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Emily the Strange #4
Piece of Mind
Emily the Strange stands for: Do it yourself; think for yourself; be yourself.
In the concluding volume of the story arc that has defined this singular 13-year-old, Emily’s uniquely odd to-do list includes:
1. Lose (and regain) mind
2. Reprogram golem
3. Locate secret book vault
4. Commune with Dead Dark Aunts
5. Rescue Cousin Jakey
6. Redecorate souvenir kiosk
7. Thwart Thought Thief
8. Endure hero worship
9. Grant ancestral enemy’s deepest wish
10. Save cat-napped kitty
11. Summon black rock
12. Defeat Shady Uncles
13. Guard family legacy and claim inheritance!
Lavishly illustrated with trademark black-and-red art, this delightfully quirky story follows Emily on her journey to uncover her family’s mysterious secrets—secrets that are ancient, surprising, and Strange!
In the concluding volume of the story arc that has defined this singular 13-year-old, Emily’s uniquely odd to-do list includes:
1. Lose (and regain) mind
2. Reprogram golem
3. Locate secret book vault
4. Commune with Dead Dark Aunts
5. Rescue Cousin Jakey
6. Redecorate souvenir kiosk
7. Thwart Thought Thief
8. Endure hero worship
9. Grant ancestral enemy’s deepest wish
10. Save cat-napped kitty
11. Summon black rock
12. Defeat Shady Uncles
13. Guard family legacy and claim inheritance!
Lavishly illustrated with trademark black-and-red art, this delightfully quirky story follows Emily on her journey to uncover her family’s mysterious secrets—secrets that are ancient, surprising, and Strange!
273 pages, Hardcover
First published December 27, 2011
42 people are currently reading
2031 people want to read
About the author
Rob Reger
58 books383 followersReger's friend Nathan Carrico designed Emily in 1991 for a skateboard company in Santa Cruz, where Cosmic Debris was born. In his Santa Cruz garage (and later an artist warehouse in San Francisco) Reger created the designs, and with Matt Reed brought them into the fashion world by creating t-shirt designs that captured the essence of this mysterious young girl with 4 black cats. Since then, Cosmic Debris has grown into a multi-million dollar firm with dozens of employees.
Cosmic Debris has most recently moved its operations to Berkeley, California, and plans to open an Emily retail store there soon. With the momentum of mainstream success, several comics about Emily have also been made. Key creative people over the years (designers, graphic artists, illustrators), who have worked with Reger's Cosmic Debris design house are Buzz Parker, Brian Brooks, Grace Fontaine, Liz Baca, Noel Tolentino, Fawn Gehweiler, Jessica Gruner, Adele Pedersen and Nicomi "Nix" Turner. Rob Reger remains the key creative force behind the brand, and Buzz Parker is the key illustrator for the comic books and website.
Cosmic Debris has most recently moved its operations to Berkeley, California, and plans to open an Emily retail store there soon. With the momentum of mainstream success, several comics about Emily have also been made. Key creative people over the years (designers, graphic artists, illustrators), who have worked with Reger's Cosmic Debris design house are Buzz Parker, Brian Brooks, Grace Fontaine, Liz Baca, Noel Tolentino, Fawn Gehweiler, Jessica Gruner, Adele Pedersen and Nicomi "Nix" Turner. Rob Reger remains the key creative force behind the brand, and Buzz Parker is the key illustrator for the comic books and website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
December 29, 2011
I love Emily the Strange, and I am most definitely going to dress up as her for Halloween next year, because I will be thirteen and everything! But anyways, Emily has taught me a lot, and has helped me so much with finding my "inner-strangeness". I found out about Emily the strange when I heard about Chloe Moretz playing her, because I had seen Kick-ass and I thought that she was awesome and hit girl was awesome. Last year was tough because it felt like the whole class was just stupid, (well, it wasn't just that it felt like it, some of them were really stupid and annoying), but I had to deal with it anyways, and just suck it up for the whole year. I started reading these, and they cheered me up. I loved how she rocks out on guitar, and has a posse of pet cats, and wears black, just like me. (Well, I don't have a pack of mischief causing cats, but I have a mischief causing bunny!) I had started wearing a lot of black in sixth grade, and got sick of wearing pink, and wearing matching crap, so I just wore a lot of black, which caused people to start calling me goth, which ANNOYED me so much, but I didn't really care if they thought I was strange or anything. And Emily helped me with that! Anyways, Emily the Strange is awesome sauce, and this book is amazing. (Another thing, I discovered the Yeah Yeah Yeahs through Emily the Strange!)
February 19, 2018
Definitely a fun and entertaining pause from all the #deep literature at school! This is very edgy, emo, quirky and rebellious but the book doesn't shy away from that, it embraces the "cringe". It's a diary of a fourteen year-old genius who develops new inventions using liquid black rock and, for example, the saliva of a bat. Of course it's not to be taken seriously.
I really enjoyed the plot twists, the foreshadowing, the drawings, the atmosphere/context splotches on the pages (e.g., dirty fingerprints), the plot hole fillers (TranscriptionSpies, or whatever they're called), and the overall feel of the book. Fun, fun, strange ( ;) ), suspenseful, fun!
I really enjoyed the plot twists, the foreshadowing, the drawings, the atmosphere/context splotches on the pages (e.g., dirty fingerprints), the plot hole fillers (TranscriptionSpies, or whatever they're called), and the overall feel of the book. Fun, fun, strange ( ;) ), suspenseful, fun!
January 30, 2015
I'm done! I guess I need to have the tweens/teens tell me all about Emily to maybe understand more of what I just read. I'm just not getting it. Oh well.
April 22, 2023
4.5 stars. IMO the weakest of the series BUT the final few pages still made me super emotional and we did get some things we've been waiting for since book 1!
A lot of stuff with Attikol happening off-page was annoying and wasn't the epic showdown I had expected. I guess that's okay considering how enjoyable some other aspects were. I really loved all the Raven and Umlaut stuff and seeing Lily again even if just for a cameo.
It was interesting seeing modern Seasidetown and meeting descendants of the characters from book 3, and I found the interactions between Emily and Dottie interesting, but it almost feels like there's a degree of missed potential there overall. I do like that the thing to finally rouse Dottie's sense of morality was a case of exploitation and slavery and that fighting slavery has become essentially a family legacy and calling for them. Dottie's power was truly scary and it's nice to have another character like Jakey who serves as an ally for Emily.
Emily herself came across as somewhat less developed than in the previous books; there felt like a character regression at certain points like how she treated Raven (using Raven as a footstool is something Emily in book 1 and 2 would have done, and it felt like she was growing more morally sound and less selfish/maniacal, so yeah, that wasn't great) and I don't like that a lot of the book felt like things were happening to her and not because of her. Emily is the agent and the driving force of these books and I think they work best when she's making her own choices and driving the plot and not just witnessing other people do stuff.
That said it was still very fulfilling to see Emily come into her own and finish her journey, and the scene where all the previous twelve Dark Aunts came to greet her in the boardroom was truly something so fulfilling, I don't know how you could enjoy this series and not feel something during that scene. It almost ended too soon. Emily earned her legacy and watching her finally achieve it was very enjoyable.
I'd love multiple spin-offs and sequels, about other Dark Girls, about Bright Girls, about Shady Uncles. I'd love a Lily series, or even a Raven series. I'd love an Aunt Emma series! But I'll get a lot of joy out of rereading this series for years to come even if this is all we get. These are seriously some special books and you should pick them up if you ever get the chance.
A lot of stuff with Attikol happening off-page was annoying and wasn't the epic showdown I had expected. I guess that's okay considering how enjoyable some other aspects were. I really loved all the Raven and Umlaut stuff and seeing Lily again even if just for a cameo.
It was interesting seeing modern Seasidetown and meeting descendants of the characters from book 3, and I found the interactions between Emily and Dottie interesting, but it almost feels like there's a degree of missed potential there overall. I do like that the thing to finally rouse Dottie's sense of morality was a case of exploitation and slavery and that fighting slavery has become essentially a family legacy and calling for them. Dottie's power was truly scary and it's nice to have another character like Jakey who serves as an ally for Emily.
Emily herself came across as somewhat less developed than in the previous books; there felt like a character regression at certain points like how she treated Raven (using Raven as a footstool is something Emily in book 1 and 2 would have done, and it felt like she was growing more morally sound and less selfish/maniacal, so yeah, that wasn't great) and I don't like that a lot of the book felt like things were happening to her and not because of her. Emily is the agent and the driving force of these books and I think they work best when she's making her own choices and driving the plot and not just witnessing other people do stuff.
That said it was still very fulfilling to see Emily come into her own and finish her journey, and the scene where all the previous twelve Dark Aunts came to greet her in the boardroom was truly something so fulfilling, I don't know how you could enjoy this series and not feel something during that scene. It almost ended too soon. Emily earned her legacy and watching her finally achieve it was very enjoyable.
I'd love multiple spin-offs and sequels, about other Dark Girls, about Bright Girls, about Shady Uncles. I'd love a Lily series, or even a Raven series. I'd love an Aunt Emma series! But I'll get a lot of joy out of rereading this series for years to come even if this is all we get. These are seriously some special books and you should pick them up if you ever get the chance.
Want to read
April 30, 2025Read the first three books when I was a kid, but this one never made it to Argentina. I found it by chance on Scotland and almost cry for the chance to finally finish this story.
Even though I didn´t enjoy it as much as the other ones, It was great. I just feel like a bit of Emily´s essence was lost
Even though I didn´t enjoy it as much as the other ones, It was great. I just feel like a bit of Emily´s essence was lost
October 21, 2023
Love the plot twist but hate how the author used the R slur again even if it was just once in this book. Grab a dictionary, will ya?
July 19, 2012
Emily Strange is what most girls want to be. Intelligent, witty, humorous, girl genius. She is independent and quite smart, so I don't understand why this book is so underrated. Mind you, it has a great average rating, and I'm glad.
This is the end. The end of my sweet Emily Strange. I think I'm going to cry. Give me a moment.
That's better. Piece of Mind has been one of the best books I have read so far. I absolutely love it.
All the characters are funny and they all have a purpose in the story.
The plot is easy to follow and to understand.
The art is lovely and most of all... no love interest.
Five stars for the entire series.
7/18/2012
I can't believe this is the last Emily the Strange book. You have no idea how much I love this series.
Emily the Strange goes along in the Goth girl hall of fame right next to Lydia Deetz. Yes, the Lydia Deetz.
This book is fast paced, witty, and funny. I read almost half of the entire book in about twenty minutes. That how much I like it.
Sure, it might be confusing at some parts, but truly, it all gets cleared up quite quickly. It's fast moving and there's a clear plot.
I'm pretty sure I'm going to give this book five stars. It's really a good read and I enjoy how Emily isn't a depressed cry baby.
She's one of the only heroines in YA novels that actually can do things without the help of a man.
Ah, Emily, you never fail to impress me.
This is the end. The end of my sweet Emily Strange. I think I'm going to cry. Give me a moment.
That's better. Piece of Mind has been one of the best books I have read so far. I absolutely love it.
All the characters are funny and they all have a purpose in the story.
The plot is easy to follow and to understand.
The art is lovely and most of all... no love interest.
Five stars for the entire series.
7/18/2012
I can't believe this is the last Emily the Strange book. You have no idea how much I love this series.
Emily the Strange goes along in the Goth girl hall of fame right next to Lydia Deetz. Yes, the Lydia Deetz.
This book is fast paced, witty, and funny. I read almost half of the entire book in about twenty minutes. That how much I like it.
Sure, it might be confusing at some parts, but truly, it all gets cleared up quite quickly. It's fast moving and there's a clear plot.
I'm pretty sure I'm going to give this book five stars. It's really a good read and I enjoy how Emily isn't a depressed cry baby.
She's one of the only heroines in YA novels that actually can do things without the help of a man.
Ah, Emily, you never fail to impress me.
April 25, 2012
Emily the strange is about a thirteen year old girl who loves cats. Emily loves to solve mysteries. This time she has to solve all these missions: try to lose her memory and then gain it back again and save her cousin Jakey from the place he is stuck with and much more. Emily is a bit pressured into solving all this but she loves a good challenge.
I think that Emily is a brave and independent girl. Sometimes you have to face your challenges on your own by being brave and strong even if it means putting yourself in danger. I think that Emily is a girl who can manage a lot of stuff that comes at her and be able to handle it without going insane. I really like Emily's personality even though it may not be like a normal teenage girl's personality. I think that the reason why I like her character so much is because she is different from other girls. She is not afraid of almost anything. She loves the dark and is not afraid of spiders. In fact she thinks it is cool. Her curious and determine mind is what makes her an intresting character in the book. I also think that because Emily is so curious and determined, she goes through very intresting and unique adventures and find something that can help her acomplish her mission.
I think that Emily is a brave and independent girl. Sometimes you have to face your challenges on your own by being brave and strong even if it means putting yourself in danger. I think that Emily is a girl who can manage a lot of stuff that comes at her and be able to handle it without going insane. I really like Emily's personality even though it may not be like a normal teenage girl's personality. I think that the reason why I like her character so much is because she is different from other girls. She is not afraid of almost anything. She loves the dark and is not afraid of spiders. In fact she thinks it is cool. Her curious and determine mind is what makes her an intresting character in the book. I also think that because Emily is so curious and determined, she goes through very intresting and unique adventures and find something that can help her acomplish her mission.
August 16, 2012
What can I say about Piece of Mind except that Emily the Strange has done it again! She's taking a well-deserved summer break to her ancestral home and she's hoping to find the black rock that has been her aunts' source of power. But mortal enemies are abound, including a girl that can wipe out memories. Has Emily finally met her match?
For a second here, I truly believed that Emily might not win her match against her arch-nemesis, Attikol but I was wrong. Emily isn't your typical girl; in fact, what I love about her is that unlike most YA heroines, she just won't get depressed, not for long anyway. She finds the problem and then does whatever she can to fix it. Her mind's brilliant and she's such an inspiration as well!
It's a bit of a bonus as well that there's no love interest in the series because really, it can get a little tiring at times. The illustrations are beautiful as usual. I'm sad that the series has come to an end but wow, it's been a great ride!
For a second here, I truly believed that Emily might not win her match against her arch-nemesis, Attikol but I was wrong. Emily isn't your typical girl; in fact, what I love about her is that unlike most YA heroines, she just won't get depressed, not for long anyway. She finds the problem and then does whatever she can to fix it. Her mind's brilliant and she's such an inspiration as well!
It's a bit of a bonus as well that there's no love interest in the series because really, it can get a little tiring at times. The illustrations are beautiful as usual. I'm sad that the series has come to an end but wow, it's been a great ride!
March 17, 2013
Piece of Mind by Rob Reger (and Jessica Gruner and Buzz Parker) is the forth and final book in the Harper Collins series. Dark Horse, though, is now publishing a three part comic about Emily and her cats trying to break into the music scene — from her basement.
In Piece of Mind, Emily is sent by the ghost of a Dark Aunt, back to the seaside town she visited in Dark Times. Her goal this time is to activate her Black Rock summoning powers before the Shady Uncles gain the power.
As this is the last book in this series, the rules of the world are finally spelled out both for Emily and for the reader. We've known about Dark Aunts and we've heard of Shady Uncles since the very beginning. But now what they are and how they relate to each other comes together.
It was a fun ending to the series. Throughout there are little homages to the previous books. But it's in no means a rehash of them.
In Piece of Mind, Emily is sent by the ghost of a Dark Aunt, back to the seaside town she visited in Dark Times. Her goal this time is to activate her Black Rock summoning powers before the Shady Uncles gain the power.
As this is the last book in this series, the rules of the world are finally spelled out both for Emily and for the reader. We've known about Dark Aunts and we've heard of Shady Uncles since the very beginning. But now what they are and how they relate to each other comes together.
It was a fun ending to the series. Throughout there are little homages to the previous books. But it's in no means a rehash of them.
May 30, 2012
Quirky story that I am sure the followers of this series enjoyed. This book seemed targeted towards tweens and younger teens. I liked the comic book/manga feel to it.
I really enjoyed Emily's sarcastic sense of humor and the story was easy, and fun, to follow. She was a fun character to read about and the story was interesting enough to hold my attention. I love how she had to do everything in 13's--she would make to do lists that had to include 13 items. I liked how this book had the girl power sort of theme to it, also.
It is refreshing to find a book that isn't filled with gobs of violence and bad language. I am going to recommend this series, and this author, to my 12 year-old niece because I think it is right up her alley. You should check it out, too.
review link: http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2012...
I really enjoyed Emily's sarcastic sense of humor and the story was easy, and fun, to follow. She was a fun character to read about and the story was interesting enough to hold my attention. I love how she had to do everything in 13's--she would make to do lists that had to include 13 items. I liked how this book had the girl power sort of theme to it, also.
It is refreshing to find a book that isn't filled with gobs of violence and bad language. I am going to recommend this series, and this author, to my 12 year-old niece because I think it is right up her alley. You should check it out, too.
review link: http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2012...
November 23, 2016
The Emily series has come to a close. I enjoyed it. It wasn't amazing, but it was entertaining and fun. I really enjoy Emily as a character. She's really quite fabulous. Though, in this book I was like "Really gurl... you don't know what your dark aunt talent is?" *raises eyebrow* So that was kind of dumb.
The third book was my favorite (no surprise... third books almost always tend to be my favorites in series), but this was a good wrap up to the series. I liked the twist with Attikol, though the ease of Emily getting Dottie to change her mind, in my opinion, was a little too convenient. But nonetheless, the pictures were fun (as always), the story was entertaining. Nice job Rob Reger and Jessica Gruner!
The third book was my favorite (no surprise... third books almost always tend to be my favorites in series), but this was a good wrap up to the series. I liked the twist with Attikol, though the ease of Emily getting Dottie to change her mind, in my opinion, was a little too convenient. But nonetheless, the pictures were fun (as always), the story was entertaining. Nice job Rob Reger and Jessica Gruner!
January 20, 2012
Ok, exams officially are evil! I can't believe it took me a week to read this book!
Anywho, as always, it rocked! I really wish this wasn't the last book! Emily has got to be one of the best characters ever. She is dark-ish and definitely strange, and totally out of this world....but somehow, she really fits! I love it! I love the new character introductions- I am proud to say I actually saw the Shady Uncle thing, as well as the Bright Girl bit- and I was ecstatic to get to see Jakey again! I wish we got more of him. Great series, I definitely need to buy it, and I really recommend it...not that I can quite think of the crowd I would recommend it to?
Awesome as always!
Anywho, as always, it rocked! I really wish this wasn't the last book! Emily has got to be one of the best characters ever. She is dark-ish and definitely strange, and totally out of this world....but somehow, she really fits! I love it! I love the new character introductions- I am proud to say I actually saw the Shady Uncle thing, as well as the Bright Girl bit- and I was ecstatic to get to see Jakey again! I wish we got more of him. Great series, I definitely need to buy it, and I really recommend it...not that I can quite think of the crowd I would recommend it to?
Awesome as always!
February 7, 2012
A wonderful mind indeed!
January 3, 2020
El libro anterior me gustó más, pero este fue una gran conclusión para esta gran saga.
Como siempre, es original y divertida. Son unos libros entretenidísimos.
Como siempre, es original y divertida. Son unos libros entretenidísimos.
March 8, 2019
Stále se mi líbí kresby, náčrty a jsem ráda za větší výskyt záznamů rozhovorů. Příběh utíkal svižným tempem a já se bavila.
Dost mě udivoval věk Jakeyho, protože se zdálo, že je o dost starší, nebo minimálně stejně starý jako Emily. Kvůli těm myšlenkovým pochodům i jeho vzhledu jsem to vážně nečekala, neboť měl i vyholenou hlavu, což jsem snad u takhle mladého kluka zatím neviděla.
Zajímalo by mě, kdy se vztah mezi Havranou a tamtím na U stihl vyvinou, protože Havrana se většinou držela při Emily, aby ji ochraňovala.
U toho dopisu mi bylo hned jasné, že byl falešný.
Hodnocení 76% Jazyk: Čj
Dost mě udivoval věk Jakeyho, protože se zdálo, že je o dost starší, nebo minimálně stejně starý jako Emily. Kvůli těm myšlenkovým pochodům i jeho vzhledu jsem to vážně nečekala, neboť měl i vyholenou hlavu, což jsem snad u takhle mladého kluka zatím neviděla.
Zajímalo by mě, kdy se vztah mezi Havranou a tamtím na U stihl vyvinou, protože Havrana se většinou držela při Emily, aby ji ochraňovala.
U toho dopisu mi bylo hned jasné, že byl falešný.
Hodnocení 76% Jazyk: Čj
November 2, 2020
This book isn’t as fun as the last one although I still really enjoyed it. Didn’t necessarily feel like an ending to a series but an ending to a singular book (much like the other books). Would have no problems re-reading these in the future. For someone who is meant to be incredibly smart, Emily missed quite a few things that I had picked out straight away but this isn’t a bad thing. I’m glad not all the pieces just fell into place for her. It made sure that there would be little twists and turns and obstacles along the way rather than everything magically going her way. Would recommend to anyone 8+ who enjoys fiction/young reads. A great book series to get children into reading I think.
August 12, 2018
La verdad no termine el libro, teia un buen recuerdo de esta saga al haber sido prácticamente la que me introdujo al mundo de la literatura juvenil. Tenia 11 y seguía en la sección de libros infantiles.
Los padres empezaban a verme raro.
Parte d mi quería terminar la saga ya que en su momento fueron buenos. Pero ahora que he crecido, leído y en si vivido mas... Son algo aburridos para mi.
Siempre les tendré cariño pero no los volveré a tocar básicamente.
Los padres empezaban a verme raro.
Parte d mi quería terminar la saga ya que en su momento fueron buenos. Pero ahora que he crecido, leído y en si vivido mas... Son algo aburridos para mi.
Siempre les tendré cariño pero no los volveré a tocar básicamente.
July 14, 2022
I would have given this 5 stars but this book series, unfortunately, use some language that I personally just don't like, they are very much products of their time. But I do love these books from when I was a child and the art style and the overall aesthetic is to die for, they are edgy but fun and Emily is so likable as a character. I used these books in my dissertation to showcase what it was like to integrate art and narrative.
May 18, 2024
The best book ever!! I read the other books, but this one was different, it really caught my attention and was easier to follow along with the story and understand what was going on. The plot is amazing, and what really caught my eye was the artwork! It's beautifully illustrated and ideal for anyone who likes Emily the Strange! 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
January 8, 2025
This is my far my most favorite in the "Emily the Strange" book series! Because of all that had happened in this last book of the series. From what I remember from reading this years ago was that I enjoyed the plot, I loved how Emily thought about what she was going to do and how she followed through. Nearly everything about this book was great!
September 7, 2025
Emily looks for her black rock inheritance while thwarting Attikol who wants to steal her power and Dottie who wants to steal her thoughts.
It was okay. Emily goes back to Seasidetown and helps Jakey along the way, but it doesn't have the same addictive intrigue that was there in its predecessors. It's a good enough ending for the series though. I like Dark Times the most.
It was okay. Emily goes back to Seasidetown and helps Jakey along the way, but it doesn't have the same addictive intrigue that was there in its predecessors. It's a good enough ending for the series though. I like Dark Times the most.
June 29, 2024
This was a lovely ending to the series.
Emily has come into her powers properly. She's defeated her big (minor) evil nemesis. Raven and Jackey got their own happy endings. It was everything you could want.
This was easier for me to get through, but still bone dry in places. Still a cute little read. A nice little series. Good for that weird girl coming into her own powers.
Emily has come into her powers properly. She's defeated her big (minor) evil nemesis. Raven and Jackey got their own happy endings. It was everything you could want.
This was easier for me to get through, but still bone dry in places. Still a cute little read. A nice little series. Good for that weird girl coming into her own powers.
December 13, 2018
Good four-book series about the strange adventures of Emily the Strange, as told by Emily in her journal.
January 30, 2019
Awesome end to this little series! Although I am still left with questions - like how can Emily be a Dark Aunt if she doesn't have any siblings?!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2020
More fun adventures with Emily and her cats.
August 20, 2021
Ah, she's everything I ever wanted to be
November 28, 2024
A lot of things might be confusing if you don't read the prequels. I'm only here to enjoy the illustrations.
January 13, 2025
Cute, fun, quirky!
December 4, 2025
I dont think findinf the predecessors will help me wenjoy this
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews