Me & Emma
by Elizabeth Flock
List Price: $12.95
Pages: 296
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 0778322858
Publisher: Mira Books
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 mired by a drunken stepfather and emotionally absent mother. Charting an astonishing course of survival for herself and Emma, she hopes to transform their life into one more closely resembling the story books 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 the heartbreaking loss of innocence, an indomitable spirit and incredible courage--a story that will resonate with readers of all ages and experiences.
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1. The epigraph in Me & Emma quotes Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass and it reads, "It is by ourselves we go down to eternal light." Why do you think author Elizabeth Flock chose this passage? How does it relate to Me & Emma?
2. Discuss the effects Daddy's murder has on various characters: Carrie, Emma, Momma and Gammy. Compare and contrast Carrie and Momma's lives and personalities before and after Daddy's murder.
3. As little children we tend to believe our parents are perfect and it is only as adults we begin to see their human flaws. How does that affect us? To Carrie, her Daddy was the perfect father. But in reality he was not the perfect husband. What do we learn about Daddy and the reason for his murder? How do you think this affects Carrie?
4. The author is careful not to reveal what year or decade the novel is set. When do you think this story is supposed to take place? On what clues did you base your decision?
5. Do you think Carrie is typical of girls her age? In what ways? How does she differ?
6. Momma, Miss Mary, Gammy and Miss Ueland are all products of a similar social and economic environment. What do you think about the roles of these women in this story? How has circumstance differentiated them? What does each of them represent to Carrie?
7. In chapter eight, during a violent scene with Carrie, Richard begins to cry. What is the catalyst for his breakdown? Do his emotions make him more human? Did you find yourself more sympathetic toward him?
8. Based on Mr. White's memories of Momma, what is your impression of Momma as a teenager back in high school?
9. Momma seems not to care about the abuse Carrie suffers, yet some might argue that she was as much a victim as her daughter. Discuss ways in which Momma tries to protect Carrie from Richard.
10. Carrie is a very sympathetic character, yet there are times when her actions make her unlikable (when she kicks Brownie, for instance). What do you think this says about her?
11.What so you think about the way children are portrayed in the story? Consider Carrie and Emma, Orla Mae, Forsyth, George Godsey. Are these realistic characters?
12. What do you think the future holds for Carrie and Momma? Do you see the ending as hopeful or bleak?
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"Me & Emma is a triumph.... A remarkable story, told with vigor and truth and stunning revelations that remain with you long after you've closed the cover."
—Kathleen DeMarco, bestselling author of Cranberry Queen
"An absorbing novel...this former reporter writes a story that's hard to put down."
—Oakland Tribune
"An insightful, touching and, yes, even funny account of what it's like to lose control as the world watches."
—New York Times bestselling author Mary Jane Clark
"From the first page, Elizabeth Flock takes you inside the mind and heart of a young woman of promise, about to be destroyed by her own past. A riveting, fast-paced tale by a first-time novelist with a gift for breathing life into her characters."
—Judy Woodruff, anchor, CNN's Inside Politics
