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Me & Emma

by Elizabeth Flock (Goodreads Author)

3.89 of 5 stars 3.89 · rating details · 10,032 ratings · 1,249 reviews

The title characters in Me & Emma are very nearly photographic opposites--8-year-old Carrie, the raven-haired narrator, is timid and introverted, while her little sister Emma is a tow-headed powerhouse with no sense of fear. The girls live in a terrible situation: they depend on an unstable mother that has never recovered from her husband's murder, their stepfather bea...more

Paperback, 296 pages

Published March 1st 2006 by Mira Books (first published March 1st 2005)

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Aug 07, 2007 Alexis rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: people who love southern lit.

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 lik...more

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May 05, 2013 Kristin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was a fast read and for most of the book, unlike any I'd read in a while. In it, 8 year-old Caroline tries to protect her 6 year-old sister, Emma, and herself from abuse at the hands of their mother and stepfather. The family is clearly very poor and the stepfather brings home what little money there is, which is what drives their mother to remain with him, having lost the girls' father to murder when their home was robbed. Carrie clearly doesn't like her stepfather, who seems to treat...more

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Mar 06, 2009 Carrie rated it 3 of 5 stars

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 p...more

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Jul 07, 2008 Marika Gillis rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Andrea, Shera

Recommended to Marika by: Danica

Shelves: fiction

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 live...more

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Feb 04, 2008 Courtney rated it 4 of 5 stars

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...more

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Jan 31, 2009 Anne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

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. Heartedly recommended, but not for the faint of heart..

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Nov 25, 2008 Robin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Excellent with an unexpected twist at the end. I couldn't put it down.

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May 05, 2008 Corbett rated it 2 of 5 stars

Gotcha!

This is one of those types of books. Where you think you are reading it one way then the end does a little twist and turn that makes you re-think everthing you just read.

I thought it was too predictable too soon. And at the same time, there are places where this device doesn't work very well.

Overall, I'd rather have spent time reading something else. It was almost like a "beach book" that kills time and is an enjoyable read, but it wasn't. I don't enjoy reading about children getting ab...more

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Jan 29, 2009 Indra rated it 3 of 5 stars

Reviews on the jacket compared this book to "Bastard out of Carolina" and "Ellen Foster", but both of those were far superior books in my opinion (and I'm probably biased, because both of those are among my favorite books of all time). "Me and Emma" was a page-turner that I blew through pretty quickly because I wanted to see what would happen, where "Bastard" and "Ellen" are more character-driven books where a reader can just revel in the beauty of the language alone, regardless of plot developm...more

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Jan 28, 2009 Lauren rated it 3 of 5 stars

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...more

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Nov 25, 2008 Alicia rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: teens

Recommended to Alicia by: my mom

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 n...more 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.
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Nov 16, 2012 Olivia Veronesi rated it 5 of 5 stars

This story is about an 8 year old girl named Caroline, and her younger sister Emma. Their dad died when they were little, and now they have to deal with their stepfather Richard. Richard is an alcoholic and physically abuses the girls and their mother. The girls go through constant struggle every day, and only have each other to lean on. With a mother that doesn't care, Caroline's emotions are always up and down. You learn along the way the secrets of their family, with an amazing twist at the e...more

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Oct 14, 2012 Mia rated it 4 of 5 stars

I borrowed this book from the library quite some time ago & promptly forgot the title .... I have been searching for it ever since by typing random things I remembered about the book until finally I succeeded. One might wonder why, if I liked the book so much, I couldn't remember the title and I don't have an answer for that but I did like the book and intend to read it again ... soon.

You have no doubt read other reviews so I won't bore you with another summery of the plot line, instead, let...more

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Sep 29, 2012 Deborah rated it 4 of 5 stars

When I saw the cover of this book, it grabbed me. I know, I'm not supposed to "read a book by its cover", but at times, I do. And I'm so glad I did! Elizabeth Flock writes extremely well, using the vernacular, the voice of this eight year old girl. Carrie is likely living in the late 50's, in a very rural area of North Carolina in a poor home with a dirt yard. Her family is definitely down on their luck. Momma, the girl's emotionally withdrawn mother, seems like she is full of frustration and an...more When I saw the cover of this book, it grabbed me. I know, I'm not supposed to "read a book by its cover", but at times, I do. And I'm so glad I did! Elizabeth Flock writes extremely well, using the vernacular, the voice of this eight year old girl. Carrie is likely living in the late 50's, in a very rural area of North Carolina in a poor home with a dirt yard. Her family is definitely down on their luck. Momma, the girl's emotionally withdrawn mother, seems like she is full of frustration and anger over the murder of her husband, the lack of money or supportive, extended family, and the dire financial straits in which she finds herself. The girl, rather than being a comfort to Momma, is a worry--another mouth to feed, and a "willful" child, according to the current adults in her life. Beloved by her real father, Carrie finds out how cruel the world can when he is gone. Richard, a vagabond-drunkard comes to town and marries Momma--she thinks he will be an answer to her questions of their survival. But immediately after the relationship is sealed, Richard becomes the epitome of the evil stepfather--someone to stay away from, a menacing, changeable brute. But, Carrie has her younger sister, Emma, to talk to, play with, and comfort her; yet Emma seems to be withdrawn from most adults and doesn't ever intercede with Richard. In an unlikely relationship, she is able to please Richard.

As this story unfolds, and Richard's true character reveals itself to everyone he knows, he makes life harder for Carrie. She and Emma debate on whether to run away from home. This is no child's play, but a plan to save themselves from an abusive life. When their hope of escape is shattered by Richard, the book takes on a more sinister turn--beatings, the loss of their home, and then the loss of Richard's last hope for work. His drinking makes him incredibly savage, rather than dulling his pain. One wonders how a child can survive in a household with menacing adults, and no one to love them. Only Carrie's tremendous courage ultimately saves her, and frees Emma. The ending was a surprise, and yet, something you feel is coming.

I was unable to put this book down, until I knew that Carrie AND Emma, would be able to survive(less)

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Sep 11, 2011 Mandy Jo rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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...more

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Sep 02, 2011 Astraea rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Astraea by: Found it in a book store

Shelves: jess

Writing style: not exactly Fannie Flagg but not bad, held my attention. I could have done with a few less "mannerisms" that supposedly make southern talk so picturesque.

Setting: I was not crazy about the southern poverty setting. There have been too many books like that (some of them good) People tend to get the idea that abuse happens only in places like this. They also tend to think that this is the only kind of abuse there is. There are other kinds and other places, and even the very rich are...more

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Oct 21, 2010 Leanne Tang rated it 4 of 5 stars

Me & Emma review

The story is about a young 8 year old girl named Carrie Parker. She had a perfect family till her beloved father gets shot. Carrie is desperately trying to protect her little sister Emma, from their abusive stepfather. Even so, Carrie’s mother has no other choice but to marry Richard because of financial issues. This story shows a terrible family situation and how Carrie and her little sister Emma try to overcome the emotional and physical abuse.
Elizabeth Flock narrates the...more

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Oct 21, 2010 Joanna Lin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Me and Emma written by Elizabeth Flock, is a heart wrenching tale told in the eyes of eight year old Caroline/Carrie Parker. After the death of her father, Caroline lives in the town of Toast, North Carolina with her six year old sister Emma, mother Libby, and abusive step father, Richard. The story touches on many different aspects as it talks about the constant daily abuse from Richard, the neglect from their emotionally absent mother, and the special relationship between Caroline and Emma. T...more Me and Emma written by Elizabeth Flock, is a heart wrenching tale told in the eyes of eight year old Caroline/Carrie Parker. After the death of her father, Caroline lives in the town of Toast, North Carolina with her six year old sister Emma, mother Libby, and abusive step father, Richard. The story touches on many different aspects as it talks about the constant daily abuse from Richard, the neglect from their emotionally absent mother, and the special relationship between Caroline and Emma. The book is also narrated in a southern accent, as the characters are from North Carolina, but is also told with the purity of an eight year old mind, which makes the characters in this book seem even more real than they already are. As if all these reasons aren’t enough to make one want to pick up this book, author Elizabeth Flock has even added a surprise twist towards the end of this book, making readers want to read it all over again.
“The first time Richard hit me I saw stars in front of my eyes like they do in cartoons.”
Caroline, Emma, and their mother suffer from the never ending abuse of Richard, and the haunting thought of “How are they going to escape Richard?” becomes an instantaneous question within the first chapter of the book. This question becomes the main conflict and carries on throughout the course of the book, making readers anticipate when the suffering of our protagonist is going to end. As Caroline and Emma go through with the abuse on a daily basis, Caroline also takes us into her past, where she often thinks about situations that happened with her father, whom it becomes obvious she misses terribly. These flashbacks into the past are tear provoking and incredibly sorrowful as it makes the reader see how happy her situation was compared to the present.
Due to the constant abuse, Emma becomes Caroline’s salvation, her only ray of light in the dark that consumes her present. Being constantly bullied at school and abused at home, Emma, with a character and appearance that is completely contrasting to Caroline’s, helps her through all the daily obstacles she faces. Protecting her younger sister Emma becomes a task that Caroline carries out with her everyday as she states “A big sister’s got to protect her baby sister”. Their relationship makes the book all the more enjoyable as readers are warm with emotions that only Caroline and Emma can conjure into our hearts.
Apart from the appealing characters and suspenseful plot, Elizabeth Flock’s writing style is also an added bonus to this lovely book. The way Elizabeth Flock describes every scene through the eyes of Caroline is an amazing achievement. Not only can the reader visualize everything that happens, we can see it from Caroline’s perspective; when Caroline is sad, we’re sad with her, when Caroline is happy, we’re screaming for joy as well.
“The blood’s spreading out from her head like a spilled coffee cup. One arm is bent like it’s been pulled out of the socket. “
The way Elizabeth Flock describes every little detail creates a very vivid image in the readers minds which leaves us in horror most of the times, as the miserable life of Caroline and Emma is engraved into our heads.
Overall, I think that Me & Emma is a strikingly beautiful piece of work. This book takes us into the lives of two innocent children and makes our hearts ache whenever something unpleasant happens to them. The diction is amazingly descriptive, the characters incredibly lovable or incredibly despicable, and the plot at times unendurable due to the amount of misery the two characters go through. The twist at the end will leave readers in shock and tears as we close the books with heavy hearts, only to be left with the thought of opening the book and reading it all over again.
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Jan 18, 2010 Amanda rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. 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...more 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. Without 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 you feel 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.(less)

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Dec 22, 2009 Joni rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, coming-of-age

2 little sisters, 8 and 6, fend for themselves from a stepfather who abuses them and their mom, and a mom that is numb and withdrawn when she isn't beating or neglecting them. Told from the 8yr old's perspective makes this very hard to read in many places. The 6 yr old both protects the 8yr old and gives her someone to protect. The girls are so normal and innocent most of the time in their talk and in their play - skipping, balancing as they walk across logs, "suckin soda thru bendy straws"...th...more

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Oct 05, 2009 Jeni rated it 2 of 5 stars

First off, I like this book-but I am not sure why. I can list all the things I didn't like, but not sure I can list what I did like. Among the dislikes: you can not tell the time period this book is set in, the ending is Hollywood cheap (not surprising-the author used to write for People magazine )-I could list the movies it steals from, but I would give away the ending-and I hate when authors spell out the dialect they want-it forces you to read it a certain way, rather than giving the reader t...more

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Jul 21, 2009 Stephy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book.
The ending blew my mind. In fact I had to reread the ending 3 times because I was stunned.

The title characters in Me & Emma are very nearly photographic opposites--8-year-old Carrie, the raven-haired narrator, is timid and introverted, while her little sister Emma is a tow-headed powerhouse with no sense of fear. The girls live in a terrible situation: they depend on an unstable mother that has never recovered from her husband's murder, their stepfather beats them...more

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Apr 22, 2009 Kristy rated it 4 of 5 stars

“Me & Emma” is narrated by an eight year old child, Carrie Parker. She lays out the details of her abandoned life and emphasizes greatly on her distinct relationship with her little sister, Emma. Carrie and Emma are polar opposites. “Our hair is different colours but our skin is where you see the biggest difference.” Carrie also has dark complexion and Emma is fair, “like someone for bored painting hair.” Although, Carrie is 2 years older, she is often bossed around by the fearless Emma. Non...more “Me & Emma” is narrated by an eight year old child, Carrie Parker. She lays out the details of her abandoned life and emphasizes greatly on her distinct relationship with her little sister, Emma. Carrie and Emma are polar opposites. “Our hair is different colours but our skin is where you see the biggest difference.” Carrie also has dark complexion and Emma is fair, “like someone for bored painting hair.” Although, Carrie is 2 years older, she is often bossed around by the fearless Emma. Nonetheless, one thing they share in common is the sorrow in their lives, as they are essential to each other’s survival in a volatile and dysfunctional family. Emma is Carrie’s salvation, Carrie’s liberation from the relentless and ruthless reality.

For Carrie Parker, life is divided into before and after. Before her beloved father’s brutal murder, her family lived comparatively happy. “Payday was always the best day of the month when Daddy was alive...I’d be so excited.” Now she and her sister, Emma, endure daily verbal and physical abuse, additionally suffering the emotional absence of their mother. “The first time Richard hit me I saw stars in front of my eyes just like they do in cartoons.” As an older sibling, Carrie feels responsible to protect herself and Emma from their ‘stepdaddy’, Richard’s, mistreatment. “A big sister has to look out for a baby sister.”

The narrative alternate scenes from the past and present, bringing contrast to the reader of her fond past and her brutal present. “I can barely remember Momma the way she used to be, before Richard broke her into pieces.”

Elizabeth Flock, the author of this novel creates an eloquent vivid impression of the characters, setting and events. “The blood’s spreading out of her head like a spilled cup of coffee. One arm bent like it’s been pulled out of its socket.” She develops a visual aspect of each character’s physical appearance and personality in the reader’s mind and creates a particular sympathetic mood throughout the novel. “Richard. Now there’s a guy who isn’t like anyone we’ve read about during bedtime.” Her writing style, of intricate words and precise use of literary devices engages the reader’s attention and emerges their feelings toward Carrie. The characterization and writing of sisterly love is heart-warming. The imagery and diction of the abuse is heartbreaking. The author’s ability to write from a child’s perspective is heart wrenching.

While the plot may seem familiar with just another story on domestic abuse, the unanticipated dramatic twist leads the reader down an unexpected path towards an appalling conclusion. As one severe discovery and incident reveals the devastating truth of Carrie, Emma, her father’s death and the people around her, it will make the audience jaw drop. This significant turn puts all the pieces of the puzzle together and convinces the reader to reread the novel in order to catch the unexpected.
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Sep 04, 2011 Gina rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone interested in reading about family dysfunction and its fallout

Shelves: abuse, book-club, child-abuse, family-dysfunction, psychology, 5-00-rating

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 Ca...more 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!(less)

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Sep 22, 2012 Bill Kupersmith rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: me-emma

Rating this book was a dilemma. Is it a one-time entertainment or can I reread it all the way through with enjoyment? Unfortubately I don't think I can once I know the secret. So no five stars for real excellence but it is too enjoyable for less than four, and I'm usually generous unless I feel the author is really jerking me around. I went back and read over certain episodes to see how the author handled the narrative to avoid either giving something away or misinforming the reader, and I thoug...more

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Jan 25, 2012 Karyl rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: library-reads, 2012, favorites

Just.... WOW. This book is so heart-breaking. Caroline (Carrie) and Emma are two little girls who not only witnessed the brutal murder of their father, but are now subject to abuse by their stepfather. While told from the point of view of eight-year-old Carrie, Flock does an excellent job of fleshing out the more adult themes in the novel, things Carrie wouldn't understand but that we as adult readers do. She lets various things slip, in the way children do, without understanding the import of w...more

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Jul 20, 2012 Nikki Wilde rated it 2 of 5 stars

Emma and Me by Elizabeth Flock was about two sisters, Emma and Carrie. Age 6 and 8. They've fallen upon some hard times. Their mother seems depressed and at her wits end and their stepfather is an abusive drunk. Very abusive.

I thought this book was going to be one of those books that you finish and you say, WOW. I can't believe that was such a good book. I expected a lot more than what I actually got out of this one. Was it emotional, yes. Was it amazing, no. Once you get to the end you're wonde...more

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Jan 25, 2010 Katie added it Recommends it for: Everyone

Recommended to Katie by: My English Teacher

In the story me & Emma two girls (sisters) face abuse and neglects ever since their real father was murdered. Their mother Libb remarried to a man named Richard (AKA the DRUNK) did not help the abuse or neglect much either. When the girls heard the beer bottles clinking the in trash can they no to hide and not come out until it’s safe but to them it’s never safe.

After a while the mother told the girls that they are moving and they are not to happy about it. They asked about a new school they...more

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Dec 02, 2009 E rated it 4 of 5 stars

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Jan 03, 2012 Simcsa rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, read-in-english, contemporary-realistic-ya

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 Living Dead Girl, 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...more

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About Elizabeth Flock

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 Booksen...more

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Quotes from Me & Emma

“I throw my arms around her without even thinking first, the way I used to with Daddy when he came home from a trip. "Thank you," I say into her waist. Her clothes smell so good. I feel her hand resting on my head, and for that second I feel like nothing could ever go wrong. Not when there's Miss Mary to hug.” — 1 person liked it

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