Me & Emma

By: Elizabeth Flock

Narrated by: Lauren Davis

Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

In many ways, Carrie Parker is like any other eight-year-old: playing make-believe, dreading school, dreaming of faraway places. But even her imaginative mind can't shut out the realities of her impoverished North Carolina home or help her protect her younger sister, Emma.

By turns achingly naive and utterly pragmatic, Carrie has been shaped by the loss of her beloved daddy and by a drunken stepfather and her emotionally absent mother. Charting an astonishing course of survival for herself and Emma, she hopes to transform their lives into one more closely resembling the storybooks she treasures.

But after the sisters' plan to run away from home unravels, their world takes a shocking turn, and one shattering moment ultimately reveals a truth that leaves everyone reeling.

Narrated with the simplicity and unabashed honesty of a child's perspective, Me & Emma is a vivid portrayal of heartbreaking loss of innocence, an indomitable spirit, and incredible courage, a story that will resonate with readers long after they've heard the final sentence.

©2004 Elizabeth Flock (P)2006 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Tremendously touching." (Kirkus Review)
"Captivating. Haunting. You'll hit the last page and want to go back to the beginning. Elizabeth Flock is one to watch." (bookreporter.com)

Wow...

I just finished listening and it broke my heart. I, like other reviewers did not expect the ending. This book touched me like no other has in a long long time and the emotions it stirred in me are deep. Listen to it, you'll be glad you did.

Anne

This was a book club selection, not my choice for a read. However, I found her voice to pull me into her story. I had to keep listening and as previously stated the ending was not expected. I think what made it so unexpected was hearing it from this young girl's voice. It was a good book and we had a very good discussion on it.

Good story..

The ending was an unexpected twist.

don't waste credit/$ and more importantly, time

This book is ridiculous, obnoxious and poorly narrated. I am returning it.
"His sleeve was shredded by bullets from the battle" - shredded, yet none of them hit him?
Blatantly unoriginal plot. Single mom and hardened soldier lust for each other. Presumably they will get around to solving the mystery, but I couldn't last that long.
Narrated with a simpering female voice.

Unable to finish

I couldn't get through it. Did not like the narrator or the story. It grated on my nerves.

Depressing, Pitiful Story - Obvious Ending

I hated this book but kept listening because of all the rave reviews I read. I figured out the ending early in the book but kept going because I read reviews that talked about the "surprise" ending and hoped I was wrong. I wasn't. I got so tired of all the terrible abuses Caroline endured - physical, verbal, emotional - as well as the neglect. There was no joy in this book and very little, if any, hope. It was torture. Next time I'll listen to my instincts and stop listening.

Terribly flawed

Any additional comments?

Spoilers ahead

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This book was such a piece of trash. I don't know how it ended up in my reading list. I had two major problems with it.

1. I have never seen a more obvious twist coming so soon. This is so obvious that the title just screams it and every page confirms it. So disappointing. I spent the whole book hoping she'd just get this out of the way and not wait until the end. I find it hard to believe anyone was surprised by this. This kind of plot twist seems to have been done to death recently. Maybe it's just become really dated in the last eight years. This is one reason I try to avoid old books.

2. The delusion is such a load of nonsense. That kind of delusion just doesn't exist. Where the deluded is 100% convinced by their own delusion. For example most people with schizophrenia KNOW they have schizophrenia. They hear voices they know aren't there. And see things that they KNOW aren't there. People who do actually suffer something close to full delusion would by no means be as capable and functional as Carrie. And no Doctor would ever recommend going along with the delusion.

Also the mother just didn't make any sense as a character. Carrie's father seemed like a lovely man, and her mother an utter beast. How were these two people ever married? There was no indication that the mother was ever a good mother / person.

Otherwise the actual writing was pretty good. But overall this book is so utterly flawed.

And the narration was really good. Audiobooks are mostly a bit iffy when it comes to children but this was pretty flawless.

Sad

I found this story very sad. It is told from the point of view of a child dealing with very adult issues. You can't help but to fall in love with the young characters and want everything to turn out for the best. For me, I was disappointed.