Emmy and the Maw of Time: A Girl's Life from the 40's and 50's

Life has some shocks and surprises in store for Emmy, a child of the Baby Boomer generation who grows up in the vanished America of the '40s and '50s-when time moved more slowly and people knew their neighbors; when family life was held up as the ideal and girls had fewer choices. Emmy and the Maw of Time introduces a bright, resilient child as she enters a world where she'll have to fight to find her place; she gets into trouble again and again as she navigates adventures with school, playmates, hobos, and boyfriends. Despite her ups and downs, Emmy's life compass is sure and strong: she knows what kind of person she is. She admires her kind and competent neighbor, Louise, and wants to be like her when she grows up. Her heroine is Amelia Earhart. And the loving center of her life is her beloved father. But everything changes for Emmy when she is 14 and her father dies. Devastated and lost, Emmy has to learn to call on her deepest strengths to get through the trauma of his death. Passed back and forth among family members from California to the East Coast, Emmy faces the ultimate test when she has to go to live with her least-favorite sister. Funny, touching, realistic, and engaging, Emmy and the Maw of Time is a charming and compelling trip back in time.