twist if I wasn't bored of my mind till I got there. I was sometimes slightly disgusted or scared yet mostly only bored. And it's never a good thing when you have to push yourself through a book..
I didn't like to read about Carrie and Emma, about what they had to put up with, for me it was a horrific experience and I skimmed almost whole second half, I just read the end, which was really surprising. I can tell you I would love the twist if I wasn't bored of my mind till I got there. I was sometimes slightly disgusted or scared yet mostly only bored. And it's never a good thing when you have to push yourself through a book..
November 25, 2008
For eight-year-old Carrie Parker, life is divided into before and after. Before her beloved father's death, her family lived a relatively happy life in the small town of Toast, North Carolina. Now she and her sister, Emma, endure daily verbal and physical abuse at the hands of their stepfather, Richard, and the emotional absence of their mother. "A big sister has to look out for a baby sister," says Carrie, and she does her best to protect herself and Emma from Richard's fists.
ME & EMMA is narrated by Carrie, who lays out the details of her life with a child's intuitiveness and touching simplicity. Central to the story is her relationship with Emma, the one constant in a hardscrabble existence. In many ways, Carrie and Emma are opposites. Carrie has a dark complexion and Emma is fair, "like someone got bored painting her and just left her blank for someone else to fill in." Carrie is older by two years, but it's often the fearless Emma who leads the way. Emma is more of a realist, while Carrie, whose most cherished possession is a book of stamps from around the world, dreams of far away places. In particular, Bermuda, where she believes it's "too pretty for anything to be wrong, and I bet they even have a law that would keep people like Richard out altogether."
As the story unfolds, Carrie devises ways to escape the reality of her home life, from an aborted runaway attempt that has dire consequences to hiding behind the living room couch. "Behind-the-couch," she says, "is like another room for me and Emma. It's our fort. Anyway, we usually head there when we've counted ten squeaks from the foot pedal of the metal trash can in the kitchen. The bottles clank so loud I think my head'll split in two."
The narrative alternates scenes from the past --- dominated by Carrie's memories of her father --- with events in the present, making the difference between the two all the more heartbreaking. Throughout, Elizabeth Flock's imagery and phrasing is pitch-perfect with lines such as this one: "I can barely remember Momma the way she used to be, before Richard broke her into pieces."
Flock's deceptively simple prose belies not only a seriousness in subject matter but also clever subtleties in the plot. Carrie relays information that she doesn't always understand, but to the reader these are important points to look out for in the story. They eventually shed light on devastating family secrets in both the past and the present.
ME & EMMA is not purely escapist reading. The injustices suffered by Carrie and Emma --- and their helplessness --- are stark reminders of the cruelty inflicted on children every day by the adults entrusted to care for them. And yet it's this same austerity that drives the narrative. Suffice it to say, you won't soon forget Carrie Parker and her little sister, Emma.
ME & EMMA is narrated by Carrie, who lays out the details of her life with a child's intuitiveness and touching simplicity. Central to the story is her relationship with Emma, the one constant in a hardscrabble existence. In many ways, Carrie and Emma are opposites. Carrie has a dark complexion and Emma is fair, "like someone got bored painting her and just left her blank for someone else to fill in." Carrie is older by two years, but it's often the fearless Emma who leads the way. Emma is more of a realist, while Carrie, whose most cherished possession is a book of stamps from around the world, dreams of far away places. In particular, Bermuda, where she believes it's "too pretty for anything to be wrong, and I bet they even have a law that would keep people like Richard out altogether."
As the story unfolds, Carrie devises ways to escape the reality of her home life, from an aborted runaway attempt that has dire consequences to hiding behind the living room couch. "Behind-the-couch," she says, "is like another room for me and Emma. It's our fort. Anyway, we usually head there when we've counted ten squeaks from the foot pedal of the metal trash can in the kitchen. The bottles clank so loud I think my head'll split in two."
The narrative alternates scenes from the past --- dominated by Carrie's memories of her father --- with events in the present, making the difference between the two all the more heartbreaking. Throughout, Elizabeth Flock's imagery and phrasing is pitch-perfect with lines such as this one: "I can barely remember Momma the way she used to be, before Richard broke her into pieces."
Flock's deceptively simple prose belies not only a seriousness in subject matter but also clever subtleties in the plot. Carrie relays information that she doesn't always understand, but to the reader these are important points to look out for in the story. They eventually shed light on devastating family secrets in both the past and the present.
ME & EMMA is not purely escapist reading. The injustices suffered by Carrie and Emma --- and their helplessness --- are stark reminders of the cruelty inflicted on children every day by the adults entrusted to care for them. And yet it's this same austerity that drives the narrative. Suffice it to say, you won't soon forget Carrie Parker and her little sister, Emma.
September 11, 2011
This week’s headline? Sisters suffer abuse
Why this book? Recommended by friend
Which book format? Hand-me-down
Primary reading environment? Boring weekday evenings
Any preconceived notions? Target Book Club
Identify most with? Emma for appearance
Three-word quote? “Planning ahead works�
Goes well with? Kibbles n Bits
They say you cain’t judge a book by its cover. I say you cain’t help doin� just that.
The girl on this cover, she’s supposed to be Emma, and I’ll be darned if she don’t look exactly like I did as a chile.
I must be vain or something, because that’s what finally got me to read this book.
My friend had told me it was good, and let me have her copy.
This is the same friend who gave me a book I liked, (I think I’ve talked about that book before), so I figured I could trust her taste.
I started the book not long after she give it to me, but I couldn’t get much farther than a few paragraphs into the reading before I done up and quit.
That little girl on the cover though.
It was the eyebrow that finally did it, that so-blond-it’s-almost-see-through left eyebrow.
So I read it, and honestly, I don’t see that there was any need for this story to be written.
The fact that Emma is being sexually abused is pretty obvious, and the whole story you’re squirmin� and tryin� not to think about that.
The back of the book talks about a “shocking revelation,� and I kept thinkin� that was going to have something to do with what Emma’s stepdaddy was doing to her behind that closed door.
In a way, it did, but with more of a twisty ending, sort of like that movie from a while back, the one with all the violence.
This story reminded me of a pig I seen over at my neighbor’s farm, wallowing around in filth of its own creation and not caring one bit what anyone thought about that.
I didn’t cry when that pig got butchered.
Other cultural accompaniments: (1999); by .
Grade: D
I leave you with this: Some things are just too hard to take.
Why this book? Recommended by friend
Which book format? Hand-me-down
Primary reading environment? Boring weekday evenings
Any preconceived notions? Target Book Club
Identify most with? Emma for appearance
Three-word quote? “Planning ahead works�
Goes well with? Kibbles n Bits
They say you cain’t judge a book by its cover. I say you cain’t help doin� just that.
The girl on this cover, she’s supposed to be Emma, and I’ll be darned if she don’t look exactly like I did as a chile.
I must be vain or something, because that’s what finally got me to read this book.
My friend had told me it was good, and let me have her copy.
This is the same friend who gave me a book I liked, (I think I’ve talked about that book before), so I figured I could trust her taste.
I started the book not long after she give it to me, but I couldn’t get much farther than a few paragraphs into the reading before I done up and quit.
That little girl on the cover though.
It was the eyebrow that finally did it, that so-blond-it’s-almost-see-through left eyebrow.
So I read it, and honestly, I don’t see that there was any need for this story to be written.
The fact that Emma is being sexually abused is pretty obvious, and the whole story you’re squirmin� and tryin� not to think about that.
The back of the book talks about a “shocking revelation,� and I kept thinkin� that was going to have something to do with what Emma’s stepdaddy was doing to her behind that closed door.
In a way, it did, but with more of a twisty ending, sort of like that movie from a while back, the one with all the violence.
This story reminded me of a pig I seen over at my neighbor’s farm, wallowing around in filth of its own creation and not caring one bit what anyone thought about that.
I didn’t cry when that pig got butchered.
Other cultural accompaniments: (1999); by .
Grade: D
I leave you with this: Some things are just too hard to take.
May 13, 2016
Dit boek geluisterd via @storytel_nl. Het meest heftige verhaal dat ik ooit heb "gelezen" en met een einde dat ik nooit, maar dan ook echt nooit, had kunnen bedenken. Heftig en triest. Helaas ook de bittere waarheid voor miljoenen kinderen over de hele wereld. Een boek over kindermishandeling (zowel fysiek als mentaal) en over vernedering. Over wanhoop en verdriet. Dit boek gaat heel diep je ziel in, té diep soms. Zo diep dat ik het liefst wilde stoppen met lezen, maar uiteindelijk toch niet heb gedaan. Het beklemmend en ademstokkend. Tegelijkertijd fascinerend om in de huis te kruipen van een achtjarig meisje dat opgeroeid in een onstabiele gezinssituatie. Ik hoop vanuit het diepst van mijn hart dat dit pure fictie was anders huilt mijn hart voor de echte Caroline Parker. 5* en op mijn "aan te raden lijst" op #goodreads
June 11, 2009
Amazing! The ending blew me away.
May 29, 2012
I found this book to one that I struggled to rate. I ended up with 3 stars, but I would say I would give it 3 and 1/2 stars if I could.
There is something likable about Carrie and there is something heartbreaking about Emma. They seem so alike and yet they are so different. Carrie is sweet and liked and Emma is stronger and has seen harder times than her sister even though she is 2 years younger.
At the root of the story is abuse. Her mother is abused, Carrie and Emma are abused, and yet there is something off... What is wrong with this family? There was a part of me that wanted to reach into the pages and save them and another part of me that wanted to shake some sense into her mother and the other neighbors who stood by and continued to return her to her family and into the mouth of the wolf.
One of the biggest reasons I decided on 3 stars, instead of 4, was that the pacing seemed off to me. At times, I was really drawn in and wanted to know what would happen next and at other times I found myself growing bored and wanting to skim through the text. There were parts to the story that I found did not add anything and other parts that could have provided more information I would have loved seemed to be skimmed over and not really delved into.
So it was a good book, but not a favorite.
There is something likable about Carrie and there is something heartbreaking about Emma. They seem so alike and yet they are so different. Carrie is sweet and liked and Emma is stronger and has seen harder times than her sister even though she is 2 years younger.
At the root of the story is abuse. Her mother is abused, Carrie and Emma are abused, and yet there is something off... What is wrong with this family? There was a part of me that wanted to reach into the pages and save them and another part of me that wanted to shake some sense into her mother and the other neighbors who stood by and continued to return her to her family and into the mouth of the wolf.
One of the biggest reasons I decided on 3 stars, instead of 4, was that the pacing seemed off to me. At times, I was really drawn in and wanted to know what would happen next and at other times I found myself growing bored and wanting to skim through the text. There were parts to the story that I found did not add anything and other parts that could have provided more information I would have loved seemed to be skimmed over and not really delved into.
So it was a good book, but not a favorite.
April 5, 2021
Me & Emma was a hard book to digest. At times, I had to put this book down and just dive into something new and different. For example, diving into a nice Disney movie (like Tangled) after reading a tough chapter or two. I didn't stop that much while reading this book but when I did it was a good breather.
In it, you will meet Carrie who is 8 years old and not living her best life one bit. Nope, she is abused and lonely right now and desperately needs help. Then there's Emma, who is her younger sister, Richard, the evil douche of a step dad, and their mother.
Carrie is barely hanging onto a thread right now. She is tired of all the bullshit that comes with Richard's cruelty. The one thing she wants back in her life, her dad, she can't have because he's dead. Then there's Emma, who is her sole reason for staying and suffering. So, yeah, I wasn't prepared for anything that was coming my way. I will admit hating Richard came pretty damn easy though.
A lot of horrible stuff happens in this book and I will highly suggest taking breaks while reading this one. Or maybe doing a chapter or two a day just to keep sane and digest everything at your own pace. It's a lot to take in. A whole lot.
In the end, I'm glad that I took a chance on this one and knocked it off of my TBR.
In it, you will meet Carrie who is 8 years old and not living her best life one bit. Nope, she is abused and lonely right now and desperately needs help. Then there's Emma, who is her younger sister, Richard, the evil douche of a step dad, and their mother.
Carrie is barely hanging onto a thread right now. She is tired of all the bullshit that comes with Richard's cruelty. The one thing she wants back in her life, her dad, she can't have because he's dead. Then there's Emma, who is her sole reason for staying and suffering. So, yeah, I wasn't prepared for anything that was coming my way. I will admit hating Richard came pretty damn easy though.
A lot of horrible stuff happens in this book and I will highly suggest taking breaks while reading this one. Or maybe doing a chapter or two a day just to keep sane and digest everything at your own pace. It's a lot to take in. A whole lot.
In the end, I'm glad that I took a chance on this one and knocked it off of my TBR.
February 4, 2008
This book was very sad and heartbreaking, but was a fast read because you wanted to know what happened. Immediately you will feel connected to the two little girls, Carrie and Emma. It was hard not to like these little girls because of their circumstances that were just downright immoral an degrading.
It was particularly interesting to me reading it with a younger sister close in age like Emma and Carrie were. At times I related with both girls, but felt more inline with Emma, the younger sister--something I didn't quite understand until the very end of the book.
I highly recommend this to anyone. Although the message is a little hard to bring into your own life like other books might be, it still stays with you after you've finished it. And the ending is something I never would have guessed, but of course looking back on it you realize what was happening. Nonetheless, it was a shocker.
It was particularly interesting to me reading it with a younger sister close in age like Emma and Carrie were. At times I related with both girls, but felt more inline with Emma, the younger sister--something I didn't quite understand until the very end of the book.
I highly recommend this to anyone. Although the message is a little hard to bring into your own life like other books might be, it still stays with you after you've finished it. And the ending is something I never would have guessed, but of course looking back on it you realize what was happening. Nonetheless, it was a shocker.
September 28, 2013
Elizabeth Flock has chosen to represent her book with the voice of 8 year old Carrie. This child is the big sister/ protector of 6 year old, Emma. Their existence is far from ideal. Their beloved father died, leaving their mother unable to cope either physically or mentally. After she enters into a "marriage of convenience", the family slides into a morass of abuse, hunger, neglect and physical and emotional deprivation.
Flock has expertly addressed the many issues in this novel from the perspective of these children. At times I found this format was somewhat annoying. However, as the tension built toward the conclusion, it became quite clear that this was an effective manner of approaching the multitude of difficulties for this family.
Flock has expertly addressed the many issues in this novel from the perspective of these children. At times I found this format was somewhat annoying. However, as the tension built toward the conclusion, it became quite clear that this was an effective manner of approaching the multitude of difficulties for this family.
November 1, 2012
The description had me wanting to read this book... An ending that shocks the reader and turns the story upside down... Sounds like my kind of book! Nope, didn't shock me. I literally had the entire book figured out by Chapter 2, I only finished reading it to see if I was right. It wasn't a bad book, and I might have enjoyed it more if I wasn't expecting a surprise ending that wasn't a surprise at all.
March 22, 2019
I put this book on my list to be read a long time ago, while going through my Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ TBR I checked it out at the local library. I don't know why I waited so long to read it. It turned into a good book to read. Flock did amazing things with this book, the characters are well developed and the story draws you in from the first page.
April 3, 2019
This book is sometimes hard and most of the time heartbreaking. The absuse of children and the psychological/physical consaquences for those that allready have problems is devastating. The author shows this clearly in this book. Sadly I found it used too much ‘literary tricks� which I have seen before and the writing is not excellent.
A 2,5 stars
A 2,5 stars
August 30, 2019
Wow. This book has left me thinking about it days after I finished it. The story line keeps you coming back day after day and you feel for the characters. You grow to love Emma and Caroline and want to kill there evil step dad Richard. The ending surprised me and made the book that much better.
September 26, 2012
From cover to cover I loved this book! It has an amazing ending that will stop you in your tracks. I HIGHLY recommend this novel and it is in my top books of ALL TIME!!!!
October 19, 2018
Het einde van het boek had ik totaal niet verwacht en jeetje wat was dit even verwarrend als alles boven water komt.
September 5, 2011
This is a story of two sisters Emma and Carrie who have lived through the death of their father, their mother's following depression, and then marriage to Richard, a drunk, abusive husband and father. Carrie is the protector of Emma and always has to watch out for her younger sister. Although, Emnma is much tougher than Carrie and no one bullies her at school because she isn't afraid of anyone. Carrie still feels the need to protect her because she thinks her Momma doesn't love her as much as Carrie and Emma has "secret" with Richard that worry Carrie. The family moves from Toast, North Carolina to an even smaller town in western North Carolina where their house is dirty, has a hole in the roof, and is basically in shambles. The girls return to school in thier new town and make new friends including Old Mr. Wilson from down the road who takes a liking to the girls and teaches them how to shoot guns. Emma and Carrie try to stay away from home as much as possible especially when they hear the 5th beer bottle cap clink in the trash when Richard is drinking. They find their own hiding spots in down near the creak behind their house and just try to stay as safe as possible from Richard and any other bullies.
This story is told in first person in the voice of Carrie. It is sad to hear her describe the abuse that is going on in the house in her child's view and slight defensiveness of it or when she thinks it is normal for her to live that way. As an adult viewing this, you can see Carrie's defense mechanisms working to block out as much of the pain that surrounds the family. I definitely think this is a 5 star book because it is a stunning work that describes the surreal horrors that they face everyday. The author does a great job with the voice of Carrie so much so that you can hear her southern drawl as you read. The main characters are well developed and the side characters are developed enough that you can picture in your head all that unravels in this book. The author ends with a stunning twist that I never saw coming and that alone makes it 5 star for me. I have read many mysteries and thrillers and the best ones are the ones that you have no idea what is coming or who done it. Excellent novel by Elizabeth Flock. She writes with authority and has a strong command of the themes and plotlines.
I also read her other novel But Inside I'm Screaming and again Flock does an excellent job of handing the themes of this novel.
Read Flocks novels, you will be happy with what you get!
This story is told in first person in the voice of Carrie. It is sad to hear her describe the abuse that is going on in the house in her child's view and slight defensiveness of it or when she thinks it is normal for her to live that way. As an adult viewing this, you can see Carrie's defense mechanisms working to block out as much of the pain that surrounds the family. I definitely think this is a 5 star book because it is a stunning work that describes the surreal horrors that they face everyday. The author does a great job with the voice of Carrie so much so that you can hear her southern drawl as you read. The main characters are well developed and the side characters are developed enough that you can picture in your head all that unravels in this book. The author ends with a stunning twist that I never saw coming and that alone makes it 5 star for me. I have read many mysteries and thrillers and the best ones are the ones that you have no idea what is coming or who done it. Excellent novel by Elizabeth Flock. She writes with authority and has a strong command of the themes and plotlines.
I also read her other novel But Inside I'm Screaming and again Flock does an excellent job of handing the themes of this novel.
Read Flocks novels, you will be happy with what you get!
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