“Aptly set amid the hippie ambiance of Berkeley, Calif., and peopled by offbeat, but believable characters, Fitzmaurice’s story deftly mingles Dickinson, Danielle Steel, a budding crush, and protesting tree sitters while maintaining suspense that leads to a satisfying ending.” - Publishers Weekly
“A sweet book that should appeal to fans of Wendy Mass, Joan Bauer, Sharon Creech, and the like.” - School Library Journal
“There’s a proto-romance with classmate Connor Kelly, attention paid to environmental issues and some interesting poetry, but the focus is squarely on Emily’s growing self-determination. Emotionally, her story rings true. Readers will applaud Emily’s newfound understanding of the workings of destiny and might even follow her lead.” - Kirkus Reviews
“Emily’s exploration of fate is intriguingly presented, and a happy ending comes about through both Emily’s choices and pure luck, leaving readers with the pleasantly paradoxical idea that fate is both beyond and within one’s control...Emily is a strong and likable heroine.” - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“Emily’s engaging first-person narrative chronicles her daily life, her wonderfully quirky family, her musings on fate, her growing sense of self, and her one-way correspondence with her favorite writer, Danielle Steel. The book’s idyllically happy ending may have its critics, but most young readers will find it entirely satisfying.” - ALA Booklist
