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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
From the first page If You Find Me grabbed me and wouldn't let go. The back of the book description was certainly intriguing. The idea of two sisters living off the grid and by themselves in a world that is so chalk full of grid was intriguing, and I was interested to see what would happen when they got back to "civilization." So, from the get-go I was interested in the basic plot and premise of the novel, but the fast pace, the likable and frickin not-so-likable characters grabbed me too.
This book was well written. It starts off with Carrie and her sister Nessa being found out in the bush by a well-meaning social worker and Carrie's biological father. Through a series of flashbacks their time in the bush is slowly and painfully revealed. The flashbacks were done masterfully and I loved that more and more of Carrie's past was revealed slowly as she adjusted to her new life. Even though I predicted Carrie's "big secret" it did not take away from the book.
Carrie's narrative voice was unique and distinctive. Initially, I was turned off by her "woodsy" (read hillbilly) accent, but I quickly became accustomed to it and it was very well done. Her distinct narrative voice serves as a constant reminder that Carrie is not just any other teenage girl. Her worldview and experiences, like her voice, are wholly unique and her own.
This book was quite short and it was also fast-paced, which made it a helluva fast read but it packed quite the emotional punch. While the story and secondary characters could have been developed more, at its core this book was about Carrie's relationship with herself and with her sister and that was very well developed. For all those readers who, like me, thing that sibling relationships tend to get short shrift in YA books, the relationship between Carrie and Nessa will strike you. The protective love, the mutual-dependance, and the affection between siblings in dire circumstances is at the center of this book.
My only real complaint is that I wanted to delve a little deeper into their new life and their old life. Frankly, if my only real complaint is that I could not get enough out of this book, then it stands to reason that it is highly recommended for those looking for a short, fast-paced, and heavy on the angst book.
This book was well written. It starts off with Carrie and her sister Nessa being found out in the bush by a well-meaning social worker and Carrie's biological father. Through a series of flashbacks their time in the bush is slowly and painfully revealed. The flashbacks were done masterfully and I loved that more and more of Carrie's past was revealed slowly as she adjusted to her new life. Even though I predicted Carrie's "big secret" it did not take away from the book.
Carrie's narrative voice was unique and distinctive. Initially, I was turned off by her "woodsy" (read hillbilly) accent, but I quickly became accustomed to it and it was very well done. Her distinct narrative voice serves as a constant reminder that Carrie is not just any other teenage girl. Her worldview and experiences, like her voice, are wholly unique and her own.
This book was quite short and it was also fast-paced, which made it a helluva fast read but it packed quite the emotional punch. While the story and secondary characters could have been developed more, at its core this book was about Carrie's relationship with herself and with her sister and that was very well developed. For all those readers who, like me, thing that sibling relationships tend to get short shrift in YA books, the relationship between Carrie and Nessa will strike you. The protective love, the mutual-dependance, and the affection between siblings in dire circumstances is at the center of this book.
My only real complaint is that I wanted to delve a little deeper into their new life and their old life. Frankly, if my only real complaint is that I could not get enough out of this book, then it stands to reason that it is highly recommended for those looking for a short, fast-paced, and heavy on the angst book.
I had this book sitting on my bedside table for 2 years. I’m so glad I finally read it. I enjoyed but wish the ending had a bit more. I was hooked from the first chapter.
Pretty quick YA read. Read it in a couple of hours. Interesting concept of a girl rescued from living in the woods. Pretty short book so not really long enough for strong character development.
Loved this book. Hope it turns into a series. I would love to know more.
(As reviewed on Paper Riot.)
Check out my interview with Emily Murdoch + a giveaway here!
The first thing I want to do is give Carey and Jenessa a big, big hug. I want to keep them in my arms and give them everything they can only dream of. I want to hurt anyone who has hurt them and I want to make sure they never have to suffer again. I want to keep them safe forever. And then I want to curl up in a corner and cry. This book tore my heart out, broke it into a million little pieces and scattered them across the entire surface of the earth. It took over my life like only few books can, and I am not yet ready to move on from it. If anything, If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch is a powerful, thought-provoking debut that caught me completely off guard.
The story revolves around Carey and her baby sister Jenessa, who have been hidden and abandoned in the deep woods of Tennessee by their meth addicted mother. Completely on her own, Carey takes care of her sister the best she can, until they are finally rescued and taken back into the real world to live with their father. Told through Carey's perspective, we follow the girls as they try to adapt to their new life style, while at the same time trying to cope with the trauma they suffered. It was both wonderful and painful to see their impression of this world that was so strange to them. It left me on the verge of tears almost every chapter. (And crying throughout the rest of them.)
It almost feels wrong to love this book, since it's such a horrible story. But for me, its beauty lies in the way I could not put this book down, the way I tore through the pages, and mostly, the way this story felt more real than any book I have ever read. Filled with heart and heartbreak, this is a story about the consequences of child neglect and abuse in the most raw and real way I have ever experienced. If it hadn't made me incredibly sad, I had been angry at the pain that these girls had to suffer. I had to keep reminding myself that it was fictional, that Carey and Jenessa weren't real and that these things, these terrible things, hadn't happened to them.
But Carey's voice was so realistic, so pure, that it was as if I was watching a real life story, her real life story, unfold before my eyes. The woods were in her every thought and experience, and there was a certain hopefulness in those things that was was both beautiful and heartbreaking to watch. I want to compare her to Katniss Everdeen, but not in the obvious way. It wasn't that Carey was just as unfortunate and had a baby sister to take care of, but just that I had no trouble empathizing with her. Her voice was that clear to me, spoke to me that much, was that easy to understand, just like Katniss has always been for me. Emily Murdoch did a wonderful job pulling me in, but it was Carey's voice that refused to let go.
The topic was hard, but oh my, it was so well-written and detailed that it left me speechless, mind blown, amazed. And though horrible, it was the little bits of hope that bursted from the pages and stuck with me throughout the story. Because to me, the simplicity of this story and its most important message were what impressed me most: there is always hope, even in the darkest places. If You Find Me is the most impressive story I've read in a long, long time. Despite the horrific things that happened and the fact that I don't think everyone can handle this, I will recommend it to anyone. It was raw and beautiful in a way unlike anything I have ever read. Wow. Just wow.
Check out my interview with Emily Murdoch + a giveaway here!
The first thing I want to do is give Carey and Jenessa a big, big hug. I want to keep them in my arms and give them everything they can only dream of. I want to hurt anyone who has hurt them and I want to make sure they never have to suffer again. I want to keep them safe forever. And then I want to curl up in a corner and cry. This book tore my heart out, broke it into a million little pieces and scattered them across the entire surface of the earth. It took over my life like only few books can, and I am not yet ready to move on from it. If anything, If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch is a powerful, thought-provoking debut that caught me completely off guard.
The story revolves around Carey and her baby sister Jenessa, who have been hidden and abandoned in the deep woods of Tennessee by their meth addicted mother. Completely on her own, Carey takes care of her sister the best she can, until they are finally rescued and taken back into the real world to live with their father. Told through Carey's perspective, we follow the girls as they try to adapt to their new life style, while at the same time trying to cope with the trauma they suffered. It was both wonderful and painful to see their impression of this world that was so strange to them. It left me on the verge of tears almost every chapter. (And crying throughout the rest of them.)
It almost feels wrong to love this book, since it's such a horrible story. But for me, its beauty lies in the way I could not put this book down, the way I tore through the pages, and mostly, the way this story felt more real than any book I have ever read. Filled with heart and heartbreak, this is a story about the consequences of child neglect and abuse in the most raw and real way I have ever experienced. If it hadn't made me incredibly sad, I had been angry at the pain that these girls had to suffer. I had to keep reminding myself that it was fictional, that Carey and Jenessa weren't real and that these things, these terrible things, hadn't happened to them.
But Carey's voice was so realistic, so pure, that it was as if I was watching a real life story, her real life story, unfold before my eyes. The woods were in her every thought and experience, and there was a certain hopefulness in those things that was was both beautiful and heartbreaking to watch. I want to compare her to Katniss Everdeen, but not in the obvious way. It wasn't that Carey was just as unfortunate and had a baby sister to take care of, but just that I had no trouble empathizing with her. Her voice was that clear to me, spoke to me that much, was that easy to understand, just like Katniss has always been for me. Emily Murdoch did a wonderful job pulling me in, but it was Carey's voice that refused to let go.
The topic was hard, but oh my, it was so well-written and detailed that it left me speechless, mind blown, amazed. And though horrible, it was the little bits of hope that bursted from the pages and stuck with me throughout the story. Because to me, the simplicity of this story and its most important message were what impressed me most: there is always hope, even in the darkest places. If You Find Me is the most impressive story I've read in a long, long time. Despite the horrific things that happened and the fact that I don't think everyone can handle this, I will recommend it to anyone. It was raw and beautiful in a way unlike anything I have ever read. Wow. Just wow.
*audio*
*ya novel*
When I was in elementary school, I loved Cynthia Voight's novels, Homecoming and Dicey's Song. This novel reminded me of those former favorites.
This book's subject matter (abandonment, molestation, meth-addicted mother) was not easy to read, but I loved the protagonist's tenacity and protectiveness. I'll probably reread this book.
Because of the language and subject, I would recommend this book for ninth graders and up.
*ya novel*
When I was in elementary school, I loved Cynthia Voight's novels, Homecoming and Dicey's Song. This novel reminded me of those former favorites.
This book's subject matter (abandonment, molestation, meth-addicted mother) was not easy to read, but I loved the protagonist's tenacity and protectiveness. I'll probably reread this book.
Because of the language and subject, I would recommend this book for ninth graders and up.
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
sad
medium-paced
A gritty story of abuse and survival. If You Find Me tells how two sisters who grew up isolated in the woods come to terms with their lives once social services intervenes. A stunning debut by Murdoch -- looking forward to reading more!
If You Find Me is the tender, loving story of two sisters, raised in the woods by a meth-addicted mother who exploits their bodies for more drugs. For as repulsive as the subject matter is, Murdoch handled it very well, shedding light on graphic scenes and not sugar-coating anything.
The story gripped me from the first page, as did the narrator, Carey, and her sister, Jenessa. Jenessa has been mute since an incident scarred her, changing her life forever.