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Emmie of Indianapolis
In 1963, a young teenage girl moves with her mother and sisters from the suburbs to the downtown of a Midwestern city after her parents get a divorce. Emmie, a naïve, curious and intelligent girl, wants the security of her suburban life but has always dreamed of adventure in faraway places. She must take risks, meet new people and become independent. The change is difficult for all because of her mother’s alcoholism and lack of a steady income. When Emmie’s mother takes a job, she cares for her sisters at night. In her new neighborhood, Emmie meets people from different cultures who are both good and evil. She defends her sisters and herself each day by confronting the evil, thus awakening her courage and inner strength. But she never gives up.
- GenresYoung Adult
285 pages, ebook
First published February 28, 2015
2 people are currently reading
307 people want to read
About the author
Kay Castaneda
4 books27 followersKay Castaneda is retired from a career as a college writing instructor. She was also a substitute teacher and special education tutor. She earned a B.A. and M.A. in English at Indiana Purdue University in Indianapolis. Her publications include poetry and creative non-fiction in literary journals plus articles about education for reference books. Kay attended writing seminars in Lithuania, Scotland and Mexico. In Lithuania, Kay explored the city of Vilnius and imagined that she was a long-lost relative of Good King Gediminus, Grand Duke and Ruler, 1315-1364, since he did have numerous wives, mistresses and children. In San Miguel Allende, Mexico, Kay sat at every outdoor cafe and park she could find, reading and writing to her heart's content. In Edinburgh, Scotland, Kay wandered through endless castles and pretended to be a lady-in-waiting to Mary, Queen of Scots. While in Edinburgh, she had the chance to wave at Queen Elizabeth and her entourage during the annual Royal Parade. Duchess Kate was the only one who waved back at her. She dreams of going to more seminars in Spain, Italy, Austria, and Greece. Writing in Russia, China, and Alaska are also on her dream list. Her hobbies include reading fiction, biographies of saints, and watching crime shows on TV. Kay's talents include daydreaming, inventing characters for future writing and baking. She published a novel, EMMIE OF INDIANAPOLIS, based on her experiences growing up in the Midwest. She is currently researching the histories of Ireland and Scotland for a novel based on her ancestors, in addition to revising a poetry manuscript. She loves to eat at Mom and Pop diners and browse in antique stores and flea markets. Kay lives in Indiana with her husband, son and dog Buddy.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
July 16, 2024
‘Emmie of Indianapolis’ by brilliant chronicler-cum-author Kay Castaneda is a novel that can even warm a heart made of stone. It keeps on bringing smiles to one’s face making even a person as stony hearted and clinically vigorous as me to also shed a tear or two. Emmie, Joe, Polly, George, Janey, Cissy and especially Mary will always be on my mind as I go through my everyday travails and travels in and out through the city of Mumbai. And while doing so, I’ll imagine myself in good old Indianapolis of the early 1960s which was a real swell time for Nancy Drew book lovers, Beatle fans, the rise of the religious cults, ice-skating and so much more! If you are interested in a feel-good book with the old vibe of the mid-20th century novels for YA readers, look no further than Castaneda’s ‘Emmie of Indianapolis’.
The novel was breathtakingly thrilling, and I just could not put it down. From the moment I picked it up till I turned my last Kindle page, I was enthralled by the tough yet heartening life of Emmie, her two sisters, and her single struggling mother. I love my bookish heroines strong, and I have no qualms about admitting that fact. I find it difficult as a reader and writer to relate with a weak victim. In my writing too, my heroines never go down without a fight and I’m glad that Emmie made it through the many ups and downs she faced along her journey towards self-discovery and community service. This book could be a lovely educational tool used at middle grade and junior high schools for teaching a long-lost value of the global world today, which is unity in diversity. Through the various immigrant characters chronicled in this timely book and their struggles and adventures, a young reader can really learn a lot about something that makes us human before making us a citizen of a particular country or continent. That thing is encompassed in this heart-warming book in three words – compassion, respect, and sensitivity. To know more, check out Castaneda’s ‘Emmie of Indianapolis’ and teach your young adult the value of giving more than getting!
My favourite character in this book was obviously Polly, especially after the situation she had to grapple with and yet managed to come out strong in the end. I wish I had Polly’s faith in God and the ability to rise above the hurdles set before me just the way she did. Next up I adored Joe with his singing voice, amazing talent at drawing at short notice and his little crush for Emmie. What he did for Mary was really adorable and you’ve got to read this book if you want to know what he did for that little one – grab your copy today!
I found the descriptions of the characters and their activities and adventures to be very much like the younger novel reads of E. Nesbit like ‘Five Children and It’ and ‘The Railway Children’ with a dash of good old Enid Blyton to the mix. They were vivid descriptions, the characters became larger than life for me and they stuck in my mind which says something, because not many fictional characters do so these days. Castaneda reminded me of my Blyton and Nesbit days with a dash of the much-wanted social issue topics integral to the young adult reads of today which makes this book a must have on every library shelf. I especially loved the way she analysed the topic of sexual abuse in this novel in a mature way and yet in the way or style in which young children would have witnessed such a horrific incident and would have interpreted it in the innocent days of the early 1960s.
Those who are from Indianapolis will need to have this lovely title in their lending libraries and school libraries; it is a keepsake for sure and a pride to the area. These characters through their vitality have managed to bring out every nook and corner of Indianapolis even to a person like me who has never been out of India ever in her life! Another feature about the book which I appreciated was the way the teacher of the 6th grade Mr. Ramsey dealt evenly with every student he came across, even though all of them were from the lower middle classes or were dearth poor. I found in him a lovely humane figure of the educational system of that time, which was really heartening to read, especially in the case of Mary’s little note. Want to know more? You need this YA novel now!
My favourite scene was obviously when Polly’s mother Bernadette gave a blessing to Emmie. The words of the blessing touched my heart and I wish someone would give me such a blessing; it was a tear-jerker and a beautifully penned one. I definitely loved Emmie, Janey, and Cissy and hope they appear in a forthcoming sequel to this novel – I don’t want this story to end here! And I’m sure it doesn’t!
Fantastic, epic, a trip down memory lane, great for Nesbit lovers and a delicious read indeed! All those descriptions of the many food items in the book are mouth-wateringly delicious and scrumptious! So, if you like me like your novels with a lot of foodie delights, Kay Castaneda is your author for this one. Journey with Emmie, Janey, Cissy, and their single mother and see the reality of poverty, the strength of sisterhood and the magical bond that soulful music, a great education, and great food brings into a family which would have otherwise been lost forever.
Kay Castaneda gets 5 stars from me! Kudos to her on a job well done!
She kept me entertained and yet managed to warm my heart and that is a winner in itself! She has the talent to sing to a reader’s soul which is much indeed in the YA titles of this day and age.
The novel was breathtakingly thrilling, and I just could not put it down. From the moment I picked it up till I turned my last Kindle page, I was enthralled by the tough yet heartening life of Emmie, her two sisters, and her single struggling mother. I love my bookish heroines strong, and I have no qualms about admitting that fact. I find it difficult as a reader and writer to relate with a weak victim. In my writing too, my heroines never go down without a fight and I’m glad that Emmie made it through the many ups and downs she faced along her journey towards self-discovery and community service. This book could be a lovely educational tool used at middle grade and junior high schools for teaching a long-lost value of the global world today, which is unity in diversity. Through the various immigrant characters chronicled in this timely book and their struggles and adventures, a young reader can really learn a lot about something that makes us human before making us a citizen of a particular country or continent. That thing is encompassed in this heart-warming book in three words – compassion, respect, and sensitivity. To know more, check out Castaneda’s ‘Emmie of Indianapolis’ and teach your young adult the value of giving more than getting!
My favourite character in this book was obviously Polly, especially after the situation she had to grapple with and yet managed to come out strong in the end. I wish I had Polly’s faith in God and the ability to rise above the hurdles set before me just the way she did. Next up I adored Joe with his singing voice, amazing talent at drawing at short notice and his little crush for Emmie. What he did for Mary was really adorable and you’ve got to read this book if you want to know what he did for that little one – grab your copy today!
I found the descriptions of the characters and their activities and adventures to be very much like the younger novel reads of E. Nesbit like ‘Five Children and It’ and ‘The Railway Children’ with a dash of good old Enid Blyton to the mix. They were vivid descriptions, the characters became larger than life for me and they stuck in my mind which says something, because not many fictional characters do so these days. Castaneda reminded me of my Blyton and Nesbit days with a dash of the much-wanted social issue topics integral to the young adult reads of today which makes this book a must have on every library shelf. I especially loved the way she analysed the topic of sexual abuse in this novel in a mature way and yet in the way or style in which young children would have witnessed such a horrific incident and would have interpreted it in the innocent days of the early 1960s.
Those who are from Indianapolis will need to have this lovely title in their lending libraries and school libraries; it is a keepsake for sure and a pride to the area. These characters through their vitality have managed to bring out every nook and corner of Indianapolis even to a person like me who has never been out of India ever in her life! Another feature about the book which I appreciated was the way the teacher of the 6th grade Mr. Ramsey dealt evenly with every student he came across, even though all of them were from the lower middle classes or were dearth poor. I found in him a lovely humane figure of the educational system of that time, which was really heartening to read, especially in the case of Mary’s little note. Want to know more? You need this YA novel now!
My favourite scene was obviously when Polly’s mother Bernadette gave a blessing to Emmie. The words of the blessing touched my heart and I wish someone would give me such a blessing; it was a tear-jerker and a beautifully penned one. I definitely loved Emmie, Janey, and Cissy and hope they appear in a forthcoming sequel to this novel – I don’t want this story to end here! And I’m sure it doesn’t!
Fantastic, epic, a trip down memory lane, great for Nesbit lovers and a delicious read indeed! All those descriptions of the many food items in the book are mouth-wateringly delicious and scrumptious! So, if you like me like your novels with a lot of foodie delights, Kay Castaneda is your author for this one. Journey with Emmie, Janey, Cissy, and their single mother and see the reality of poverty, the strength of sisterhood and the magical bond that soulful music, a great education, and great food brings into a family which would have otherwise been lost forever.
Kay Castaneda gets 5 stars from me! Kudos to her on a job well done!
She kept me entertained and yet managed to warm my heart and that is a winner in itself! She has the talent to sing to a reader’s soul which is much indeed in the YA titles of this day and age.
April 24, 2019
Kay Castaneda's Emmie of Indianapolis is one of those coming of age books that take various moments in the young protagonist's life to depict their developing maturity. Emmie of Indianapolis takes that standard and does it well.
12 year old, Emmie's mother announces that she is divorcing her father and moving to Indianapolis with Emmie and her younger sisters, Jennie and Cassie. Understandable but difficult today, rare and even more difficult in 1963.
Emmie and her family have to adjust to moving to a small apartment above a tavern where their mother works. There are some tense moments as the girls have to deal with some pretty tense situations such as a pedophile visitor entering their apartment to be stopped by a neighbor, a disgusting landlord nicknamed “Ogre”, and their mother's slow descent into alcoholism.
Emmie befriends Joey, an African-American boy, George, a Chinese boy, and Polly, a Romanian Gypsy girl. Emmie encounters racism as her new friends are bullied by other kids in school. When Emmie defends her friends, she is ostracized because of her friendship with them and also because of her family's Catholic religion contrasting with the mostly Protestant student body.
While there are hardships in the book, Emmie of Indianapolis also has plenty of sweet engaging moments to spare. Many of them involve Emmie, her sisters, and friends exploring her new city. Many of the streets and landmarks like Monument Circle, are accurately described and the kids have fun shopping and sightseeing.
They also are able to one up their bullies by their scholarly efforts. They participate in a Spelling Bee and it's a genuine victory when George wins to the pride of his friends and parents. Emmie and her friends really shine in these moments.
Emmie's parents shine in their moments with Emmie and her sisters. The reasons for their divorce is never explained but they clearly love their daughters. The secret is that they are flawed but not irredeemable. Emmie's father takes them on weekend visits and is there during an emergency. While her mother is beginning an alcohol dependency that is noticeable when Emmie withdraws from uncomfortable with conversations about alcohol, her mother is still written as a kind loving woman. She cares for the girls and wants to protect them from danger. The alcohol may just be a sign that she is overwhelmed.
Besides finding strength in her friends and family, Emmie finds strength in her Catholic faith. When they arrive in Indianapolis, Emmie looks for a Catholic Church and is pleased when she finally finds it. She uses her knowledge I'm religion to serve others like her friends and feels a spiritual presence during times of stress. It makes sense that Emmie wants to become a teacher or a nun so she can serve others as an adult.
Emmie of Indianapolis is a charming slice of life with plenty of darkness but plenty of sweetness to spare.
12 year old, Emmie's mother announces that she is divorcing her father and moving to Indianapolis with Emmie and her younger sisters, Jennie and Cassie. Understandable but difficult today, rare and even more difficult in 1963.
Emmie and her family have to adjust to moving to a small apartment above a tavern where their mother works. There are some tense moments as the girls have to deal with some pretty tense situations such as a pedophile visitor entering their apartment to be stopped by a neighbor, a disgusting landlord nicknamed “Ogre”, and their mother's slow descent into alcoholism.
Emmie befriends Joey, an African-American boy, George, a Chinese boy, and Polly, a Romanian Gypsy girl. Emmie encounters racism as her new friends are bullied by other kids in school. When Emmie defends her friends, she is ostracized because of her friendship with them and also because of her family's Catholic religion contrasting with the mostly Protestant student body.
While there are hardships in the book, Emmie of Indianapolis also has plenty of sweet engaging moments to spare. Many of them involve Emmie, her sisters, and friends exploring her new city. Many of the streets and landmarks like Monument Circle, are accurately described and the kids have fun shopping and sightseeing.
They also are able to one up their bullies by their scholarly efforts. They participate in a Spelling Bee and it's a genuine victory when George wins to the pride of his friends and parents. Emmie and her friends really shine in these moments.
Emmie's parents shine in their moments with Emmie and her sisters. The reasons for their divorce is never explained but they clearly love their daughters. The secret is that they are flawed but not irredeemable. Emmie's father takes them on weekend visits and is there during an emergency. While her mother is beginning an alcohol dependency that is noticeable when Emmie withdraws from uncomfortable with conversations about alcohol, her mother is still written as a kind loving woman. She cares for the girls and wants to protect them from danger. The alcohol may just be a sign that she is overwhelmed.
Besides finding strength in her friends and family, Emmie finds strength in her Catholic faith. When they arrive in Indianapolis, Emmie looks for a Catholic Church and is pleased when she finally finds it. She uses her knowledge I'm religion to serve others like her friends and feels a spiritual presence during times of stress. It makes sense that Emmie wants to become a teacher or a nun so she can serve others as an adult.
Emmie of Indianapolis is a charming slice of life with plenty of darkness but plenty of sweetness to spare.
April 26, 2025
Whilst this is about a young adult, the story is one that should be read by a more mature audience. It depicts a time in American history when the doors were still wide open to those seeking sanctuary and a better life, the vast majority with the intention of working hard to achieve it.
There is no doubt for many Americans there was poverty and hardships but the majority of those teenager Emmie encounter offered inclusion, warmth and a strong sense of community.
Her own circumstances are far from perfect with her parents recently separated, a mother whose lifestyle choices are haphazard, and two younger sisters who she is a guardian to. Emmie is both loving and empathetic, and she embraces others outside of her family equally, including the children of recently arrived immigrants from China and Europe who are struggling to fit in to this new and strange culture.
It is not only a shortage of money which impacts many in this area of Indianapolis, as there is darkness in the shadows aimed at women in particular, and even children. It makes for disturbing reading at times, but this story is about courage and humanity which only emphasises the amazing resilience and kindness of this young woman.
The city is also a star in the story and its museums, libraries, buildings and open spaces are celebrated throughout. It is clear that not only the residents of all ages but the newcomers to the area feel the same way.
I enjoyed this story about Emmie, her family and friends very much, and I came away feeling admiration for this teenager and her approach to life and those around her, and I am sure she matured into an amazing young woman. Highly recommended for teenage readers and adults.
August 2, 2015
This is an episodic novel at times sugary and other times full of fright and bad things. Told by 12-year-old Emmie O’Brien who may be the sweetest child in the universe this is a tale of a family in trouble. There’s a divorce. The three sisters and Mom live in a succession of apartments. Everything is bleak except Emmie. She collects a United Nations of friends: a Gypsy girl, a Chinese boy and a black boy whose family sings in church. Ugly people are a danger and Mom’s choice of friends is very bad but Emmie is more than a survivor, she is a force for good in the family and the neighborhood.
The author’s style is direct and simple. Ironies rule throughout.
The book’s formatting is chaotic. Paragraphs begin with rogue indents and then there are distracting blank spaces.
The visitations of evil, the sweetness of the children and the good father are all repeated. Jim Jones pre-Guyana has a harrowing moment.
Sweet. Sometimes too sweet. The novel as told by a 12-year-old may seem sentimental to an adult reader with good and evil writ large. But full of warmth, sorrow and joy for young adults.
The author’s style is direct and simple. Ironies rule throughout.
The book’s formatting is chaotic. Paragraphs begin with rogue indents and then there are distracting blank spaces.
The visitations of evil, the sweetness of the children and the good father are all repeated. Jim Jones pre-Guyana has a harrowing moment.
Sweet. Sometimes too sweet. The novel as told by a 12-year-old may seem sentimental to an adult reader with good and evil writ large. But full of warmth, sorrow and joy for young adults.
January 16, 2019
Author Castaneda does a great job of being the eyes and ears of 12-year-old Emmie and writes it all from her perspective. This story dives into what the world looks like through Emmie's eyes: some of it good, some sad, some evil. It never goes around to the adult's point of view, so it was refreshing to see situations from a kid's point of view. From divorce, to alcoholism and depression, to a friend's assault, witnessing prejudice, taking care of her siblings, and celebrating the simple things in life, this story has an honest and refreshing take on it. There are scary scenes here too that any adult would shudder at, but seeing it from a child's eyes going from scary to going about your business the next day, seems typical of childhood.
Much of it I could relate to: taking care of my siblings, trying to cook dinner, taking the wagon to the laundrymat - everything I've done in my childhood too! Emmie's tenacity and zest for life is something anyone can strive for. A must read for anyone who grew up in the 60s.
Much of it I could relate to: taking care of my siblings, trying to cook dinner, taking the wagon to the laundrymat - everything I've done in my childhood too! Emmie's tenacity and zest for life is something anyone can strive for. A must read for anyone who grew up in the 60s.
January 30, 2019
Emmie of Indianapolis was such a great read!
The characters so vivid and lively, I experienced the adventure of Emmie along with her, i could visualize a time where all things where still held to be black or white.
Immigration, Religion, Racism, Courage, Strength, Pain, Friendship, Family, and Love all portrayed in this amazing book.
To be true to oneself, to be the best version we could ever be, striving against all odds and most importantly enjoy every minute of life.
Thanks to book tasters and Kay Castaneda, i get to read this book.
Kay Castaneda thank you for teaching poignant life lessons through Emmie of Indianapolis.
The characters so vivid and lively, I experienced the adventure of Emmie along with her, i could visualize a time where all things where still held to be black or white.
Immigration, Religion, Racism, Courage, Strength, Pain, Friendship, Family, and Love all portrayed in this amazing book.
To be true to oneself, to be the best version we could ever be, striving against all odds and most importantly enjoy every minute of life.
Thanks to book tasters and Kay Castaneda, i get to read this book.
Kay Castaneda thank you for teaching poignant life lessons through Emmie of Indianapolis.
April 30, 2019
This is a really lively story with appealing characters and a lot of action in it. I liked the way Emmie matured and grew during the course of the book. I also liked the way it ended, on a happier and more hopeful note for the family.
I thought the problems and violence toward the children was excessive and not believable and could easily be toned down. I also thought it would have helped to have more information about the thoughts and inner lives of the characters.
I thought the problems and violence toward the children was excessive and not believable and could easily be toned down. I also thought it would have helped to have more information about the thoughts and inner lives of the characters.
December 15, 2018
Very interesting look at life in the 1960s, and through the eyes of a child.
May 18, 2024
A coming of age story set in 1960's Indianapolis. When Emmie's parents get divorced, her mother takes her and her two sisters and moves into a series of small apartments in Indianapolis. While her mother struggles with alcohol and depression, Emmie steps up and helps take care of her siblings. When she isn't watching her sisters she is walking around the neighborhood making friends. She befriends a gypsy girl, a Chinese immigrant, and a young Black boy. Soon they are the best of friends. If that had been the only story that would have been believable and interesting enough, but there were also witches, mean boys that get hit by cars and died after taunting them (really?!), a neighbor being murdered (which Emmie knows and does nothing about). It's a little over the top. Good storytelling - but this is VERY fictional and doesn't seem like it could ever be real.
July 25, 2019
Emmie of Indianapolis is a re-imagining of Indianapolis during the 1960s in the eyes of a teenager. The author was successful in portraying a 12-year-old child, with a curious and innocent point of view. I love how neutral the narrative was; Emmie didn't try to judge whatever she witnessed and experienced. She didn't try to distinguish between right and wrong, evil and good. She just absorbed what she was able to perceive and left the verdict to the readers. This kinda reminds of The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
Content wise, I found it hard to finish the book because of the triggers that the story contains. But overall, Emmie of Indianapolis is a good coming of age story that will challenge how you view humanity.
Content wise, I found it hard to finish the book because of the triggers that the story contains. But overall, Emmie of Indianapolis is a good coming of age story that will challenge how you view humanity.
July 31, 2019
This is a very enjoyable story. One that not only describes the life of a girl and her loved ones, but also tells the attractive tale of a city, its peoples and the soul of a country at large. An absorbing and interesting read. Nothing short of superb!
July 1, 2019
Emmie,such an inspiring young girl. SEEING the 60's through her eyes is beautiful.It's so refreshing from kids her age in this generation.She is a leader and doesn't even know it.She takes responsibility and is not ashamed of where she comes from.She has seen and experienced a lot in her young age.
The youth ought to read this book,they can learn a thing or two from Emmie.
The youth ought to read this book,they can learn a thing or two from Emmie.
September 9, 2015
When Henry James wrote “What Maisie Knew” all those years ago, he did a couple of things that were especially clever. He produced prose that was entirely suited to the story of a young child, and he merged Maisie's world with his authorship. James' “What Maisie Knew” is a child's take on the inequities of adult life. And Maisie, as she grows, goes from borrowing adult words, without necessarily understanding them, to being able to comprehend the adult world and it effects on her. He also used prose entirely suitable for a child-centric story; prose different from his adult-centric stories. At least that's what I made of James.
“Emmie of Indianapolis” by Kay Castaneda shares some similarities with “Maisie,” in that like James, Castaneda, has successfully produced a child's story. (Cf an adult telling a story about a child – as is the case with most YA fiction.) The charm of Emmie's year is that she tells us about it, and she tells us as a child would. It is this charm, in spite of some troublesome episodes in Emmie's year, that made the story such a pleasure to read.
Too many YA authors feel the need to show their adult self in the narrative, where as Castaneda successfully avoids that pit fall. “Emmie of Indianapolis” reads as if Emmie is speaking directly to us, simply, succinctly, sometimes without understanding, and other times with deep understanding; but more often than not a sense of wonder. From time to time Emmie does use words from the adult world, and Castaneda's prose choices makes it clear that Emmie uses them with a child's appreciation – as borrowed words, rather than as her own.
With this approach Castaneda tells a story of the essentials of friendship; against the inequities that adults, through their needs and intolerances, visit upon the lives of children. And in spite of those inequities, and in spite of the failings all too present in Emmie's world, the story is a warm one. A story, also, that makes it now impossible to think of Indianapolis without Emmie in it. I should finish by saying that I enjoyed the story as a story for adults, on adults terms, and I think that it stands in its own right as narrative fiction – rather than as a story reliant on being genre pigeon holed as Young Adult.
“Emmie of Indianapolis” by Kay Castaneda shares some similarities with “Maisie,” in that like James, Castaneda, has successfully produced a child's story. (Cf an adult telling a story about a child – as is the case with most YA fiction.) The charm of Emmie's year is that she tells us about it, and she tells us as a child would. It is this charm, in spite of some troublesome episodes in Emmie's year, that made the story such a pleasure to read.
Too many YA authors feel the need to show their adult self in the narrative, where as Castaneda successfully avoids that pit fall. “Emmie of Indianapolis” reads as if Emmie is speaking directly to us, simply, succinctly, sometimes without understanding, and other times with deep understanding; but more often than not a sense of wonder. From time to time Emmie does use words from the adult world, and Castaneda's prose choices makes it clear that Emmie uses them with a child's appreciation – as borrowed words, rather than as her own.
With this approach Castaneda tells a story of the essentials of friendship; against the inequities that adults, through their needs and intolerances, visit upon the lives of children. And in spite of those inequities, and in spite of the failings all too present in Emmie's world, the story is a warm one. A story, also, that makes it now impossible to think of Indianapolis without Emmie in it. I should finish by saying that I enjoyed the story as a story for adults, on adults terms, and I think that it stands in its own right as narrative fiction – rather than as a story reliant on being genre pigeon holed as Young Adult.
February 6, 2019
Emmie of Indianapolis by Kay Castaneda is the story of a 12 year old girl growing up in the heart of Indianapolis, IN in 1963. The novel reads like a diary of Emmie’s personal thoughts and a description of her daily life as she navigates the changing circumstance of her family in the aftermath of her parents’ divorce. Emmie, her mother and her younger sisters move from the suberbs of Indianapolis to the inner city and Emmie like many oldest children in single parent homes becomes a frequent caregiver for her younger siblings. Emmie’s mother struggles with sobriety and Emmie becomes her sisters’ primary caregiver at times and is forced to deal with situations which puts their safety and health at risk on more than one occasion.
The story takes place during the course of the school year and during this time Emmie has the opportunity to meet several new friends from various backgrounds. Emmie is embraced by their families and Emmie and her group of friends participate fully in each other’s lives through all the good and bad times. This novel provides a very descriptive snapshot of a young girls life in Midwest America during the early 60s. The situations Emmie encounters are not always pleasant but realistic.
The story takes place during the course of the school year and during this time Emmie has the opportunity to meet several new friends from various backgrounds. Emmie is embraced by their families and Emmie and her group of friends participate fully in each other’s lives through all the good and bad times. This novel provides a very descriptive snapshot of a young girls life in Midwest America during the early 60s. The situations Emmie encounters are not always pleasant but realistic.
February 8, 2019
Emmie Of Indianapolis by Kay Castaneda.
This is a coming of age story set in the 1960s with a narrative by Emmie a 12 year old girl whose life changed with a single sentence she heard from her parents. “Divorce”.
Emmie is plunged into change and separation from her father and childhood neighborhood as her mother moves them to a new place for a fresh start.
Emmie is faced with the responsibility of raising her siblings as her mom takes on a night job and spirals out of control due to bad influences and Alcohol.
Emmie is forced to grow up quickly as more and more of the responsibility for her younger siblings fall to her to handle or take care of.
In the midst all these things that battle to take away her innocence and childhood, she finds friendship in the unlikeliest of places.
This book also has undertones of spirituality in it.
It was a good read and I encourage everyone who loves to read to give it a try.
This is a coming of age story set in the 1960s with a narrative by Emmie a 12 year old girl whose life changed with a single sentence she heard from her parents. “Divorce”.
Emmie is plunged into change and separation from her father and childhood neighborhood as her mother moves them to a new place for a fresh start.
Emmie is faced with the responsibility of raising her siblings as her mom takes on a night job and spirals out of control due to bad influences and Alcohol.
Emmie is forced to grow up quickly as more and more of the responsibility for her younger siblings fall to her to handle or take care of.
In the midst all these things that battle to take away her innocence and childhood, she finds friendship in the unlikeliest of places.
This book also has undertones of spirituality in it.
It was a good read and I encourage everyone who loves to read to give it a try.
April 1, 2016
I'm conflicted. This was an indie author & I can see she obviously pored her soul & life into this; it came through in her stories. At the same time, I feel there is some responsibility to distinguish between using s child's voice for narrative (as in Room) & writing in childlike sentences to accomplish that voice. When you do the latter, you run the risk of not appropriately addressing serious topics raised, in this case including abide, pedophilia, rape, & briefly Jim Jones.
March 16, 2019
Please note that this review is only so low because of the fact that libraries are claiming that this is a children's book. I have no idea if that was Castaneda's intention, but this is far from a children's book.
This book is a powerful story that presents some of the worst life has to offer. Emmie is a child who has to grow up way too fast because of the adults in her life. Her parents divorce, her mother starts drinking, she is left basically being a second parent to her little sisters, she witnesses violence and murder, is sexually assaulted, has to defend her house and sleep with a knife to protect her family. There is some mild swearing, plenty of violence, and an altogether bleak look at the world.
On the flip side, she meets people from all walks of life, coexists with other races, nationalities, and religions, making friends who seem to be true. She works hard, finds faith, and doesn't let life bring her down. Her father doesn't abandon his daughters after the divorce and is even decent to his ex wife.
This is a good book for adults, and I would give it four stars if it was advertised to them. However, I draw the line at advertising it to children. Most kids who are looking in the children's section of the library aren't even teenagers yet. They may have some knowledge of sex, some might even be participating in such activities, but they are usually unprepared to read about a young girl being raped going trick-or-treating. Also, whilst some children may be using foul language, calling people b*tches in a book advertised to children is just wrong.
Again, if this was advertised to an older age group, this book would receive a much higher rating from me, but you can bet my kid is not reading this one.
This book is a powerful story that presents some of the worst life has to offer. Emmie is a child who has to grow up way too fast because of the adults in her life. Her parents divorce, her mother starts drinking, she is left basically being a second parent to her little sisters, she witnesses violence and murder, is sexually assaulted, has to defend her house and sleep with a knife to protect her family. There is some mild swearing, plenty of violence, and an altogether bleak look at the world.
On the flip side, she meets people from all walks of life, coexists with other races, nationalities, and religions, making friends who seem to be true. She works hard, finds faith, and doesn't let life bring her down. Her father doesn't abandon his daughters after the divorce and is even decent to his ex wife.
This is a good book for adults, and I would give it four stars if it was advertised to them. However, I draw the line at advertising it to children. Most kids who are looking in the children's section of the library aren't even teenagers yet. They may have some knowledge of sex, some might even be participating in such activities, but they are usually unprepared to read about a young girl being raped going trick-or-treating. Also, whilst some children may be using foul language, calling people b*tches in a book advertised to children is just wrong.
Again, if this was advertised to an older age group, this book would receive a much higher rating from me, but you can bet my kid is not reading this one.
December 23, 2025
Emmie is twelve when her parents divorce. She and her two sisters move with their mom. Life is quite an adjustment as money is tight, and the only places they can afford are in dangerous areas of the city. Emmie has more responsibilty than most kids her age, caring for her sisters. Her mom loves her kids, but she struggles with alcoholism. She often works evenings as a cocktail waitress, which leaves Emmie in charge. It's not a safe neighborhood, and Emmie has to deal with a lot of scary issues with potential break-ins and other crime related activity.
In spite of her environment, Emmie makes friends with several of the neighboring kids including an African American boy, an Asian boy who is learning English, and a family of gypsies. Emmie experiences prejudice and hate through her friends. Her father visits his girls most Saturdays and tries to do his best by his girls. The story has lots of religious undertones as Emmie explores different churches (some good, some not) She explores various parts of the city with her friends. I was surprised how much freedom her mom gives her going off on her own or with her friends, but times were different in 1963.
In spite of her environment, Emmie makes friends with several of the neighboring kids including an African American boy, an Asian boy who is learning English, and a family of gypsies. Emmie experiences prejudice and hate through her friends. Her father visits his girls most Saturdays and tries to do his best by his girls. The story has lots of religious undertones as Emmie explores different churches (some good, some not) She explores various parts of the city with her friends. I was surprised how much freedom her mom gives her going off on her own or with her friends, but times were different in 1963.
June 6, 2019
This book isn't very long, but it took me a while to read through because it was packed with so much content.
I originally chose to read this book because I spend a good amount of time downtown Indianapolis (also I have a sister named Emme!), and i enjoy books about young adults/teenagers. This story had a historical feel and the main character had a very unique voice.
A lot of the content was surprisingly heavy. I had a hard time with it because it seemed like they were just side stories and there wasn't a lot of emotionality to them. This story was kind of like a time line of the main character and her friends. I wish there was more about how all of these events affected the main character and her thoughts on it. Although it did occur to me that maybe they were brushed off to show the character's innocence and naivety.
I enjoyed reading about George Washington and his family's asylum in America and Polly and her sisters.
I originally chose to read this book because I spend a good amount of time downtown Indianapolis (also I have a sister named Emme!), and i enjoy books about young adults/teenagers. This story had a historical feel and the main character had a very unique voice.
A lot of the content was surprisingly heavy. I had a hard time with it because it seemed like they were just side stories and there wasn't a lot of emotionality to them. This story was kind of like a time line of the main character and her friends. I wish there was more about how all of these events affected the main character and her thoughts on it. Although it did occur to me that maybe they were brushed off to show the character's innocence and naivety.
I enjoyed reading about George Washington and his family's asylum in America and Polly and her sisters.
September 30, 2022
An interesting and joyful read following 12 year-old Emmie around 1960's Indianapolis. Emmie's a brave child who fearlessly takes on the world and each challenge put in front of her. I loved the little group of friends Emmie adopts. They're wonderfully written and show the innocence of a child.
It's a lovely read and really does transport you to 1960's Indianapolis.
It's a lovely read and really does transport you to 1960's Indianapolis.
September 2, 2020
I LOVED this book!!
The story is AMAZING!!
The themes in the story are woven into the story wonderfully!!
This is a DEFINITE MUST Read!!
The story is AMAZING!!
The themes in the story are woven into the story wonderfully!!
This is a DEFINITE MUST Read!!
October 6, 2025
Emmie from Indianapolis: The Story of an American Girl was a page-turner for me. From the start, the reader can tell that Emmie is a gregarious and responsible girl living in Indianapolis in 1963. I fell in love with this book first because I had been a 12-year-old American girl living in Indianapolis in 1963. Kay, a blogging friend, and I compared notes and maps after I read her delightful book.
Sadly, Emmie’s life was fraught with constant moving and danger after her parents’ divorce. Even so, she didn’t seem like a girl who let herself get bogged down with problems.
For example, the day after they moved into a poorer inner-city neighborhood, she wandered around her new neighborhood and reported meeting church ladies dressed in all matching colors.
“If a woman had a lavender dress, she wore a lavender hat. Some of the women had on shoes the same color as the rest of their outfits.”
I remember thinking for years that matching colors was the only way to dress. I love all the details she shared and felt transported back to the 1960s.
As the separation between her parent became longer, so did the dangers. Then her mother started drinking.
“One evening, Mommy forgot to make our supper before she left for work. I ran after them (her mother and a co-worker) as they started down the stairs.
‘What can we eat tonight, Mommy? You didn’t cook anything.’
…I gave Cissy (the baby) some Jell-O water, and she went to sleep.”
Emmie’s narration employs short sentences, simple vocabulary, and straightforward descriptions of people and events. The language works well for elementary students, and the two main characters are elementary students. However, several of the episodes in the story are violent and contain sexual abuse or attempts at sexual abuse, not to mention alcohol-induced physical and supervisory neglect of three vulnerable girls.
I would recommend sharing this book with middle schoolers and above, rather than elementary schoolers.
210 pages
Sadly, Emmie’s life was fraught with constant moving and danger after her parents’ divorce. Even so, she didn’t seem like a girl who let herself get bogged down with problems.
For example, the day after they moved into a poorer inner-city neighborhood, she wandered around her new neighborhood and reported meeting church ladies dressed in all matching colors.
“If a woman had a lavender dress, she wore a lavender hat. Some of the women had on shoes the same color as the rest of their outfits.”
I remember thinking for years that matching colors was the only way to dress. I love all the details she shared and felt transported back to the 1960s.
As the separation between her parent became longer, so did the dangers. Then her mother started drinking.
“One evening, Mommy forgot to make our supper before she left for work. I ran after them (her mother and a co-worker) as they started down the stairs.
‘What can we eat tonight, Mommy? You didn’t cook anything.’
…I gave Cissy (the baby) some Jell-O water, and she went to sleep.”
Emmie’s narration employs short sentences, simple vocabulary, and straightforward descriptions of people and events. The language works well for elementary students, and the two main characters are elementary students. However, several of the episodes in the story are violent and contain sexual abuse or attempts at sexual abuse, not to mention alcohol-induced physical and supervisory neglect of three vulnerable girls.
I would recommend sharing this book with middle schoolers and above, rather than elementary schoolers.
210 pages
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