Meg Tilly Books

Anna and her siblings have lived a bizarre, vagabond existence, full of emotional, sexual and physical abuse, for so long they cannot fathom anything else.

The family comprises Anna's mother Jean and siblings Katie, Susan and Matthew; her stepfather Richard and his children, Joy and twins Nick and Faith; and Baby Will. After their marriage - which occurs when Anna, the narrator, is five and still missing the biological father who abandoned them - any number of others also come and go in the family home, including hippie Mona, her toddler son Jimmie and schoolteacher/boarder Abe. To the children, this is both baffling...and not.

Jean and Richard think nothing of punishing the children - beating them for minor (and often imagined) transgressions or forcing them to spend winter nights in an unheated shed, eating dog food. But the worst, by far, is the sexual abuse, both committed by them and the "friends" they so casually allow access to the children. Before she is an adolescent, Anna has been molested by two stepbrothers and watched the horrifying behavior of her stepfather toward her older sister Susan escalate as the girl matures. Anna is torn between her innate need to protect her beloved sister and her desire to also be "chosen" by her stepfather.

Such are the raw and almost-too-honest emotions expressed by Anna, in a series of vignettes that successfully emulate the family's confusing, choppy existence. Yet despite the horrors that comprise her childhood, Anna is a survivor -- it's more than evident that no matter what comes her way, she is going to get past it.

Tilly's debut novel is haunting and memorable, a book readers will not be able to put down until they learn Anna's fate.

This is a clear-eyed, moving and even inspiring novel. It does not deal with easy themes and does not provide an easy resolution, but that makes it all the more brave. There is a spirit of kindness and gentleness that pervades the entire book. A really wonderful novel, for young as well as mature adults. Highy recommended!

Great book, read it, read it again, keep it, read it...couldn't put it down and I want to read it again...

Wow! This true story is well written and draws you in from word one. The story is amazing when you realize what these children had to overcome in order to be the success they are today.

I enjoyed this book because reading it helped me get through what had happened in my life.

This book is beautifully written , It may be hard to face but what Gemma felt and went through is what a sexually abused person goes through. It made me understand what as an adult what I felt as a child is different what we fell as adults. I think someone who has not dealt with this will never understand , but hopefully this book will help.
I could not put it down , it was the best book besides Singing Songs that I have read on this subject . I praise Meg Tilly For these books.

Gemma's sexual abuse began when she was only eight years old, at the hands of her mother's boyfriend Buddy. Too afraid to talk to her mother, Gemma endures silently -- until one day, Buddy "sells" her sexual services to his friend, Hazen Wood.

Gemma is only 12.

Again, Gemma endures, though battered beyond belief, both physically and emotionally, when Hazen finally brings her home. But it's only the beginning. Hazen's experience with young Gemma has him so obsessed that he stalks the girl at school, unable to think of anything else until he finally decides to abduct her.

As the two travel as the country -- Gemma naked, in the trunk of Hazen's car, to avoid her escape attempts -- Gemma's voice records the daily sexual abuse she suffers. In between her segments are brief thoughts from Hazen, who appears to truly believe Gemma is enjoying what he's doing to her.

Meanwhile, Gemma continues to be the brave little soldier, though her mind slips in and out in attempts to shelter itself from the trauma. For instance, Gemma regularly exercises what she calls "Gemma travel," in which she imagines herself in some beautiful place, eating rich foods and doing all the things that make her happy, in order to ignore her real situation. Also, at the time of her abduction, Gemma had her pet turtle with her. Throughout it all, she addresses her concern to the turtle - is she okay? why isn't she moving? - to avoid think about her own self. Within a short time, it becomes painfully obvious to readers that Gemma is carrying around a dead turtle, but she is unable - or unwilling - to think she is living a nightmare without at least one friend.

This powerful book will keep you reading nonstop, desperate to learn whether or not Gemma is recovered safely -- and if so, whether Hazen will receive just punishment for his crimes.

Although this is a work of fiction, it just makes your stomach churn, imagining real children who have gone through similar scenarios. No doubt there are real-life men like Hazen Wood, who feel that there is nothing wrong with using a child for sexual gratification.

If you haven't already read it, I also highly recommend Tilly's first book, "Singing Songs," which also centers upon child abuse.

Meg tilly's story of Gemma is so sad but yet so well written. The story is written in a first person recount of a child's abduction and abuse. Gemma is a girl I want to just take in my arms and never let go.

I have been a huge fan of Meg Tilly for years, due to her former acting career, and am an avid reader of her blog on her official website. She seems like a warm, caring and wonderful person, and despite the glitz and esteem of her "past life," she refreshingly presents herself as someone who is just like all of us.

Though chronologically her second novel, "Gemma" is my introduction to her writing career. It is a very quick and easy read, despite subject matter that is dark and disturbing. Written in first-person prose, Tilly does a fantastic job delving into the mind of her title character, a 12-year-old girl who is molested by her stepfather and then kidnapped by one of his friends, Hazen Woods, a monstrous sexual deviant who takes her on a cross-country road trip involving rape, mind games, physical abuse, and even a haunting vacation to Disneyland (the Pirates of the Caribbean water ride will never be the same again for me). The way in which Gemma slowly but surely is brainwashed and controlled by Hazen is powerful and, though scary, always believable.

Tilly's alternating point-of-view from Hazen's perspective is more uneven. She isn't quite able to fully commit to these segments--you can tell she had a lot of trouble looking into this character's mind as she wrote it--though a valiant effort is made.

The second half of the novel I will not give away, except to say that things fall into place a little too neatly, and a number of scenes are too cutesy for their own good (a jaunt in the snow comes instantly to mind). Also, the character of Cindy is portrayed as a saint who has no flaws and is shaded a bit too broadly. Gemma deserves someone like this in her life, but I'm not sure if a person as unflawed as Cindy actually exists in real life. The ending is predictable, but pleasing.

"Gemma" is a good, but ultimately not great novel. As grim as the first half is, the second half is mawkish and not quite a comfortable fit. Still, Gemma (the character) is a true literary original whom we are happy to follow even through the story's rough patches.

This was a very hard book to read. Once I encountered the graphic depictions of the abuse Gemma suffered, I really didn't want to keep reading. However, the way this story was told kept me going. I will admit that I'm typically skeptical when I see a novel that has been written by someone who is a celebrity in other mediums - especially actors. But Tilly is a gifted storyteller, and I am sorry for ever having a single doubt in my mind.

The very sad thing is that while this was fiction, events like these happen to children all around the world, every day. It's happening right this minute. Being made aware of that, makes me want to do what I can to help.

Recommended, especially if you have children.

This book entertained my daughter but I was surprised by the bad language used. I do not feel the need for the adult language as the character could have been developed differently. Not all kids or adults talk like this. I certainly would have thought twice before picking it up if I had known. Keep adult language for adult books not young adult books.

This book was amazing. I know this is supposed to be a young adult book but I have to say it's just a great read. Full of hope and love and gorgeous writing. Meg Tilly is an amazing writer. She finds magic in the real world. Buy this book and be moved to laughter and tears.