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Aug 07, 2007

Alexis rated it:

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 More...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Mar 06, 2009

Carrie rated it:

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 More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jul 07, 2008

Marika rated it:

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 More...

0 comments like (4 people liked it)

Feb 04, 2008

Courtney rated it:

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 y More...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Jan 31, 2009

Anne rated it:

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..

0 comments like (6 people liked it)

Nov 25, 2008

Robin rated it:

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

2 comments like (2 people liked it)

May 05, 2008

Corbett rated it:

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 More...

1 comment like (2 people liked it)

Jan 29, 2009

Indra rated it:

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 More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 28, 2009

Lauren rated it:

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 d More...

0 comments like (4 people liked it)

Nov 25, 2008

Alicia rated it:

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.

More...

1 comment like (2 people liked it)

Sep 11, 2011

Mandy Jo rated it:

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.
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0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Sep 02, 2011

Astraea rated it:

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 More...

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Oct 21, 2010

Leanne rated it:

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 More...

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Oct 21, 2010

Joanna rated it:

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...

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Jan 18, 2010

Amanda rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

1 comment like

Dec 22, 2009

Joni rated it:

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 straw More...

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Oct 05, 2009

Jeni rated it:

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:

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 stepfat More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Apr 22, 2009

Kristy rated it:

“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. Noneth More...

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Sep 04, 2011

Gina rated it:

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 More...

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Jan 25, 2012

Karyl rated it:

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 o More...

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Jan 25, 2010

Katie added it

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 More...

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Dec 02, 2009

E rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 03, 2012

Simcsa rated it:

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 More...

5 comments like (3 people liked it)

Mar 07, 2008

Martha rated it:

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0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jul 07, 2011

Sarah-jane rated it:

Goodreads really needs to add half stars! I give this book a 2.5 rating. I definitely did my best to get things done quickly in order to read a few more pages here and there... but, instead of being completely absorbed in the story and events, I found myself rushing to get through this book just to check on these little girls. The twist was completely unexpected and, although heartbreaking for Caroline, I really liked how the author created and used this. I think it sheds light on the extraordi More...

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Sep 26, 2009

Tara rated it:

This book was a heartbreaking account, told through the eyes of an eight year old, about the abuse and neglect that she and her sister go through after her father dies. Her emotionally distant mother marries an physically/mentally/sexually abusive man who begins to torment Caroline and her sister Emma.

The tale told is different from many mainstream novels, as it is told from a child's point of view. The things that these girls go through are hard to stomach sometimes. The inabilit More...

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Sep 03, 2011

Ayny rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

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Mar 18, 2009

Lynzie rated it:

I really wasn't sure how to rate Me & Emma. It was a quick, interesting read, and I didn't expect the twist in the least. (I recall throwing it onto my bed, staring at it wide-eyed and saying, "What?") This is a good thing - I like being surprised! I liked Carrie and Emma as characters, but the adults all seemed flat and unbelievable to me and it really took away from the story.

Reading the other reviews here, I'm kind of surprised I didn't burst into tears while reading More...

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Apr 15, 2010

Ann rated it:

Ok...yet another book I picked up for the second time...butcha know I actually enjoyed reading it a second time...the story flows well...I was a little amazed by the editting or lack of actually though...one line that stands out in my mind is 'don't talk with your mouth open'...this line should have been 'don't talk with your mouth full' as the child was eatting while talking...I mean how can one talk except with their mouth open...but as with all good stories it is easy for the eye to pass thes More...

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