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Book Review By Rhonda S. Hough
Me & Emma by Elizabeth Flock

    Carrie and Emma are sisters crucial to each other's survival in a volatile family. After their father is brutally murdered, their mother is plunged into a depression she never fully recovers from. During the following weeks and months, Carrie and Emma learn to rely on each other in their neglectful home.
    Their mother finally emerges from her darkened bedroom to a stark reality. She meets and marries Richard, an abusive, alcoholic who only manages to hide his true self long enough to become husband and step-father. Once the abuse starts, it quickly escalates and becomes more dangerous and more cruel with each episode. Carrie and Emma often have to fend for themselves, with a little help from kindly town folk.
    Carrie and Emma decide their best chance for survival is to run away. The young girls set off on a trek across the woods. While it seemed their situation could not possibly get worse, it does when they are found by Richard and marched back home by gunpoint. The punishment from Richard is nearly unbearable, made worse by going seemingly unnoticed by their mother.
    The family moves to another, even smaller town. The family continues to deteriorate at an alarming rate. Carrie and Emma get small bits of respite from an elderly neighbor who discovers and helps develop an unusual talent in Carrie. One night, the crash that the family has been headed for, finally comes. An explosion of violence, truth and reality hits full force.


Plot & Themes
Tone of book? - depressed
Time/era of story - 2000+ (Present Day)
Kids growing up/acting up? Yes
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Age group of kid(s) in story: - grade school
Parents/lack of parents problem?
Wild kid(s)? - runaway!

Main Character
Gender - Female
Profession/status:
Age: - a kid
Ethnicity/Nationality

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 20's-30's
Profession/status:
Eccentric/Smart/Dumb: Yes
Eccentric:
How sensitive is this character?
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 5 ()
Small town? Yes
Small town people: - nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee

Writing Style
Amount of dialog - little dialog
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