…Gunnery nicely captures the way families really are, the sweet, mundane and strained interactions of everyday life.
A longtime N.S. junior and senior high school teacher, Gunnery deftly handles the interactions among Emily, her schoolmates and teachers and her best friend Jenn, as well as giving credibility to Emily as the narrator.
Emily for Real is a satisfying read for teens who will root for Emily as she faces the challenges of friendship and families and growing up.
–Pam Sword, The Chronicle Herald