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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
Wow. What a good, no great, book. I've not read anything by Flock before so "Me & Emma" was my introduction.
Carrie Parker and her sister Emma aren't living an ideal life. Their mom married an abusive man after their Dad was killed. Most days they try to stay out of the way and out of the house to avoid the several kinds of abuses their step-dad employs. The girls are outcasts in their hometown of Toast, NC and they dream of running away to a better, different life. Through all the abuses Carrie and Emma are resilient in spirit and still fight to maintain some sort of dignity and childhood. A series of events leads to a conclusion that frankly the reader, at least this one, can't help but cheer for.
The book is told through Carrie's voice and Flock does an excellent job of crafting an 8 year old who has been forced to grow up too quickly. Through Carrie's voice we learn of her life when her Daddy was still alive and of her life present day with her step-dad. Her memories of her life before are what sustain her in the present and what make her see her Momma differently than how the reader sees her. Parts of Carrie and Emma's story are disturbing and yet realistic when there is addiction and abuse in a home. It angered me on all sorts of levels and it should anyone who has a conscience. But Carrie and Emma's refusal to be beaten down is heartwarming and inspiring.
Written in 2004 Flock waited 8 years to continue Carrie's story in "What happened to my sister" which I didn't figure out was the sequel to "Me & Emma" until I started reading it. So I stopped, picked up this book and the moment I finished it I picked back up "What happened to my sister". I am glad I didn't read "Me & Emma" in 2004 and have to wait all these years to finish their story. Flock writes a compelling, moving, heart wrenching story.
Carrie Parker and her sister Emma aren't living an ideal life. Their mom married an abusive man after their Dad was killed. Most days they try to stay out of the way and out of the house to avoid the several kinds of abuses their step-dad employs. The girls are outcasts in their hometown of Toast, NC and they dream of running away to a better, different life. Through all the abuses Carrie and Emma are resilient in spirit and still fight to maintain some sort of dignity and childhood. A series of events leads to a conclusion that frankly the reader, at least this one, can't help but cheer for.
The book is told through Carrie's voice and Flock does an excellent job of crafting an 8 year old who has been forced to grow up too quickly. Through Carrie's voice we learn of her life when her Daddy was still alive and of her life present day with her step-dad. Her memories of her life before are what sustain her in the present and what make her see her Momma differently than how the reader sees her. Parts of Carrie and Emma's story are disturbing and yet realistic when there is addiction and abuse in a home. It angered me on all sorts of levels and it should anyone who has a conscience. But Carrie and Emma's refusal to be beaten down is heartwarming and inspiring.
Written in 2004 Flock waited 8 years to continue Carrie's story in "What happened to my sister" which I didn't figure out was the sequel to "Me & Emma" until I started reading it. So I stopped, picked up this book and the moment I finished it I picked back up "What happened to my sister". I am glad I didn't read "Me & Emma" in 2004 and have to wait all these years to finish their story. Flock writes a compelling, moving, heart wrenching story.
Well written and an intriguing tale. The end was a total shock to me... I just didn't see it coming (but that may not be the case for everyone). It's a captivating story, but I have GOT to stop reading book after book of abused characters! I'm getting depressed.
Starts out as a typical recollection of a troubled childhood but he ending literally blew me away -- not what I expected at all. Excellent novel overall but worth a read just for the ending alone.
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Disturbing book about a girl growing up in a very abusive household.
I want to dislike this book. Like, really, really dislike it, but the end completely transforms the whole story. Obviously, I don't like the abusive step-father. What really irks me is Libby, the mother. She turns a blind eye to the abuse, and is quite abusive herself. Maybe from her lack of education, or being tired with her circumstances, maybe because she's just a horrible person. Who knows? I'm actually looking forward to reading the sequel "What Happened to my Sister" now that I've finished "Me & Emma". If you had asked me that mid way through the book, I'd have said no way, but now I'm pretty intrigued.
This was ok but I felt it could have been better if it wasn't so rushed at the end. It seemed as though so much emphasis was put on the big twist that as we got closer to it the story suffered.
Unfortunately the twist was pretty easy to spot almost from the start so that was too bad as it should have set this book apart from others it has been compared to (The Book of Ruth and Bastard Out of Carolina).
Unfortunately the twist was pretty easy to spot almost from the start so that was too bad as it should have set this book apart from others it has been compared to (The Book of Ruth and Bastard Out of Carolina).
8 yr old. Flashbacks and "now". Father deceased. Mother with depression. Step father abusive. 6 yr old sister.
I really didn't care for this book, primarily because of the subject matter. The book is written from the perspective of an eight year old girl who is abused by her step-father, Richard. Richard also beats his wife, Carrie's emotionally absent mother. Carrie's father was killed by an intruder. Though I had some trouble discerning what was really true and what Carrie imagined, Carrie's maternal grandmother and aunt seemed to somewhat condone the abuse of their daughter/sister, as did some of the town's folk who knew what was going on. Carrie is a deeply troubled girl and that was very hard to read.
I was somewhat surprised by the ending, which I figured out only shortly before it was revealed by the author.
I was somewhat surprised by the ending, which I figured out only shortly before it was revealed by the author.