If You Find Me

By: Emily Murdoch

Narrated by: Tai Sammons

A deeply compelling mix of high school drama and page-turning mystery that asks profound questions about family, truth, and love

Fourteen-year-old Carey and six-year-old Jenessa have been living in the woods with their mother for as long as they can remember; the sheltering trees and a broken-down camper are all they know. But what they’ve never been told is that Carey vanished from the real world ten years ago, when their mother took her, causing an uproar in the media - and in her father’s life.

Now, abandoned by the mother they trusted, they’re often left alone for long periods of time to fend for themselves - but, in one moment, everything changes. They’re found by Carey’s father and thrust into a bright and perplexing new world, one of shopping malls, shiny appliances, new clothes, and mouth-watering food. Carey desperately wants to believe in this new reality but is held back by a deep and painful loyalty to her mentally ill mother, who gave Carey her violin and taught her how to play the soaring music that helps her survive.

And then there’s the other piece of Carey’s past that haunts her, the story of what happened to her and Jenessa on that dark night in the woods - the reason Jenessa hasn’t spoken a word in over a year. Will Carey ever be able to trust her father and his family enough to fit into this new life? Will Jenessa finally break her silence and ruin the cocoon of safety that Carey’s built so carefully around them? And what will happen if the secret comes out?

©2013 Emily Murdoch (P)2013 Blackstone Audio, Inc

Critic reviews

“Grabbed me by the heart on page one and didn’t let go till the very last word. Murdoch’s language is lovely, her storytelling gripping.” (Carol Lynch Williams, PEN Award-winning author of The Chosen One)

“Within two pages, I was so hopelessly hooked, I felt like the story had attached itself to me…Original and suspenseful, but most of all, it was Carey’s voice that had me flipping the pages…One of those books you devour.” (Jennifer Brown, author of Hate List)

“Searing…Hurt my heart and will probably haunt my dreams—a beautiful book about survival, identity, family, love, and so much more.” (Jenny Downham, author of Before I Die)

Well-written characters, good story!

Tai Sammons really brings this book to life. I truly enjoyed this book! The author does a beautiful job with the characters and storylines.

WOW! Such an amazing read!

The story is well written with a 1st person narrative. The audio narrator nails the Tennessee back woods dialect. The plot is realistic with no sugarcoating, so prepare yourself for the ugly warts of our human condition!!! My heart ached for the protagonist, yet her courage and perseverance was admirable. Kudos to Ms. Murdoch for writing such a well-developed story!

Good story

This is a good story, but the fake southern accent from the reader is not realistic and made my skin crawl. If you can look past the accent it is great story.

Outstanding.

The story pulls you in and grabs your heart. The characters are well developed you feel like you know and understand them. The descriptions used to set each setting are spot on. The flow or pace of the story and the reading of it is soothing.

unexpectedly wonderful!

What did you love best about If You Find Me?

I loved the plot & the Characters.

What was one of the most memorable moments of If You Find Me?

When he heart sings when she falls in love w/the boy.

What about Tai Sammons’s performance did you like?

I loved the voices each had their own accent

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes, I wasn't prepared for the end.. I wanted to continue the story.

Any additional comments?

I expected a little more in the end..

I loved it!!

The author had me going through a roller coaster of emotion. I couldn't stop listening to it.

Ended too soon

Would have liked to see how story developed more. It is a very interesting subject matter however it took so long to get to some development that you've invested in the characters and then you're left wondering if they ever learn how to really COPE in the real world. Great characters excellent foundations of the storyline

Worth a listen/ read

Would you consider the audio edition of If You Find Me to be better than the print version?

I have not read the book, only listened to the audio book. It was nicely portrayed by the narrator.

What was one of the most memorable moments of If You Find Me?

I enjoyed the bond between the two sisters throughout.

Which scene was your favorite?

I liked the relationship that developed between Shorty and Jenessa as I could imagine how important that would be for a younger child.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There was a line that went something like "when love is in short supply, you remember it all the more when it comes'.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed this book but I think more could have been done with it. It was a good story (albeit a tough one) to tell, but in some ways I felt it only really skimmed the surface of what it must have been like for the two girls to grow up in the woods in that way and then be reintroduced into society. I liked the vantage point of the book - to tell the story after being taken to safety and was glad that they really were safe (sorry for any spoilers), but I think there could have been a lot more exploration around the character of the mother and how she fell into her demise (and where she went) and more on the obvious struggles two children would have faced trying to 'go back to normal'. Maybe also more from Delaney in accepting a complete change to her own world too. Never-the-less, Emily Murdoch did a good job of telling the story and it was one I found I could keep listening to until the end. Perhaps it was just over too quickly before I felt it got going and I was hungry for more. I liked it, I would say I enjoyed it but probably didn't love it, hence 4 stars.

Great story....

It's as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking... But it weaves the two into a pleasure of a story with a capable and engaging narrator. It's not exactly what I was expecting, but turned out to be well worth the credit.

Suspenseful and Yet Literary

Beautifully written, this book was hard o put down (turn off, actually, as it was an audiobook). Tai Sammons was a good choice as narrator. She sounded like a young girl who had spent most of her life isolated on the woods of Tennessee. The story has twists and turns, as things hinted at previously gradually fall into place.