Ask Emma

By Sheryl Berk, Carrie Berk

Part of the Ask Emma series

A teen's advice blog spirals into chaos, testing her resolve and friendships.

3.9/5 Goodreads · 133 ratings

192 pages· 25,448 words· Est. 3.5 hour read

$16.99Save 6%

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Bookroo's summary

Thirteen-year-old Emma Woods starts an advice blog to help classmates with friendship and school issues. But when her peers' demands grow unreasonable and anonymous comments turn nasty, Emma's good intentions backfire. Can she navigate the chaos, find her voice, and stand up for her beliefs before her blog implodes?

From the publisher

Emma Woods knows just how to fix all her peers’ problems-or so she thinks-in this first book in the brand-new middle grade series Ask Emma, from the bestselling creators behind the Cupcake Club series! When 13-year-old Emma Woods gets that tingling feeling in her fingertips, she knows she’s on to a great idea-and starting an advice blog for her classmates at Austen Middle may be one of her most brilliant ones yet! Who better to give advice on friendship, style, school, and even crushes than someone who’s going through it too? But when Ask Emma goes live, she quickly realizes not everyone sees it that way. Suddenly, Emma is bombarded with peers asking her to help them postpone quizzes, get out of detention, and cut gym class short. This wasn’t exactly what she had in mind. . . .What’s worse, someone is posting hurtful comments, telling her to mind her own business. Despite her good intentions, Emma’s blog seems to only be getting her-and her friends–deeper and deeper into trouble. Will Ask Emma come to an end before it’s really begun? Or can Emma find her voice, write what’s in her heart, and truly stand up for what she believes in? This book will include an appendix on cyberbullying resources.

At a glance

Format
Pages: 192
Words: 25,448
Reading age: 8–12
Audience: Middle Grade
Lexile: 620L

Themes & topics

Books about helping others Books about friendship Books about love Books about school Books about bravery

Good to know

Stories behind the story

How did you come up with the idea for Ask Emma?

When I was 12-years-old, I was cyberbullied on social media. A few times, when I was feeling proud of a photo I posted on my Instagram feed, someone tried to knock me down with mean comments, writing “You’re ugly” and “You’re not talented” for everyone to see. Around the same time, I watched the movie Clueless for the first time with my mom. As the credits rolled, I told my mom how I really loved the film but thought it was a little outdated. In today’s world, I could envision Cher as an advice blogger. My mom loves Jane Austen’s Emma (which Clueless is based on), so we decided to combine our interests into Ask Emma, about a middle school advice blogger who wants to fix her peers’ problems but winds up facing online bullies. The words are written straight from my heart and soul, which is why I feel that tweens and teens can relate so much to Emma.

For readers who can't stop at one