Gemma: A Novel

Meg Tilly

Feb 2010 · Sold by St. Martin's Griffin

About this ebook

After Hazen Wood kidnaps twelve-year-old Gemma Sullivan, the two embark upon a cross-country journey that tests the limits of Gemma's endurance. In scenes of physical and sexual violence, Hazen tries to destroy the young girl's will. When she does manage to escape he drags her back and threatens to have her arrested for the violent acts he performs. It is only Gemma's resilience and fertile imagination that protects her from the worst of the trauma she suffers. And, in the end, it is the healing power of unconditional love that gives Gemma the courage to speak out against her abuser at last and claim the life she deserves.

Alternating between the voices of Gemma and Hazen Wood, Meg Tilly has brilliantly brought to life powerful and unforgettable characters that will leave you thinking about them long after you turn the last page.

Ratings and reviews

There might be spoilers here. One-sided characters one-sided story. Doesn't really make you think and ask yourself questions. Just a stereotypical story of a psychopath (with pedophilic tendencies) and his victim. The writing isn't particularly pretty since it's pretty much dialogue or the characters thought process verbatim. The little poetry inserts here and there we're nice but stuck out and didn't fit most of the time. The only interesting part was how the girl got through Court what she was feeling.

Just finished reading this book.. I'm a bit torn because of all the abuse this little girl had to endure.. I know life is sometimes like this and may even be worse for some, but it was just sad. Really wish her abusers would get castrated or something.. it would make me feel a lot better.

Heartbreaking to read, but it is like a trainwreck in that you cannot stop yourself once you start this book. Meg Tilly is an awesome writer.

About the author

Meg Tilly is the author of Singing Songs (Dutton 1994) and Porcupine (Tundra 2007), a children's book. Formerly an accomplished actress, Ms. Tilly is best known for her role as Chloe in The Big Chill and the title role in Agnes of God, for which she won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress in 1986, as well as an Oscar nomination. She lives with her family in British Columbia.