Lovereading Reader reviews of If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch Below are the complete reviews, written by Lovereading members. Raimy Greenland Carey has spent most her life in the woods, her six year old sister, Jenessa, has spent all her life there. Their mother is a meth addict and often leaves them to fend for themselves. Carey has always been the one in charge when their mother is out of it or gone. Carey s only priority is survival, and she expects that to be the priority for the foreseeable future. Then one day strangers arrive at their clearing, claiming their mother sent them and that Carey and Jenessa has to go with them and join civilisation. Now Carey has other things she has to think about and secrets she has to keep. I love it when I read a book and I have forgotten what it s about, when the blurb from the back has escaped my memory and the book is completely fresh as I am reading it. That is what happened with If You Find Me and honestly, it makes the book even better! I picked up the gist of the story quickly, these two girls are alone in the woods, they only have each other and their mother is gone. The first few pages are about Carey and how she senses someone in the woods. The someone is a man, and with him is a woman from Social Services. Carey and Jenessa are whisked off to live with a proper family in a proper house and its a massive adjustment. The book follows the adjustment, the things that the girls have to come to terms with and the things that happened to them in the woods at the hand of their mother. The story is shocking, watching Carey as she makes sense of this new world is genuinely terrifying. The way the story is told is even better, with a first person narrative coming from Carey the flashbacks blend in seamlessly and the newness of the world she has entered makes sense. I loved the way her voice flowed and how the whole book seems to carry on so well because of her. I also really loved the way the book was split into three parts with the end as the first part, that was a brilliant touch. 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. If You Find Me is a powerful, raw read and its not to be taken lightly. There are some serious, messed up topics which will shock younger readers. I wouldn t recommend this for the younger teen unless they are very mature and capable of handling such topics. I think my enjoyment, if you can call it that, of If You Find Me came from going into it blind so I would recommend a reader of this review to pre-order the book, forget everything I ve said and go in blind like I did when it comes out in May! Katy Panter If You Find Me certainly finds your heart: It s crazy to think that vulnerable young people are left to suffer, and I often felt my eyes welling up at the thought of Carey and Jenessa, and all that they went through. If You Find Me conveys the importance of the power of love and trust in a sometimes sickening world. Teenagers need to read this touching, hopeful literary novel. After reading this, I sat still for a long time - It really does stay with you long after you turn the last page. Gemma Bees I really enjoyed this book. It is slightly slow moving when you begin reading it but once you get into it, you're hooked. It is very well written, that is probably what helps make it so interesting. The storyline is sad in a way but it also has moments of happiness in it, its a good book. I would recommend this for anyone. Darcy Elliman, age 15 Beautifully written and gripping, I cried my way trough Carey s journey of moving on and starting over. It is one story and group of characters I know will stay with me for a long time because Carey s voice is so pure.
Abbie Convery. Age 14 If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch is about two young girls, Carey and her little sister Jenessa. The two girls live in a ridiculously small camper van in the heart of the woods with their drug-addicted mother. Their mother Joelle leaves the girls on a daily occurrence sometimes for weeks on their own with only canned beans to survive on. The strongest aspect of the book, in my opinion, has to be the strong relationship between the two sisters. Carey is a truly inspirational character. Being only a young teenager doesn t stop her from raising her little sister from a baby all on her own. She does everything to stop them from going hungry and amazingly she home-schools herself and her little sister. Even after finishing the book I couldn t help but think of the emotional and heartbreaking events that took place. This is a real teenage winner which both boys and girls will thoroughly enjoy. I would definitely recommend this book to all teenagers out there!!! You will be missing out on such an amazing story if you don t read this book. Looking forward to more from Emily Murdoch. The school Librarian, Mary Regan who coordinates review copies at Abbie s school also said, I read this one myself and it is a truly brilliant read, highly recommend this Freya Macdonald, 16 Dark yet beautiful. "If You Find Me" gave me chills from the very first page. The heartbreaking story line and wonderfully intricate characters made for a journey like no other. The character Carey's voice was so powerful and compelling as she escorted you through the pages, leaving her inner-most thoughts imprinted on your heart. The subject of the story was handled so lovingly and with so much care that the author Emily Murdock made it possible for the reader to immerse themselves amongst something that is so rarely addressed and so hard to relate to. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone and everyone. Very few books can leave an impression quite like "If You Find Me" does.
Safiyah Afghan If You Find Me is a riveting, thought-provoking, beautifully written book by Emily Murdoch. It tells the story of Carey, a girl who's drug addicted mother vanishes for long periods of time, leaving her to fend for herself and her little sister Janessa. One day Carey is found by her father and life as she knows it is changed forever. This wonderful master piece explores people, society and children in ways not many writers have before. Carey tells her story of love, survival and innocence in a captivating, mesmerising way that leaves readings both yearning for more and thinking about the world that they live in. This book describes how people do bad things to others and how it affects those closest to them; it explores the view of this type of world from a child's perspective and it shows how sheer love, determination and selflessness can help people in the most unusual ways. This fabulous book draws readers into Carey's world, making them fall in love with her and also contemplate the matters going on in society. An excellent book, well-written and thought-provoking; it will stay with you long after you have put this book on a shelf. Quite a short read, but the content and emotion of the book override this. An excellent book for those who want to break away from the mainstream topics and throw themselves into a darker, deeper and more inspiring type of read. Daisy Pennock, age 13 Carey and Janessa have always lived in the woods. Their mother brought them their to protect them, however she is never around because she is constantly looking for a way to feed them and to keep them safe, so really it is Carey who brings up Janessa. But soon, this changes dramatically. The book starts with a huge change for the two girls. They are moved out of the woods by the authorities and introduced to their biological father. 'If You Find Me' follows the girls' readjustment into the real world and also raises a lot of questions about their past, their mother and what exactly happened to them in the woods. I really like this book, it was compelling and addicting, I just wanted to find out more! Lucy Smith If you find me is a fantastic story that gripped me within the first few pages. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and I would happily recommend it to both teenagers and adults alike. A descriptive tale, with a dark twist, the story explores modern relationship dynamics, our ability as humans to trust one and other and to grow as individuals and the value of kindness. Murdoch combines poetry with metaphors I could only dream of conjuring up, and chooses words that escort the reader into the lives of the
characters with ease. Murdoch tackles several delicate issues some readers may be able to relate to in part or find difficult to discuss, yet she explores them sensitively and lets them evolve in a way not to unsettle the reader only to make them empathise for the characters more and want to read the next page. A brilliant book I feel privileged to have read.