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What happens in the woods, stays in the woods. . .
Carey is keeping a terrible secret. If she tells, it could destroy her future. If she doesn’t, will she ever be free?
For almost as long as she can remember, Carey has lived in a camper van in the heart of the woods with her drug-addicted mother and six-year-old sister, Jenessa. Her mother routinely disappears for weeks at a time, leaving the girls to cope alone. Survival is Carey’s only priority – until strangers arrive and everything changes . . .
Jenny Downham, author of BEFORE I DIE, says that IF YOU FIND ME is “a beautiful book about survival, identity, family, love and so much more.”
Carey is keeping a terrible secret. If she tells, it could destroy her future. If she doesn’t, will she ever be free?
For almost as long as she can remember, Carey has lived in a camper van in the heart of the woods with her drug-addicted mother and six-year-old sister, Jenessa. Her mother routinely disappears for weeks at a time, leaving the girls to cope alone. Survival is Carey’s only priority – until strangers arrive and everything changes . . .
Jenny Downham, author of BEFORE I DIE, says that IF YOU FIND ME is “a beautiful book about survival, identity, family, love and so much more.”
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Reviews
A striking debut novel
Bittersweet yet gripping ... a gorgeous literary read for teenagers ... breaks and soothes your heart in equal measure
A tale of growing up, bravery and hope
This book was so powerful I read it from front to back in one night ... heartbreakingly magnificent
A lovely book
An extraordinary debut novel
Beautifully written ... captivates you from the first word ... if you only pick up one book this year, make it this one
I found this book spellbinding and didn't want to put it down. It's one of those wonderful YA crossover books that you feel no shame in reading as an adult... This is a book that makes you appreciate what you have, not in a soppy way, but in a matter of fact one... A lot of the pain in the book is subtle, understated, unemotional, almost because that's the way Carey has had to deal with it. It's not a big deal, except of course it is, it's a huge, massive deal. And yet, because of the low key way she talks about the past, it seems all the more poignant than any woe-is-me misery memoir. This is a book I've been thinking about all weekend, and I finished it some days ago. I suspect I'll be thinking about it for many more days still.
An emotional rollercoaster of a read that also delivers plenty of plot twists and tension
... a powerful read that I have absolutely no qualms recommending. It is (at times) rather emotionally draining, but the unparalleled beauty and feeling in its pages make it wholeheartedly worth it.
Murdoch tells a fascinating tale
Murdoch has written a staggering, thought-provoking read. I didn't want to tear my eyes away and the emotions, description and little details make it perfect. I honestly can't find a fault.
It's an extremely emotional roller coaster of a book, and I bet more than one point will make you cry, but it's full of hope and free will too, which makes you smile. Definitely recommended for thirteen/fourteen and up, this is a must read which I'm sure will capture the hearts of so many people. The characters and the tear-jerking story will stay with you long after you close the book after reading the last page- I know they did with me.
As a debut pitched in the young adult market it is faultless. The details and scenes within the story were grittier than I was expecting and definitely darker but the fact Murdoch doesn't shy away from this is what makes If you find me all the better. This book comes highly recommended.
Thsi story will break your heart, before slowly putting it back together piece by piece
Will stay with you long after the final page
This novel will be entering unconventional territory: with dark and challenging content ... Carey's extraordinary narrative voice subtly balances maturity and betrayed innocence ... There's a slow-burning intensity to this story of resilience and hope that will keep readers captivated
This latest powerful and accomplished adolescent novel from the US is fuelled by a strong, individualistic voice in the tradition of Huck Finn.
In a league of it's own by far, If You Find Me was a rare gem among the others in it's genre. I can't recommend it highly enough to give it justice. Emily Murdoch is definitely an author I'm going to watch for in the future and I can't wait to read more from her. 5 star worthy completely.
Challenging, uplifting and contemporary
This powerful, moving novel is probably the best thing I've read all year. It's packed with strong themes, all tackled with huge sensitivity and care
Carey is a narrator with a strong voice, as we follow her attempt to control her language and ideas in order to slot back into a world she's been removed from far too long to truly remember. We feel the pain of the secret she carries before it is even revealed, and share her desperation for acceptance and safety. She is frustrating, too, taking a long time to see the truth that becomes sadly obvious to the reader, but in this way she is a more believable voice - heartbreakingly, beautifully real.?? A gorgeous, literary read for teenagers, If You Find Me breaks and soothes your heart in equal measure, with its reminder that home is neither more nor less than the people you love and trust.
I rarely rate books as five stars but in all seriousness, this book is a five. The story, the setting, the characters and the pace were just incredible. I thought that the book was going one way and it actually went another, I half guessed where it was going but I was still happy with it, as much as you can be happy with a story that continually punches you in the gut. I had to stop reading during my few sittings with this book because of the things that were revealed but that is just a sign of a brilliantly written book.
I honestly can't say anything bad about this book. If You Find Me is one of the most underrated books I have ever read and I can't believe it hasn't won award after award after award. Because it deserves it. Tragic and heartbreaking, it is about two girls against the world, about neglect and about love. Sisterly love, unpredictable love, familial love; it encompasses love in many different shades, with many different meanings and roots - and it is a book you should not miss.
A remarkable tale ... a stunning debut novel
This is an extraordinary debut novel, touching on dark issues but celebrating the healing power of love. . . it's a promising and rewarding first book.
Powerful and accomplished