If You Find Me / Start date: 2nd September 2013

[Tash]

There are some things you can’t leave behind…

A broken-down camper hidden deep in a national forest is the only home fifteen year-old Carey can remember. The trees keep guard over her threadbare existence, with the one bright spot being Carey’s younger sister, Jenessa, who depends on Carey for her very survival. All they have is each other, as their mentally ill mother comes and goes with greater frequency. Until that one fateful day their mother disappears for good, and two strangers arrive. Suddenly, the girls are taken from the woods and thrust into a bright and perplexing new world of high school, clothes and boys.

Now, Carey must face the truth of why her mother abducted her ten years ago, while haunted by a past that won’t let her go… a dark past that hides many a secret, including the reason Jenessa hasn’t spoken a word in over a year. Carey knows she must keep her sister close, and her secrets even closer, or risk watching her new life come crashing down.

Rachmi and I will be reading this on the 2nd of September. Feel free to join.

[Rachmi]

Thanks for making the thread, Tash. Can't wait to read it. My friend who recommended it to me keep talking how good it is and said I need to read ASAP :D

[Rachmi]

Hmm, Tash, I thought it's a YA book, is it not? I don't mind with the genre, just curious since you put it under Adult thread :)

[Mei]

I will definitely join you! A lot of people recommended this to me :)

[Rachmi]

yay....the more the merrier, Mei :)

[Mei]

Has anyone started?

[Rachmi]

I haven't started it yet, Mei. I think I'm going to read it a little bit late since haven't finished yet my currently reading. Do you want to read it tomorrow?

[Mei]

Okay,that'd be fine. And we should move this to theSci-fi/Suspense folder, I think, because it's categorized as a YA book.

[Rachmi]

Yes, I thought so that's what I told Tas awhile ago but I don't know how to move it :D If you can do it, please move it to Scifi/Suspense folder, will you?

[Mei]

I think only the mods or Tash, herself, will be able to do that.

[Rachmi]

So, we should ask mods, then? I haven't heard from Tash for these couple days

[Mei]

Oh, I didn't notice it was moved already. Thanks Rachmi :)

[Rachmi]

Thanks to Jalyn who moved it, the only thing I did was ask her to do it :D

Have you started it yet? I think I'm going to read it tomorrow. I'm so close to the end of Origin, I'm sure I can finish it today :)

[Tash]

Sorry - been disconnected from the internet world for the last couple of days!
I wasn't sure what to classify it as when I created the thread - but glad it got sorted.

[Rachmi]

Welcome back, Tash :D I'm ready to read it tomorrow. How about you?

[Rachmi]

Just started reading it today, Sept 4th. I think I'm going to take my time reading it since I'm kind of distracted with the way Carey talks.

[Tash]

Rachmi wrote: "Welcome back, Tash :D I'm ready to read it tomorrow. How about you?"

Not sure when I'm starting this - I just know by Thursday next week I will have finished it. My deadline for reading all my current BR books.
Seeing as I have a week off work - going to make the most of it. But I'll keep checking in for your posts and stuff see what you guys are thinking of it.

[Mei]

I thought I was the only one! LOL. Does that kind of accent sound like Southern? Not sure. But anyway, it's bothering me as well :/

[Rachmi]

So glad you feel it too, Mei. I haven't even finished a chapter after 2 hours reading :(

[Rachmi]

Just take your time Tash, you can jump up on discussion whenever you're ready :D

[Mei]

It's only after the 1st chapter,Rachmi. So that's the only chapter you have to struggle with. LOL

[Mei]

It bothers me that if I'm in Carey's situation and someone would even have the courage to ask me if I've eaten hamburgers or french fries or if I've been to town or if I was schooled. I mean,why so insensitive? They lived in the woods of course they won't experience those kinds of things that much!

[Rachmi]

Agree Mei, Mrs. Haskell seems so insensitive and she doesn't seem realize the way Carey talks. I mean it's obvious Carey talks differently with limited vocabulary but she keeps talk to her like she talks to normal people. I think she being a social worker should know it, for example (view spoiler)[ on chapter 4 when she explains to Carey about the judge's chamber which is his personal office slash dressing room. It's understandable Carey doesn't know what slash means aside "the slash when she gut a squirrel" means (hide spoiler)].

[Rachmi]

20%, I'm feeling a little bit scared (view spoiler)[ for Carey and Nessa and what will happen now they live with her father (hide spoiler)].

[Mei]

Rachmi wrote: "20%, I'm feeling a little bit scared [spoilers removed]."

Especially with a (view spoiler)[probably mean girl like Delaney to live with them, eyeing their uncivilization.It'd be difficult to get along with her. (hide spoiler)]

[Rachmi]

Yes, when I read that scene I thought about (view spoiler)[ Cinderella, you know with stepmother and step sister but I'm glad Melissa is so kind and warm to her and Nessa, though I still have my eyes for Delaney (hide spoiler)].

I'm on 40% now, I think this is one sad story, my heart ache for Casey and Nessa.

[Mei]

I'm at 35%,and I'm enjoying the story in a way I could reallyget into it. It catches my attention and definitely a page turner.

I'm so glad Carey and Jenessa have Melissa for a stepmom. She's warm and very considerate of the way they lived and it lessens the burden they'd carry if Melissa is mean. Kinda wondering how Delaney is unlike her mother.

I'm waiting for an alone time or a heart to heart talk between Carey and her father. (view spoiler)[She says that he used to beat them - Carey and her mom - but I see no signs of hatred from Carey. She's a cool narrator. Even though they lived like that and her mother is not an ideal one, always absent, she didn't hesitate to come with the social worker and her father. (hide spoiler)]

[Mei]

Now at 50%.

Carey's maturity and "voice" warms me, but it's more of a mystery to me than Jenessa's silence.

I'm still wondering where their mom went, what happened to her, how she sent that letter and what is written in that letter.

[Rachmi]

I think it's because she think it is a good thing for Nessa if she lives with her father, moreover to what Mrs. Haskell says in the beginning of the story.

Agree with you, she has a nice POV, even when she has different opinion about her father (based on what her mother said), she's quite objective to what happens to her. Aside all of you've said, a thing I'm wondering the most is what did really happen the day when Nessa stops talking.

[Rachmi]

70%, questions slowly has an answer, but not yet for my big question. I have a guess about it and quite sure it's the right one.

[Rachmi]

Finished it, my guess was right but I still really really like it. It's a sad-heart breaking story yet there's something beautiful in the way the author wrote it. Can't wait to hear your opinion about it.

[Mei]

I finished it 12 hrs ago and I think it was a beautiful story, too, and for a debut novel! I think the ending was what I liked the most. It was able to provoke emotions out of me and I swear I almost cried. But the whole book itself has the potential to sympathize and feel connected with the characters.

Some of my minor questions were left unanswered but I'd leave it at that. My guess for Jenessa's silence was partially correct, too.

I'm happy with the outcome of the story and somehow, I'm satisfied. :)

[Rachmi]

Yes, I'm satisfied too but a little part of me hope the author want to write it's sequel :D

[Mei]

Yes, and probably a sequel about Delaney, Ryan or Jenessa, when she gets older :)

[Rachmi]

Let's hope Emily Murdoch read this thread and she willing, at least to think about it :)