Emily For Real
Published on 27. September 2012
Book
Paperback/Softback
224 pages
978-0-9869495-8-6 (ISBN)
Description
Seventeen-year-old Emily's world crumbles when her boyfriend dumps her and when she thinks her life can't possibly get any worse, a series of secrets are revealed that threaten to tear her beloved family apart. Emily feels like she has no one to turn to, until an unexpected friendship blossoms with a troubled classmate named Leo. Sometimes despondent but always supportive, Leo is Emily's rock in an ocean of confusion and disbelief.
Leo's life isn't easy either, and he struggles to be both mother and father to his little sister while his mom battles her alcohol addiction. The two friends lean on each other, and in the end discover the inner strength to face whatever life throws at them.
With incredible insight into the teenage psyche and speckled with pitch-perfect humour, author Sylvia Gunnery has created a heart-warming coming of age story that is sure to connect with young adult readers.
Leo's life isn't easy either, and he struggles to be both mother and father to his little sister while his mom battles her alcohol addiction. The two friends lean on each other, and in the end discover the inner strength to face whatever life throws at them.
With incredible insight into the teenage psyche and speckled with pitch-perfect humour, author Sylvia Gunnery has created a heart-warming coming of age story that is sure to connect with young adult readers.
Reviews / Votes
About Emily for Real"[G]enuinely touching at its tear-inducing, hopeful end."-Kirkus Reviews
"Gunnery gives Emily a thoughtful, introspective, and easily relatable voice."-School Library Journal
"Gunnery's style is enjoyably terse and direct...observations like 'crying is not cathartic' are short on words but high on impact."-Quill & Quire
"Young adult readers, especially females, will enjoy reading about the challenges Emily faces and will cheer her on throughout the book, and she attempts to unravel the secrets which have been woven around her."-CM Magazine
"Emily's genuine characterization keeps the situation grounded in real emotion that readers will be able to relate to."-Resource Links Magazine
"Gunnery nicely captures the way families really are, the sweet, mundane and strained interactions of everyday life...Emily for Real is a satisfying read for teens who will root for Emily as she faces the challenges of friendship and families and growing up."-The Chronicle Herald
"As the narrator who shares her responses to a stream of stupefying revelations, Emily becomes a real girl, not a cardboard cut-out of a teen."-CanLit for LittleCanadians
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Toronto
Canada
Target group
Young adult
US School Grade: From Seventh Grade to Tenth Grade, Interest Age: From 12 to 14 years
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 203 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 12 mm
Weight
227 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-9869495-8-6 (9780986949586)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Sylvia Gunnery is the author of more than 20 books for teens and younger readers, including her YA novels Emily For Real and Road Signs That Say West. Out of Bounds was a Best Books for Kids & Teens Selection and was nominated for the Hackmatack Award. Sylvia has presented at schools, libraries, and festivals across Canada. In 2015, she was the mentor at the first Writing on Fire teen writing retreat in Pugwash, NS.