Helpful Score: 6
Emory's Gift is a wonderfully whimsical coming of age story about a young boy named Charlie Hall who has recently lost his mother to cancer, has no idea how to communicate with his father and who is just starting junior high with no friends. In his adventures in the woods of rural Idaho behind his home he runs into a very special bear. The bear and him actually communicate by writing.
In this story Emory's Gift to Charlie is helping him forgive himself and others, improve his relationship with his father, make new friends and find his first love. This story is really charming and captivating at the same time. It kept me totally engrossed until the very last page.
I had never read any of the author W. Bruce Cameron's other work before I read this. I love the way he tells such an inspirational coming of age story that many author's have wrote before, yet, he tells it in such an original way. It's almost like a fairy tale, yet it's realistic at the same time. I found myself thinking, "yes, this could actually happen" when Emory writes his message to Charlie. It really touched the child still in me and I think many will find this book very inspirational. It's such a new take on a coming of age story.
Bottom line: I absolutely loved this book.
In this story Emory's Gift to Charlie is helping him forgive himself and others, improve his relationship with his father, make new friends and find his first love. This story is really charming and captivating at the same time. It kept me totally engrossed until the very last page.
I had never read any of the author W. Bruce Cameron's other work before I read this. I love the way he tells such an inspirational coming of age story that many author's have wrote before, yet, he tells it in such an original way. It's almost like a fairy tale, yet it's realistic at the same time. I found myself thinking, "yes, this could actually happen" when Emory writes his message to Charlie. It really touched the child still in me and I think many will find this book very inspirational. It's such a new take on a coming of age story.
Bottom line: I absolutely loved this book.
Helpful Score: 4
If you mixed together "My Dog Skip", "ET", and the adolescent angst of "Sandlot", you might end up with "Emory's Gift". This quirky, humorous, and tender story of a young boy and his bear is a gift to readers. Having lost his mother to cancer, his dad to grief, and enduring the normal agonies of navigating Jr. High School, Charlie meets a bear that is more than just a bear. I imagine if Bill Bryson wrote a novel it might be something like this. A wonderful story for all ages.
Helpful Score: 1
I am a huge fan of W. Bruce Cameron and his books "A Dog's Purpose" and "A Dog's Journey". While I liked this book, it didn't affect me in the same was as those 2 books did. I felt more like this was a young adult novel. It was still a page turner (I read it in 3 days) and I will continue to read everything this author writes.
This is without a doubt the best book I have ever read! It's a coming of age story about a 13 year old boy and a very special grizzly bear in Idaho in 1974. A very touching and tender story with some humor added at just the right times. Highly recommended!
I loved "A Dogs Purpose" so I couldnt wait to read "Emorys Gift". The story started strong and pulled me in, there was a lot of quiet humor, and Cameron does a great job of capturing the emotions of a young teenage boy. Halfway in I was somewhat disheartened, feeling the story was a little too kooky. But then it pulled me back in and I couldnt put it down. I finished the book crying openly, but the message of the story left me hopeful and happy. This is a good clean read and is probably suitable for adults, older teens and any animal lover.
The book started off promising but took a weird turn with the bear being a reincarnated soldier.
My daughter read the book and thoroughly enjoyed it!
This is a great book. It is funny and warm, will make you cheer and might make you cry but they are good tears.
