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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
**so, fellow friends and readers…I'm so torn and confused after this read…oh, I'll save you time–just read the review!**
Me & Emma by Elizabeth Flock
?/5 Stars – Not Rated – Look below
Read October 2024
Me & Emma was a novel full of relationships and plot twists. It was moving, profound, and I was unable to put it down!
Positive messages: 1.5/5
Some positive messages include strong friendships and relationships with others—always being there for those who you love.
However, negative messages are mostly prevalent, including family abandonment and revenge. Characters are depressed and scared constantly, looking for a way to escape what they are feeling.
Positive role models: 3/5
Carrie (Caroline) is shown as a strong young girl and at the age of eight takes care of her sister, trying to include her in her everyday activities.
In the flashbacks we see (read), Carrie’s father, whose name I don’t think was ever said during the novel, seems to be a kind and loving dad to her. Taking care of her and holding her hand through rough times—always there for her no matter what. This is how she remembers him in the flashbacks that are shown.
Emma is shown as a brave six-year-old girl, younger sister to Carrie. She puts herself before her sister and is shown as being very popular because she is trustworthy and never tells others her secrets.
Carrie’s friend, Orla Mae, and her mother, Mrs. Bickett, are very kind and supportive of Carrie and are there for her in times of need. Mrs. Bickett is a great baker and welcomes Carrie to her house to eat a meal whenever she wants.
Mr. Wilson is shown as a strong character who teaches Carrie how to shoot a gun and encourages her along her learning journey.
Carrie’s teacher (I don’t remember her name at the moment, I’m sorry) tells Carrie that she is there for her if she ever needs to talk and Carrie feels comfortable around her.
Some of the more negative role models include Carrie’s family: her grandma (Gammy) and aunt who abandon her during the family’s time of need.
Her mother and stepfather, Richard, also struggle greatly. Richard is always drunk and is abusive and unkind toward his stepchildren throughout the novel.
Drinking, Drugs, and Smoking: 3/5
Characters drink infrequently, sometimes getting drunk. Characters smoke some.
Language: 3/5
The term ‘son of a b—h’ is used, along with more frequently used words such as ‘damn,’ ‘a—,’ and ‘s—t.’ God’s name is used in vain a few times.
Violence, Gore, and Scariness: 3/5
An important figure is murdered and the blood is described. For discipline, children are spanked, hit, punched, and once tied to chains by their necks, forced to eat dog food and almost choke themselves to death. There are flashbacks of an abusive father. Shooting, blood, etc.
Sex, Romance, and Nudity: 1/5
It is implied that a young girl is being sexually abused by an older male character. It says that “his pants pockets were unzipped” and he forced the girl into the room with him. Her sister felt that something was wrong and it hints at this.
What Parents (and YOU) Should Know:
Um…wow. **BIG SPOILER** (LIKE THE PLOT OF THE BOOK) right now so don’t read if you haven’t already read the book Okay, spoiler done. Phew–got that out of the way.
For content, there is some to be concerned about for younger readers. There is some mild language, violence including physical and mental abuse by family members, excessive drinking, mild smoking, etc. For older teens, this shouldn’t be a problem but if you are a young teen with a soft heart, this might shake you a little bit. Even I was a bit shaken at the end…I did not expect…what happened to…happen. Nevermind about that—you’ll just have to read the book.
So…now I’m really torn. This book was well-written with a great storyline that kept me hooked throughout. However, the ending seemed very, well, fast. In the last 20 pages, it basically told you that so I would’ve maybe liked that…sooner…? I don’t really know. I’m still processing what just happened and the story itself.
For the most part, a very surprising read. Well-written and captivating. I would say for teens and adults that are mature enough to handle these difficult concepts (shown below under trigger warnings/adult content). No spice, just some violence (see above descriptions).
Me & Emma by Elizabeth Flock
?/5 Stars – Not Rated – Look below
Read October 2024
Me & Emma was a novel full of relationships and plot twists. It was moving, profound, and I was unable to put it down!
Positive messages: 1.5/5
Some positive messages include strong friendships and relationships with others—always being there for those who you love.
However, negative messages are mostly prevalent, including family abandonment and revenge. Characters are depressed and scared constantly, looking for a way to escape what they are feeling.
Positive role models: 3/5
Carrie (Caroline) is shown as a strong young girl and at the age of eight takes care of her sister, trying to include her in her everyday activities.
In the flashbacks we see (read), Carrie’s father, whose name I don’t think was ever said during the novel, seems to be a kind and loving dad to her. Taking care of her and holding her hand through rough times—always there for her no matter what. This is how she remembers him in the flashbacks that are shown.
Emma is shown as a brave six-year-old girl, younger sister to Carrie. She puts herself before her sister and is shown as being very popular because she is trustworthy and never tells others her secrets.
Carrie’s friend, Orla Mae, and her mother, Mrs. Bickett, are very kind and supportive of Carrie and are there for her in times of need. Mrs. Bickett is a great baker and welcomes Carrie to her house to eat a meal whenever she wants.
Mr. Wilson is shown as a strong character who teaches Carrie how to shoot a gun and encourages her along her learning journey.
Carrie’s teacher (I don’t remember her name at the moment, I’m sorry) tells Carrie that she is there for her if she ever needs to talk and Carrie feels comfortable around her.
Some of the more negative role models include Carrie’s family: her grandma (Gammy) and aunt who abandon her during the family’s time of need.
Her mother and stepfather, Richard, also struggle greatly. Richard is always drunk and is abusive and unkind toward his stepchildren throughout the novel.
Drinking, Drugs, and Smoking: 3/5
Characters drink infrequently, sometimes getting drunk. Characters smoke some.
Language: 3/5
The term ‘son of a b—h’ is used, along with more frequently used words such as ‘damn,’ ‘a—,’ and ‘s—t.’ God’s name is used in vain a few times.
Violence, Gore, and Scariness: 3/5
An important figure is murdered and the blood is described. For discipline, children are spanked, hit, punched, and once tied to chains by their necks, forced to eat dog food and almost choke themselves to death. There are flashbacks of an abusive father. Shooting, blood, etc.
Sex, Romance, and Nudity: 1/5
It is implied that a young girl is being sexually abused by an older male character. It says that “his pants pockets were unzipped” and he forced the girl into the room with him. Her sister felt that something was wrong and it hints at this.
What Parents (and YOU) Should Know:
Um…wow. **BIG SPOILER** (LIKE THE PLOT OF THE BOOK) right now so don’t read if you haven’t already read the book
Spoiler
So…the two sisters weren’t real. There was just one. And the other was mentally ill. I am so confused and disappointed but also awestruck and surprised. This caught me OFF GUARD. Like, seriously, I wasn’t expecting it at all!For content, there is some to be concerned about for younger readers. There is some mild language, violence including physical and mental abuse by family members, excessive drinking, mild smoking, etc. For older teens, this shouldn’t be a problem but if you are a young teen with a soft heart, this might shake you a little bit. Even I was a bit shaken at the end…I did not expect…what happened to…happen. Nevermind about that—you’ll just have to read the book.
So…now I’m really torn. This book was well-written with a great storyline that kept me hooked throughout. However, the ending seemed very, well, fast. In the last 20 pages, it basically told you that
Spoiler
everything was a lieFor the most part, a very surprising read. Well-written and captivating. I would say for teens and adults that are mature enough to handle these difficult concepts (shown below under trigger warnings/adult content). No spice, just some violence (see above descriptions).
Didn't like it because it left a sour sick feeling in the pit of my stomach... so very depressing.
I just read Sleepwalking in Daylight, also by this author, and realized I read Me & Emma because I recall thinking that the twist at the end was disappointingly cliche.
This book was a little too Ellen Foster/Glass Castle-ish. While I liked it, I feel like I have already read this book so many times! The end was good but not great, I had a suspicion about half way through the book as to how it would end.
The only reason I read this novel was because it was our book club's monthly selection. That being said, I will admit right-off that I am not a fan of novels whose story revolves child abuse (or any kind of physical abuse, for that matter) or child rape so that was a checkmark against it right off. The story wasn't too bad although it was a bit clichéd I thought (poor southern family with children being abused by the stepfather). The twist at the end helped bump up my rating to 2 1/2 stars.
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Has some difficult to read moments due to subject matter otherwise I enjoyed story told through the eyes of a very funny girl.
This was a very intense book and I really got into reading it. I can't say I enjoyed it because it was very dark and my heart just broke for those little girls. Very shocking ending, not at all what I was expecting. I will be reading the sequel "What Happened to my Sister" to see how this incredible story ends.
Interesting book. Took me a little while to get into it but once I did it was a great quick, but sad/tragic at times read. I was extremely surprised by the twist at the end. I really enjoyed that the book was from the eyes of an 8 year old. The author does a beautiful job keeping Carrie in true age discussion throughout the book.