Series ~ Single Title
Author ~ Elizabeth Atkinson
Release Date ~ August 1, 2010
Age Group ~ Middle Grade
Publisher ~ Carolrhoda Books
Source ~ NetGalley
Goodreads Summary
"I, Emma Freke, am not a freak. Or maybe I am. I just don't know."
What's in a name? I, Emma Freke is a charming search-for-identity story about Emma―the only "normal" member of her quirky family. Her flighty, New Age mom seems to barely have time for a daughter, especially one who annoyingly spoils her mom's youthful façade. Emma's well-meaning grandpa is clueless. And her only friends are the local librarian and a precocious 10-year old adopted by the two old ladies next door.
Smart, shy, and nearly six feet tall, Emma struggles to fit in at school, so she jumps at the opportunity to "home school" until that too turns into another of mom's half-baked ideas.
The real crisis comes when she gets an invitation to The Freke Family Reunion, and her fellow Frekes aren't at all what she expects. While Emma desperately tries to find her niche, she discovers that perhaps it's better to be her own "freak" than someone else's Freke.
Review
Emma’s life is a bit freaky. Her mother refuses to be called “mom” and she is rarely around. In fact, Emma usually has to run her mother’s bead shop after school because her mother is nowhere to be found. Her best friend is an extremely outgoing neighbor girl who is the total opposite of shy and sensitive Emma. Oh, and don’t forget that Emma is nearly six feet tall even though she is only twelve. It is no wonder that Emma is insecure and feels as though she does not belong. She feels like more of a freak than a Freke.
Things change for Emma when she is invited to The Freke Family Reunion. Finally, a chance to meet the father she has always wondered about. Emma’s relatives turn out to be a very unusual group, and she savors this opportunity to learn from them – and teach them a thing or two as well.
I love Emma’s character. While her situation is unique, it represents what all tweens go through. We are all trying to find our own special place in our families and in the world. Emma learns that it is best to be yourself, even when it seems impossible to do.
Middle graders will relate to Emma and her struggles.
Rating
4 Liked
Cover Comments
I like it because it’s different. The muted colors are a nice change from what we so often see. The feathers make it look like Emma is really going to take off and fly. Nice touch. I also like that the title is a cute play on words.
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