Emma and the E Club by Suzanne Schlosberg

Author

Emma and the E Club

Suzanne Schlosberg with Steve Hodges M.D., author

Emma and the E Club is the world’s first, only, and funniest middle-grade novel for kids who struggle with enuresis (bedwetting or daytime pee accidents) or encopresis (poop accidents). Tackling a challenging topic with compassion, humor, and medical accuracy, authors Suzanne Schlosberg and Steve Hodges, M.D., provide comfort and hope for kids dealing with conditions that are 1.) misunderstood, 2.) never a child’s fault and 3.) entirely treatable. As one 9-year-old reader put it, “The book made me feel so much better about my situation.” Emma Easly is an extrovert and a word enthusiast — she’s collected 1,038 E words, to be exact. Emma also happens to have enuresis and encopresis. For years, Emma’s accidents were an enigma—a.k.a. a mystery. But one epic day, the eccentric Dr. Pooper enlightens her. Suddenly, everything makes sense: her bedwetting, her stomachaches, her entire life. When Emma discovers Charlotte has enuresis, too, together they establish the E Club. They even entice Lucas to join, no easy endeavor. The club’s mission is to eradicate— a.k.a. wipe out—enuresis and encopresis, so no kid ever has to wear pull-ups to a sleepover. But how? Emma has a plan.

Reviews

For most kids, bathroom-related accidents are too embarrassing to discuss, but that’s not the case for 10-year-old Emma Easly. In Schlosberg’s entertaining, conversational book for middle-grade readers, Emma openly discusses her struggles with enuresis, which she helpfully defines as “pee accidents,” and encopresis, or “poop accidents,” to help other kids feel less ashamed of what are actually common problems. Along with her friends from school, Emma has created the E Club, which gives other young people with the same issues a place to feel like they belong. She also collects words that start with E, which are highlighted throughout and listed at the end along with a series of word games.

The best part of this surprisingly lighthearted tale is Emma’s sparkling personality, which makes reading this book feel like talking to a close friend. Emma may be the CEO of the E Club, but her medical conditions don’t define her—she’s smart, funny, and ambitious, declaring that she aspires to be “employed as an essayist.” She’s also capable, independent, and the best goalie on the soccer team, and she knows an impressive number of euphemisms for pooping, many of which she hilariously shares with her new doctor. Seeing that Emma is just a normal kid will help children with similar concerns look more closely at their own positive qualities.

The story is accompanied by Beech’s black-and-white illustrations, which are meant to look as though Emma could have sketched them herself. The pictures primarily show people and places from Emma’s life and imagination, such as Emma being carried on a palanquin and coining herself “the exalted empress of the enema empire” after she masters a new type of treatment for her constipation. Ultimately this book serves as a reminder that accidents are never a kid’s fault and that solutions do exist—but in the meantime, friendship and humor can help, too.

Takeaway: This entertaining, conversational story shows kids with enuresis and encopresis they’re not alone.

Great for fans of: Tracey J. Vessillo’s I Can’t, I Won’t, No Way!, Howard J. Bennett’s It Hurts When I Poop!.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

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