Emmy and Oliver

Emmy and Oliver

Emmy and Oliver by Robin Benway, ISBN 978-0062330598. Harper Teen 2015

Plot Summary:

Emmy and Oliver are in third grade and live next door to each other. They have been best friends since they can remember. Oliver is kidnapped one night and the entire community, especially Emmy, is distraught. The story flashes forward to Emmy’s senior year of high school. She’s never forgotten Oliver, even though many years have passed. Suddenly, Oliver reappears in the community and Emmy is overjoyed. She had loved Oliver as a child and is certain that his return means that they can finally be together. Oliver, however, has been misled and confused for many years and returning to his hometown is not easy. Oliver did not even realize that he had been kidnapped. He’d been under the impression that his mother left him and therefore did not begin to suffer any trauma until he returned home. Despite Emmy’s feelings, Oliver is left shaken and unsure of what his future holds. The two are left trying to repair a relationship that was formed when they were children and wondering if that friendship and love can be maintained after so much time apart.

Critical Evaluation:

Benway expertly conveys the shock and grief that is attached to an event like the one described in the book. The novel portrays the world through the eyes of a child and how trusting children can be, especially of their parents. Oliver sees his life away from his home as an adventure, never knowing that his mother and community never stopped looking for him. He believes his father that his mother has abandoned him and spends the years away from home happy. It’s a clever twist that Oliver’s uncertainty and difficulties only begin when he comes “home.” The relationship that Emmy and Oliver have once he returns is the standout of the book. Benway make the budding friendship develop so sweetly and slowly and really emphasizes the mistrust that Oliver feels, even toward people who have never stopped loving him. The novel highlights family units and how an event such as a kidnapping affects people in a community. The story is full of the kind of raw emotion that is ever present in a teenager’s life, and these emotions are only amped up by the years of loss and misunderstanding. This is a romance novel, for sure, but the main takeaway is the lasting love that families and friends have for each other, even if they’ve been forced apart for many years.

Reader’s Annotation:

Emmy’s childhood friend returns home after being kidnapped when they were children. Can they learn to love each other again?

Information about the Author:

From the author’s website:

I'm the author of "Audrey, Wait!", "The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May & June", and the AKA series. My latest book "Emmy & Oliver" will be released on June 23, 2015. I live in Los Angeles with my extremely stubborn shih tzu, Hudson. I like cooking, puppies, and coffee, but not in that order. We should be friends.

Genre:

Romance, Teen Fiction, Drama, Family

Curriculum Ties:

Community involvement, teenage relationships, coping with trauma

Challenge Issues:

The book could MAYBE be challenged because it paints Oliver’s father in such a negative light. Kidnapping and lying to a child are not always welcome topics.

Creating a Defense:

• Make sure you have thorough knowledge of the library’s selection policy as well as a copy on hand. Your insight as well as pointing out specific portions of the policy will be helpful in discussion with the patron.
• Always have the library Bill of Rights close to show the patron your library’s commitment to providing all kinds of information.
• Have some reveiws on hand, both good and bad, from respected sources like YALSA or Amazon so both you and the patron can gain an understanding of both sides of the issue.
• Make sure you’re familiar with the books that might be challenged. Be prepared to discuss the book’s intended audience, its educational significance, purpose, and also some alternative titles to read.
• Don’t get defensive. The librarian can’t take the challenge personally and either party getting upset will cause the discussion to devolve into a fight.
• LISTEN. Even if you don’t agree with the patron, their views are as valid as yours and should be respected.

Reading Level:

Grades 9+

Booktalking Ideas:

How would you react if you were in Emmy’s place? What about Oliver’s? Have you ever felt like you couldn’t trust your own family?

Why is the material included?:

My niece told me about this book and said she read in an afternoon. She loves a good romance and so will most teenagers.

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