Saturday, July 30, 2005

Book Review: "Me & Emma" by Elizabeth Flock

ISBN: 0-7783-2082-0
March 2005
Mira Books

Eight-year old Caroline or Carrie Parker had an idyllic little life with a wonderful mom and dad in a place called Toast, North Carolina. Then her father died and her mother married again and after that everything seem to go downhill for her 6-year old sister, Emma and her. Her mother's new husband, Richard, was an alcoholic and abused the children in a not-so-fatherly way.

This is a beautifully written story and narrated by the 8-year old Carrie. It is amazing to note how the author can so accurately write in the voice of a child. The plight of the girls will bring tears to your eyes, but despite the story-telling skills of the author, this might have been just another story on abuse had it not been for the unexpected dramatic twist at the end.