Author Elizabeth Atkinson's debut novel for middleschoolers was included in the Bank Street College of Education's Best Children's Books of 2009. I, Emma Freke tells of one girl's search for her identity. Smart and shy, Emma is as close to normal as her family gets. Still, she has a terrible time fitting in at school-and things only get worse when Emma attends her family reunion. Soon, she realizes that she's better off being herself than someone else's Freke. ". a timeless realistic tale."-School Library Journal
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"The lovely story of Emma Freke, a shy, tall sixth grader who feels out of place all the time. She's never known anything about her father and then gets invited to the annual Freke reunion in Wisconsin. Her journey brings new friends and her own transformation. Delightful! "
— Jean (4 out of 5 stars)
“A lively novel with an empathetic, well-drawn heroine.”
— Publishers Weekly“A well-paced story told with heart and humor.”
— School Library Journal“Readers will certainly sympathize with and root for Emma and celebrate the story’s satisfying ending.”
— Booklist“Ahn’s spot-on vocal performance takes listeners through the highs and lows of Emma’s life.”
— AudioFile" Great read. Loved the character of Emma. Another nice tale for kids to know they are not alone when they feel like they just don't fit in. "
— Megrarian, 5/23/2011" Not so bad I stopped reading, not so good that I was excited to read it. A solid Meh. I'm not even inspired enough by dislike or excitement to write a proper description and review. "
— Amy, 4/20/2011" A really nice story about acceptance and finding your own identity. I enjoyed the characters, especially Emma's best friend Penelope. "
— Jennifer, 4/8/2011" Was an interesting book about coming of age. "
— Ashley, 2/20/2011" Beautiful story of self acceptance . . . I think I'm going to make a Joylah poster for my bathroom mirror! "
— Tenille, 2/5/2011Elizabeth Atkinson is the author of Monster Vehicles, From Alice to Zen and Everyone in Between, GLEE!: An Easy Guide to Gluten-Free Independence, and I, Emma Freke. She has worked as a copy editor, editorial assistant, English instructor, and children’s librarian. She currently lives on the north shore of Massachusetts with her husband and children.
Ali Ahn is a film, television, and voice actor. Her acting credits include appearances on Law & Order, Ugly Betty, White Collar, and Zero Hour. She has also narrated numerous audio books, such as Honolulu by Alan Brennert, This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen, Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas, and Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart.