What Happened to My Sister (2024)

There was something about the novel Me & Emma that stuck with me. I wondered for so long what happened to Carrie? How was she after all she had been through? How did her story really end? I was craving some closure on the story. So you can imagine how excited I was when I heard that Flock had written a follow up to Me & Emma entitled What Happened to My Sister.

I was so excited to get my hands on an early reader copy of What Happened to My Sister and I devoured it in nearly a day. The story continues roughly a year after Me & Emma left off. Carrie is now 9 and leaving the mountains and all the anger, hurt and loss behind. She and her mother are hoping to find happiness that has eluded them up to this point. What they find will not only change the course of their lives, but also their whole perception of the past!

Fans of Me & Emma will be pleased to know that all the elements they loved in Me & Emma are alive and present in What Happened to My Sister; great dialogue, an interesting story with twists and turns right up until the VERY last page. There are very few authors that can write so convincingly in both adult and child voices. Flock does so masterfully, while weaving a story that needed to be told.

What really happened to Carrie's sister Emma? Was she really Carrie's imaginary friend or was there something more to it....

Preorder your 5 STAR copy today to find out for yourself!!! Fans of Me & Emma will not be disappointed and will find the wait well worth it.

I had high hopes for this book, since I loved "Me and Emma" so much. Right from the get-go the main character, Carrie, didn't even seem like the same character. It's like the author lost Carrie's voice but forced a second novel out of it, anyway. Then there's the whole subplot with the Chaplin's. The story is so unrealistic and unbelievable that I had to take breaks while reading it for fear that my mind would implode on itself. The new "Chaplin-Ford" characters aren't all that likable or even properly developed, the story is sloppily written, and it completely ruins the excellent twist ending of the first story. "Me and Emma" seems like a story that would be set in the 1950s or '60s (it never outright says what time period it is, but it definitely does not seem to be modern day); "What Happened to my Sister" thrusts the characters into modern day society and focuses quite a bit on the technology that we now have available (the plot - poor as it was - wouldn't have been able to move along without Cricket's amazing ability to pull up archived information from Carrie's backwoods hill town that is conveniently all online... really? Entire yearbooks and newspaper articles? I live in California and our city doesn't have all of that stuff available online, so why would some podunk town in the hills have all of their archives on the internet?) The book was utterly ridiculous, to say the least. The "coincidences" that inspire the Chaplin-Ford's to bring Carrie into their lives are far fetched, yet a rather convenient way for the author to justify this family latching onto this little girl. Overall it felt like Ms. Flock really didn't try too hard with this novel - perhaps her publishers forced her to write a sequel, but who knows. "What Happened to my Sister" lacks the heart and soul of what made "Me and Emma" an incredible, unforgettable story.

I received a copy of "What Happened to my Sister" when I won a Goodreads.com giveaway. I was hooked by the first sentence of the book: "If you're reading this, I must be dead...". This sentence is written by 9-year old Carrie, the principal narrator of the story. As the reader gets to know Carrie we find out how harrowing a life she has lead. We also learn about grief, resilience, survival, and love.

I found some aspects of the story incongruous or hard to believe. For example it seems unlikely that a child in the 21 st century would not know about the existence of computers even if she is from a town as small as Toast, North Carolina is purported to be. When we first meet Carrie she and her mother are actually fleeing from Hendersoville, North Carolina, an actual town of some size where it is quite likely that every school has at least some computers.

Additionally, late in the story, when Carrie has been injured in suspicious circ*mstances, we find police officer Eddie Ford, who should understand protocol better than the average citizen, taking Carrie to his former wife's home rather than to a hospital where Carrie can be seen by medical personnel and evaluated appropriately, especially given the circ*mstances.

I also found it unusual that a typical 12- year old girl, like the character Cricket in this novel, would naturally gravitate to a 9- year old girl as her best friend. It is so unlikely, particularly given the vast differences in their lives. It requires a real stretch of the imagination.as.

Author: Elizabeth Flock
Published By: Random House Publishing Group
Age Recommended 16
Reviewer: Arlena Dean
Rating: 5
Blog For: GMTA

Review:

"What Happened to My Sister: A Novel" by Elizabeth Flock was a follow up from Ms. Flock first book 'Me & Emma'... which was also a good dialogue and a very interesting read. Be ready for many twist and turns because this is what you will get from "What Happened to My Sister." The reading in a adult and child's voice was really a good affect on the read.

From Toast, North Carolina...to Hendersonville, North Carolina...then finally to Hartsville, North Carolina. Carrie(a young neglected and abused girl) and her mother were making a new start. This is where Carrie meets a good friend named Cricket who has lost a sister too. Now Carrie and Cricket are inseparable. Carrie is now thinking less of her sister, Emma. What will come of these two nine year old girls? "When these two meet, their world's expand till it's bursting, changing who they are, and how they see the world they exist in." This is simply beautiful story. Crickets' mom...Honor Chaplin Ford is "a 30-plus female who has suffered the loss of her daughter, her job and her marriage. Their lives are brought together on the 3rd anniversary of Honor's daughter' death. Thus, begins the healing and salvation they both need." This is the time that I will say that you must pick up this wonderful read..."What Happened to My Sister" to find out just what the big secret is and seeing this process of healing in that questions will be answered and the end will all be well for Carrie.

The characters were simply off the chart...from Carrie(Caroline), (her mom-Libby), Richard, Cricket(Hannah), Mrs.Honor Chaplin Ford, Eddie, Misty Rae, Janey, Mr. & Mrs. Hap Burdock, Hunter, Lucy, Uncle Charles, to Mr. Wilson and I am sure I have left someone out...so you will have to pick up this excellent read and find out. Also in this read find out how to cure hiccups...with "Levon Hiccups Remedy."

If you are in for a good fiction read you have come to the right place...for a very interesting read and Yes I would recommend "What Happened to My Sister: A Novel" as a excellent read.

I absolutely loved the author's book, Me and Emma. Knowing that What Happened to My Sisterwas the book that would hopefully bring closure to all my questions from the prior read, I was really excited to accept a review copy. I was captivated by the first paragraph because I could hear Carrie's voice and picture her little emaciated face and bruised body. I was ripping through the pages and then all of the sudden the author introduces a new voice into the story and something changed for me. I was a bit upset because I was trying to figure out how this new character and her family would fit into the story. It wasn't a cohesive pairing whatsoever, and actually it was like hitting a huge bump in the road because it threw my reading mojo off course and influenced my overall reaction to the book. It didn't help either that by mid-point I knew what was going to happen. I don't know how I did, but I just did and it felt so contrived that I was a bit ticked. And of course, it went down exactly as I thought and when I finished the book I honestly wished I'd never read it because it came no where close to the powerful and intense read of Me and Emma.

Recommend? You MUST read Me and Emma first...without that prior knowledge I'm not sure that this book will stand on its own. I didn't hate it, but I sure didn't love it. So I guess you could categorize it as an okay read for ME. Now, plenty of other bloggers and readers have given this one high marks, so please make sure you read some other reviews before deciding whether or not you want to read this book.

Please take the time to visit the other bloggers on this tour and read their thoughts.....

Disclaimer: Thank you to TLC Book Tours for sending me a review copy. I was not compensated for my review. My thoughts on this book were in no way influenced by the author or publicist.They are my personal reflections based solely on MY experience while reading this novel.

Review Book #25
© 2012, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

I won an ARC of What Happened to My Sister: A Novel by Elizabeth Flock in a giveaway for free on Goodreads First/Reads- This book was amazing*** What Happened to My Sister makes me re-think all of my previous 5 star reviews. I have never been abused as a child, but I almost feel like I have now in a sense which is how amazing Elizabeth's writing is. There were some typos throughout the book but this was an uncorrected proof- The writing made you feel like you were walking in the shoes of this nine-year-old girl. Throughout this novel~ I laughed, cringed, and wanted to cry at times. I give this one six out of five stars*** Fantastic Read- Favorite of 2012- You won't be able to put this one down- Total Movie Material- Eye Opener- The dialog was super and worth a second read.... I will be on the lookout for more stories from Elizabeth Flock and pick them up without hesitation* Thanks! Reesa*** http://reesasbookblog.blogspot.com/20...

I am glad I listened to this book after the less than stellar review I gave the original book. I remember being so shocked by the twist at the end that I ended up liking the first book overall. This story was the ending I needed for poor Carrie Parker. This sweet girl deserved so much and the world (and her momma) were not kind to her. I could have done without the whole Chaplin story line, there was no real resolution to that, so I felt like it was a waste of time.

I loved Me & Emma, couldn't get it out of my mind. The ending left me with so many unanswered questions, I was thrilled when I heard there was a sequel. It came in the mail today about one o'clock. It's 10:30 now and I just finished reading it. I took a few minutes out for my family around supper time, but my mind stayed in Carrie's world the whole time. It's Carrie's voice, the voice of a young, innocent, totally lovable little girl that makes Elizabeth Flock's writing stand out. Carrie's voice pulls you along into her world until you feel her pain and confusion as if you are right there living it with her.

That's why it's such a shock at the beginning of Chapter 4, Page 43, when Flock suddenly switches to a different voice, a different viewpoint, and what feels like a totally different novel. The two story lines don't begin to converge at all until Chapter 9, page 87. I have to admit I rushed through the chapters written in the new grown-up voice that were all about this new family and their own problems. I just didn't care what happened to their house or whether Honor would get back together with Eddie.

I just wanted to know what was going on with CARRIE. Elizabeth Flock doesn't disappoint, she gives us every moment of Carrie's suffering and the other story line gives you hope that someone will rescue her in the end.

Some of the coincidences that made the story work might be a little hard to swallow if the writer were not as skilled as Elizabeth Flock. For instance, my genealogical friends would be astounded to find how quickly two little girls are able to find a recent birth certificate online.

Even so, I'm giving it five stars, after all I did gulp it down in one sitting!

I didn't realize until reading a little blurb in the front of the book that this was a continuation of sorts of Flock's previous novel, "Emma and Me" , which I hadn't yet read, but I did have on my bookshelf. So I pulled that one from the shelf, read it, then delved into this one. While this book could be a stand-alone novel, I would highly recommend reading "Emma and Me" first. It will give you a lot of background & definitely add more to the story.

So having read both back-to-back, I'd have to say I enjoyed this second novel more than the first. I won't go into plot details because many other reviewers have done so. But in this book, Carrie begins to put together some pieces of her past while her mother, in the meantime, further continues to alienate & abuse her. However, this time they find themselves in a larger-populated area and Carrie makes a new friend, Cricket.

I liked the flow of this book and how things gradually came together, up until the end. At that point, things started happening quickly, and it all felt entirely too rushed. I think the last 2-3 chapters could've been expanded into 4 or 5 chapters to allow the reader to really appreciate how things were being resolved. Instead, I was left with a feeling of needing a 3rd book to really justify what I'd read.

Just a brief note, because I had various major problems with this book:

1) Nowhere on my copy, so far as I could find, was there the slightest indication that this was a sequel. In the end I began to suspect as much, but it was only when I eventually decided to check the matter out here on GoodReads that I discovered the truth. Had I known, I wouldn't have bought the book. I feel ripped off by a dishonest publisher.

2) It took me a very long time to get into the book. The tale's narrated by two of its protagonists: Carrie Parker, a nine-year-old kid who's at the mercy of her drunken, whoring, sad*stic mother; and Honor Chaplin, a flaky but rich woman who befriends Carrie and whose daughter Cricket swiftly becomes best friends with Carrie. I found Carrie's narration occasionally engaging but often somewhere on the yonder side of twee. When Honor first took over the narrative on page 43, it felt like a welcome breath of fresh air, but it proved that even she could get pretty boring on occasion.

I have a rule -- which I sometimes break -- that I'll allow a book at least until page 100 before I throw it at the wall. I began to enjoy this book enough on page 94 that, despite some later longueurs, I was glad I'd persevered. And there's even a happy ending.

Now, go off and read the notes by one of the many GoodReads folk who liked the novel a whole lot better than I did.

I was so disappointed with this book. I vividly remember really liking Me & Emma, so I was very excited to read this sequel. It basically picks up not long after Me & Emma ends with Carrie and her mother leaving Hendersonville to start over somewhere else. They end up living in a cheap motel and Carrie has to scavenge for food since her mother drinks away any money she may earn. When Carrie meets Cricket and her mother Honor things start to turn around for her - Honor recognizes how beat down Carrie is and is determined to try to help her. The story is told from both Carrie and Honor's perspectives. The end of the book just wraps up everything MUCH too neatly. I really hate when a book isn't realistic and while Carrie's character has suffered a lot, it's just too unrealistic of an ending for everything that's gone on in both this book and the prequel. It's been a long time since I read Me & Emma, but I just remember it being MUCH better than this. Very disappointing.

I was drawn into this story immediately.
However the very sudden turn about from Carries voice to Honors voice felt disorientating and it didn't get much better from there.
the story is told by from Carries, a very physically and emotionally abused 9 year old, point of viewing and also (less prominently) from Honors, a grieving mother, point of view.
I felt often a bit confused and obviously upset by what i read in this book. I later realised this is some kind of sequel continuing Carries story which explained some of my confusion but the rest I think was down to the fact that I was being taken through events through the eyes of a confused 9 year old.
I don't really have much more to say as I haven't read the first book and I don't want to give any spoilers.. so my advise would be to anyone reading this that is considering reading this without first reading Me & Emma... go back and read me & Emma.

This book was on the "What to Read Now" list in the September O magazine, and it was the only one in our library, so I got it. . . and I must say I was taken aback: I don't think it's a very good book. The voices switch, but not really: Carrie is a nine year old who's thought to be crazy or disabled, but her grammar and voice are both pretty sophisticated some of the time, which doesn't sit right. Then there's the whole weird connection of (SEMI SPOILER HERE) a nicey nicey normal family who's just lost a girl who looked just like Carrie and WAS NAMED CAROLINE. . . I read it pretty quickly and did read the whole thing, so I struggled with giving it two stars vs. one, but ultimately I think it's a trite piece with some really flat characters and odd plot twists that alternate with predictability. Not recommended.

Carrie and her mother are packing up and leaving Hendersonville after the events at the end of “Emma and Me”. They barely have any money, so it's not easy to start over. In the new town, Carrie meets Cricket and her mother, who are super-nice, but dealing with the loss of their sister/daughter, so when Carrie shows up, looking just like her, they can't help but want to become friends with the 9-year old.

I feel like I can't do the summary justice without giving things away from the first book. I really enjoyed this, though. Not quite as much as the first book. It might have been wrapped up a little too neatly at the end, but – at the same time – if the author decided to write a 3rd book, I'd read it. (And despite the feeling that it was wrapped up, there is somewhere to go if there was a third book.)

I won an Advance First Read of What Happened To My Sister. It drew me in as I read the first sentence ...”If you’re reading this, I must be dead and maybe you’re going through this notebook hunting for clues”. This, coming from a 9 year old, abused and neglected little girl. The book is written in alternating first person accounts by said 9 yrs old Carrie Parker and Honor Ford - a mother, wife & daughter, whom has recently lost her eldest child, her job & her marriage has fallen apart.

This book is absolutely, a Good Read, and I would definitely recommend it. As I was given an advance uncorrected proofs of the book.. I am looking forward to reading the final product.

It is difficult to read a story about child abuse and neglect, but the author does an amazing job of capturing the innocent voice of the main character, young Caroline. Two families suffer almost unbearable loss and grief and there is much tragedy and pain. However, there is also hope and healing and justice in the end. What Happened to My Sister is engrossing and well-written. I fell in love with little Caroline just as the Fords did. Her brave struggle to survive and her optimism in the face of despair and horrific circ*mstances was a beautiful thing beautifully told.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, please note that I received a free review copy through LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

Excellent read after Emma and Me...can't wait for the next story in this trilogy.

This story held me from the beginning and although I was distracted by the new characters introduction their importance became a driving force.

Liz does a wonderful job in research about the psychological issues behind abuse and what happens in dysfunctional families. I am taken back by her voice.

The ending was a total surprise for me and made me cry because I was so happy!

I loved the book Me & Emma, so I thought I would equally love this book. Although I did think it was interesting to find out what happened to Carrie after the ending of Me & Emma, this book did not resonate with me the same way the first did. I liked it, but didn't love it. Some of it felt a little too contrived so that everything would turn out perfectly for Carrie.

I definitely should have read this closer to when I got my hands on it because I loved Me & Emma, but despite how long it's been since I read that one, it mostly came back. I loved this book. Carrie and the family she meets, the next chapter in her troubled life, really enjoyed these books.

I liked this book! I am glad the story finally came out, and it had a satisfying ending. I loved the friendship between Carrie and Cricket. I would recommend this book.

Loved Me & Emma but hated this book. Felt like a completely different author wrote this book. Very bad.

The only thing not so great was no explanation about why Carrie looked like the Ford family’ daughter

3.5

I enjoyed this book but it felt a bit more predictable from start to finish. The author mentions in her interview that she was thinking of a trilogy—not sure that has been written yet?

I STRONGLY recommend you read Me and Emma by Flock before this one. If you have not read that first, it is a MUST read. It is one of those that I keep on my shelf to recommend to any adult and have struck up many conversations with those who have read it. It is also a great book club book, as is "What Happened to my Sister?." This book takes up where the last one left off and though it may begin slowly you are quickly drawn back in to Carrie's world. If you thought you had it all figured out after reading the first book, forget it.

Carrie and Mama have overcome the tragedy that was their life and are off to forge a new one, but they have one problem: they are stuck with one another. Their story unfolds as Mama tries to find work and Carrie just tries to survive ---and understand what happened and what has lead her to this point. Questions from the first book may be answered as you read. Then a few new characters, characters who deserve a who book of their own, arrive and we have our first real glimpse of hope for little Carrie. The Fords, a family with their own tragic past, catch Carrie stealing croutons from the local Wendy's (and though Mrs. Ford really should call the authorities) her daughter convinces her to bring Carrie home with them. Their world, a home filled with love, is a whole different world for Carrie, one she sneaks off to live in each day. But when the Fords start asking questions, the questions Carrie has been asking herself......

I will leave you with the one teaser that will make you NEED to read this book. What if I told you Emma was/is real?

After the death of her step father, Carrie and her mother, Libby are getting out of dodge. Lilbby and Carrie end up in the town of Hartsville, North Carolina. Here Libby and Carrie can start over without anyone to judge them.

Cricket has not been teh same since her sister passed away. Cricket's mother noticies the change but has tried everything to get Cricket to make friends with kids at her school or to just smile. Nothing has worked thus far.

When Cricket meets Carrie, they share an instant connection. Soon Cricket and Carrie are inseparable. Carrie is thinking less of Emma, her sister. Things change for both girls when a deep, dark secret is revealed.

Fans of Me and Emma will throughly enjoy What Happened to My Sister. It features Carrie Parker and her mother, Libby from Me and Emma. This book ties up nicely any lingering questions about what really happened to Emma and if she ever really existed. I loved Carrie and Cricket. They are what made this book. Their voices were strong presences in this book. I kind of suspected where the big reveal regarding the secret was going but still I was surprised int he end. When the truth did come out, I had a big smile on my face. This is when you know you have just read a winner. I was totally invested in the characters and the story. I blazed through this book in a matter of a few hours. I was in the zone. What Happened to My Sister is a must not miss book! This book just turned Ms. Flock into a superstar. I can not wait to see waht she has in store next.

I received this book through a First Reads giveaway.

I just finished the book, wow. I read it almost straight through without putting it down. I absolutely LOVE the book that came before this one, Me and Emma. It is on my all time favorites list. What Happened to My Sister ended up answering things that I didn't even realize were questions from the first book. I absolutely loved the book the entire way through but I did have questions at the end which is the only reason I am rating this a 4 and not a 5. I may change this after more thought. I am hoping that the author has not ruled out writing another book about Carrie. I think there is still so much growth for her and there is enough information that we don't know to be able to continue this story on.

It is possible to to read this as a stand alone book because it gives you information from the first book but I don't think you can truly appreciate what this book has to offer without first reading Me and Emma.

This is a good, solid effort by the author. I feel she left many things unexplored or unanswered, but perhaps it is meant to be a sequel to her other book, and maybe there will be a 3rd. I found the mystery element intriguing, although I also thought almost all the characters were one dimensional. The focus of this book on an extremely neglectful and abusive parent & the descriptions of Carrie's "meals" (she eats clay from broken clay pots, and meticulously cuts out pictures of things that might be good to eat like fish from Orvis catalogs then eats the pictures) are disturbing and heartbreaking to say the least. This book will at the very least give most of us a perspective on child endangerment, abuse, and neglect that we havent had before, and from the POV of a child who still loves her mother and abuser.

First, you must read ME AND EMMA. While WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SISTER can stand alone, you'll have a much richer understanding of nine-year-old protagonist Carrie Parker, her relationship with her parents, her pretend or maybe-not-pretend sister Emma, and the family dynamics.

I cannot say enough positive words about this book. I enjoyed WHTMS even more than M&E, which is so rare for a sequel. Elizabeth Flock has created a masterful voice for Carrie that's both heartbreaking and inspiring. The other narrator is Honor Chaplin, who's daughter Cricket befriends Carrie. Honor and her family just might need Carrie as much as she needs them.

If you read ME AND EMMA, you must read WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SISTER. If you haven't, download or run to the bookstore. You won't be disappointed.

I had trouble getting into this book, and it took me a few chapters to understand that their were two different people telling their stories. One family had lost a daughter, and the parents separated because they couldn't handle the grief. A young girl tells her story, and keeps wondering what happened to her sister. Her mother keeps telling her the sister was just something the girl made up, and she never lived. There were a couple of murders, and the mother tells untrue stories about what happened. The mother prostitutes herself. She doesn't pay her rent, or buy food or clothing for her daughter, but she does buy booze. The girl meets the daughter of the other story teller, and they see that she is being neglected and abused. The truth of things starts to come out.