Gemma [Paperback]

Meg Tilly (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2006

After Hazen Wood kidnaps 12 year-old Gemma Sullivan, the two embark upon a cross-country journey that tests the limits of Gemma's endurance. In graphic scenes of physical and sexual violence, Hazen tries to destroy the young girl's will. It is only Gemma's childlike resilience and fertile imagination that protect her from the worst of the abuse she suffers. And in the end, the healing power of unconditional love gives Gemma the courage to speak out against her abuser at last--reclaiming her dignity as a human being.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Tilly's second novel arrives more than a decade after Singing Songs and more than two decades after the author's defining roles as Chloe in The Big Chill and as the title character of Agnes of God. But Tilly's not wasting any time—less than halfway through the first chapter, her 12-year-old title character is well into graphic descriptions of the systematic rape she's endured since she was eight. By the end of chapter two, she's been kidnapped by the man to whom her mother's boyfriend had nonchalantly sold her for sex. And by the end of chapter three, he's been collared in turn by the criminal justice system. The second half of the book sees Gemma taken in by a generous and capable foster mother who grew up with similar abuse, and who encourages her to tell her story at trial. Tilly leaves them awaiting a verdict. While this is in some ways an effective novel, its directness has a lot in common with social services pamphlets and with child pornography. Its intentional artlessness may be valuable to those who have been through the worst and are recovering, but for unwary readers lured by the sunny pink cover, and particularly for young readers untouched by these issues, it presents real NC-17 horrors. (Oct. 1)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Actor turned writer Tilly's first novel, Singing Songs (1994), is narrated by a young girl who survives sexual violence, as is her second. Clearly, sexual child abuse is a cause, and that results in a hint of agitprop. At the other extreme is rampant graphic detail. That said, Gemma is an astonishingly vital and involving character. She is first raped at age 8 by Buddy, her despicable mother's live-in boyfriend. When Gemma turns 12, Buddy pimps her to another psycho, Hazen Wood, who kidnaps Gemma and sets out on a cross-country rape-and-torture spree. Tilly has entered Joyce Carol Oates' country, where preyed-upon girls survive by virtue of the power of their minds. Gemma teaches herself to "Gemma travel," a form of meditation that allows her to separate her mind from her body. Girlish cuteness alternates with sexual violence, highlighting the horror of the crimes Tilly so unflinchingly imagines. Tilly achieves moments of raw beauty and genuine fierceness while sustaining the intensity of an X-rated thriller and driving this harrowing story all the way to the courtroom. Donna Seaman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 274 pages
• Publisher: Syren Book Company (October 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0929636619
• ISBN-13: 978-0929636610
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,339,070 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Though fiction, one wonders about the collective grains of truth behind this tale., January 12, 2007

By 

Carolyn Rowe Hill "author of 'The Dead Angel" (Ann Arbor, Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gemma (Paperback)

There was a point fairly early on in this book that I seriously considered not finishing it. The explicit details of the horrible sexual abuse being endured by a young twelve-year-old girl were almost more than I could bear. First, Gemma is sexually abused by her unloving mother's boyfriend who then sells her services to a man named Hazen Wood. Wood then kidnaps Gemma and they travel around the country until Gemma is rescued by the police and develops a mutually caring relationship with the detective (Cindy) who had literally grabbed her out of the grasping arms of her kidnapper. There are some endearing moments in the latter pages of the book as Gemma and Cindy's relationship develops and Gemma realizes the painful truth about her mother.

Gemma is written in a stream of consciousness format from the victim's point of view and that of the perpetrator (kind of like A Million Little Pieces only with paragraphs). The descriptions of Gemma's abuse are graphic and agonizing to read. It makes one wonder how many other young girls...boys, too...are being subjected to such horrors every moment of every day. The mind of the perp is frightening to behold. The way he justifies his sick behavior is frightening, indeed. We can't know what actually goes on in another person's mind, but it is terrifying to even imagine that what Tilly wrote as thoughts in Wood's head could be real.

We get a glimpse into Hazen's upbringing through his thoughts and memories about his grandmother (positive) and his mother (negative). As in Tilly's earlier work, Singing Songs, there is very little detail provided nor is there much in the way of character development, probably due, primarily, to the story's stream of consciousness style. Only the two major characters' thoughts are provided with minor allusions to/descriptions of time and place.

There were a few instances in Gemma where I thought circumstances described or references made were questionable with reference to the timeframe in which the story was told. I will not note them here. Each reader can decide for him/herself about these issues, if they notice them. If you decide to read this book, be prepared to have some strong feelings about the events that take place.

Carolyn Rowe Hill

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shocking, but Heartwarming!!!, October 12, 2006

By 

Bex "mrsbex" (Texas, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gemma (Paperback)

At first I wasn't sure I could handle the content of the story, however I plowed through. I am more informed and aware as a parent and I am thankful for Meg Tilly's uncensored frankness.

Gemma is a 12 year old girl who is "sold" to another man by her mother's boyfriend for $100. The story follows Gemma through the kidnapping and sexual horror to which he subjects Gemma. It is told in points of view of both Gemma and her kidnapper, Hazen.

Gemma, though beaten down, literally, and abused beyond comprehension, shows unbeleivable resilience. The reader cannot help but "cheer" for each of Gemma's attempts toward escape and survival.

The book is very graphic and may offend some with it's sexual content. However, it is necessary for adults to hear first-hand what is being done to children in our country...we have to make it stop.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Graphic but important, July 30, 2007

By 

R. Bullock (Phila, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gemma (Paperback)

This was a very hard book to read. Once I encountered the graphic depictions of the abuse Gemma suffered, I really didn't want to keep reading. However, the way this story was told kept me going. I will admit that I'm typically skeptical when I see a novel that has been written by someone who is a celebrity in other mediums - especially actors. But Tilly is a gifted storyteller, and I am sorry for ever having a single doubt in my mind.

The very sad thing is that while this was fiction, events like these happen to children all around the world, every day. It's happening right this minute. Being made aware of that, makes me want to do what I can to help.

Recommended, especially if you have children.