| Title | : | Empty |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1442453591 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781442453593 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 241 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 2013 |
Then the one person she trusts betrays her. Dell is beyond devastated. Without anyone to turn to for comfort, her depression and self-loathing spin out of control. But just how far will she go to make all of the heartbreak and name-calling stop?
Empty Reviews
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Fair warning: I found this book insensitive, offensive, and sensational without making the point it intended to make.
No rating.
Dell's fat. 286 pounds, size 24 fat. This wasn't always the way though. It happened when her dad cheated on her mom with Donna, and her parents marriage fell apart. Mom's become a prescription drug abuser, sold the lovely house they once lived in, and now Dell, her mom, and toddler sister Meggie live in an apartment in the poor part of town. Mom works two jobs to make things happen.
Dell's fat. She reminds us of this. But this story is not about how the divorce impacts Dell. It's not about how her father's remarriage to the woman who tore apart her parent's relationship impacts Dell emotionally. It's not about how her mom's drug abuse impacts her. This is all about how Dell got to be a fat girl, and it's all about how being fat is her only defining quality. It is about her fat, not about her.
Dell's fat. This means everyone at school makes fun of her. It means that she's only got one friend, and that friend is kinda shitty. It means that she's asked by peers to moo and act like a sumo wrestler-cow for their entertainment because that's all the fat girl is -- entertainment. It means she's invited to parties not because she's being invited to have fun with classmates but so they can further humiliate her. So Brandon can take her upstairs and show her funny sumo wrestling videos on YouTube (since that's what kids do at parties -- they think of those funny fat people YouTube videos to show to fat people and haha, isn't it funny being fat?). It means
Dell's fat. That means she can't be on the softball team anymore because she's not in shape anymore. It means she can't work at the local day care where her sister goes everyday because "it's a little tight in here, Dell, and we wouldn't want it to be uncomfortable." It means that Dell doesn't believe she might have a good singing voice (ever notice how fat girls always have good singing voices, like that's their one redeeming quality?). It means that even when she has the chance at the talent show to dazzle the audience with her singing, she can't because there's no way she has a nice enough outfit to wear and there's no way anyone would want to hear the fat girl sing. But then, her bad-friend Cara convinces her to do it. To sing. To perform.
This is a book about Dell's body. Never about Dell. She is literally nothing more than her fat. Where there was incredible opportunity to delve into the emotional challenges of the things she was going through -- divorce, bullying, adjusting to an entirely new lifestyle -- instead, her body becomes the mode of message delivery.
Her coach cuts her from the team because she's fat. Never does the coach offer to help her through getting back into physical shape. Never does the coach step in and ask if Dell needs help. It's just a smooth cut. End of it. Because she's fat. The problem herein is that this is the one thing we know about Dell: she was an athlete. She loved to play. She puts up the defenses early on saying she did it because her dad loved her doing it and it made her happy to see him happy with her playing. So now that the one thing we ever get to know about Dell is taken from her because of her fat body, she is nothing more than a fat body.
Dell doesn't have friends because she's fat. She knows Cara is looking for other friends because ugh, hanging out with the fat girl is a drag. Here's the thing -- Dell is a drag because she is ONLY EVER A FAT GIRL. She's the victim of her tormenting only, only, ONLY because of her body. Which begs the question from me as a reader of what this school must look like. Is no one else fat at all? Is it just her? And how come no one ever stopped to get this girl help? I know bullying doesn't work that easily, but if mom was concerned about Dell's body (and she is -- she demeans her regularly about this), why does she continue buying crap food for her daughter to inhale?
When we get to the final chapter, when Dell is finally at her wit's end with being fat While it is utterly believable that she'd never seek help on her own -- that happens -- the fact the only thing she ever is and ever is tormented for is her fatness, her body is the medium of message deliver. It is the message in and of itself. It's not Dell. There is no Dell here. There's Dell's body, and for things to improve for anyone,
This is a one-dimensional, problematic book. There's no character development and no emotional arc. While it's unbelievable that The writing is also weak and at times utterly sensational. We get the blow-by-blow of how much food Dell's consuming, how it makes her feel inside, and how eating the food happens (when things drip down her face, the way her mouth so thoughtfully catches it, and so forth). By focusing so much attention on the act of eating, the act of consuming, the act of growing and living with a fat, it sensationalizes the body. It makes the fatness an even more troubling message here.
This is one of the most problematic books I've read in a long time. Want a book about the challenges of dealing with parents going through a divorce and thus thrusting change within a main character's life? Kody Keplinger's A MIDSUMMER'S NIGHTMARE is one of the best. Want a book about being bullied because of fatness but where the character is actually a character and not just fat? Pick up Erin Jade Lange's BUTTER. This is a let down following Walton's debut, CRACKED, which handled bullying in such a thoughtful way and offered two fully-developed characters who were more than their situations.
Longer review here:
http://www.stackedbooks.org/2013/01/e... -
A very shocking novel, this one. Yet, as the author pointed out in the end notes, she didn't write a book to shock, she wrote a realistic book on teenage bullying and how it can inflict self deprecation to the point of depression. These are the types of books that teenagers can get something out of. Bullying is not uncommon, and you CAN get help. You can talk to someone about what is happening to you. High school is the hardest, and often lowest, point in some people's lives, thus I'm always satisfied when a book can be so incredibly moving, as well as possibly help those in a similar situation through impossible times.
Empty is the perfect title for this novel, as this is how I felt when I was reading it. Empty. Emptiness for her detrimental self portrayal. Emptiness for her lack of confidence. Emptiness for her loneliness. My heart felt sorrow and pain for this beautiful person who just couldn't see her true self; who she could be. After her father left, Dell turned to food. An excessive amount of food that was matched by an excessive weight gain. Losing her spot on the baseball team is only the beginning of the consequences. Though it's funny--in a very depressing way--that most of the consequences is caused by her attitude. Dell feels like she's losing everything and everybody, making her efforts at dieting a far away thought. Eating, like smoking or drinking, is one of the ways people use to cope with the stresses of life. and this book really shows how this can become the end-all to a once healthy young girl. The more she ate, the lesser she thought of herself, making her want to binge even more. A never ending circle. This is why I could understand her even when her obsession became borderline irritating. You can't just assume she's able to stop, or to control it, even when she knows what it's doing to her. Professional help is what she needs to achieve this. So yes, her self deprecation is excessive, and yes she's incredibly hard on herself, yet she continues in her bad ways, but this is a realistic portrayal of such a situation.
Such a story needs a lot of emotional output, and for this you need well developed characters. Despite her depression, Dell is a very sweet person. The way she takes care of her sister is admirable. I loved the bond that she shared with this toddler, and having a toddler myself, I could easily relate. I also found her secondary characters to be very distinct. You have the best friend, the popular crowd, the jerks, but they aren't just cut personalities to fit the story, they felt real to me; I felt the impact every single one of these people had on Dell.
Frustrating on many levels, this book makes you feel helpless. Every single one of you will want to help her. You will scream at her to realize what she is doing to herself. You will yell obscenities at her destructive thoughts. But in the end, the only thing you will feel is empty. This is both a warning, and a recommendation.
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An advance copy was provided by the publisher for review.
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at
Xpresso Reads
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I read it in one sitting. It was so powerful and moving and, even though I read reviews that say it's way too unbelievable, I felt it was SO real! Not all people can take the same amount of pressure, of bullying, and problems in their lifes, so we're in no position to judge how she handled the way she felt.
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"I did not write this book to sensationalise or shock. I intended Dell's story to serve as a window into her soul - the soul of a broken human being. I wanted you, precious reader, to feel the pain of the bullied, the neglected, the heartbroken and the humiliated. I wanted you to experience the absolute power of words - whether said or typed online. Words count."
- Author's Note, K.M. Walton, Empty
Those few short lines summarise all my feelings about Empty, both good and bad. The pain at the centre of this novel is bleak and total: Dell's parents have split up, her father has revealed himself to be a selfish asshole who won't pay child support or give any attention to either of his daughters, they are stuck in a grim hovel while Dell's mother spends all their money on pills, Dell eats her feelings, she's cut from the softball team, she has one friend, who is on the brink of ditching her for The Popular Girls. It sounds like a lot, but it is credit to Walton's clear talent that she interlinks the cause and effect to make it an almost unbearably realistic picture.
Dell is a good heroine. She's very well-depicted, full of loneliness and despair, but a preciously optimistic person. She's not perfect, but she is highly likeable, sympathetic and realistic. I really couldn't put this book down, and it's thanks to Walton's good, fluid writing, Dell's engaging voice and the compelling awfulness of the picture she paints. Warning: it's not a book you can enjoy reading, but that doesn't mean it's not a good one.
But then comes the plot. I am going to reveal a lot of it here, but I'm keeping the ending a secret, which is why I'm not covering my review with spoiler tags. If you wanted to read Empty and you feel like you have been spoiled by my review, fear not, because this is much more of an inward than outward focused book. The plot is not all that important.
If you read a reasonable selection of contemporary YA, you will be familiar with Empty. I hate typing this because it's obvious from the Author's Note that this is a book that Walton considers very Important (and I don't mean that in a pretentious way), and I suppose it is, but I couldn't really feel any of it.
Excuse me for my coldness, though, because there was literally nothing original about the plot of Empty. Dell is date-raped by the most popular and handsome guy in school, whom she thinks she likes. (Hello, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, imagine seeing you around these parts...) Dell binge-eats and struggles with her body image and weight gain, especially against her totally unsympathetic family. (I'm getting a little bit of déjà vu from The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler...which also features rape as a significant plot point...) Her parents have divorced and her dad is behaving like a total asshole. (Try Just As Long as We're Together by Judy Blume or Mice...) Dell's best friend is on the brink of ditching her for the popular girls (try every YA book ever, but since I'm currently pulling these from my own reading history, let's go with Pretty Twisted by Gina Blaxill...and Speak again...). And that message about how much "words count" was much more darkly, intensely and meaningfully imparted by What Happened to Cass McBride?
Quite frankly, though, the book that I couldn't help thinking of as I was turning the pages would be Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers. Popular girl is very almost raped by her best friend's boyfriend and, when said "best friends" find out, they make her life a living hell in very similar ways to what the totally cardboard popular girls do: cruel comments about her on social networking sites, public humiliation and bitchy notes. Some Girls Are has a very similar bent but, frankly, it's far better. I understand that nothing is original, but in Empty, nothing is even slightly original. By being so obviously connected to other YA novels, Empty shows up its own shortcomings, and it's not a flattering comparison.
I did feel strongly connected to Walton's attack on the in-built concept in society that rape victims are always pretty and skinny. As much as anybody who's ever been to a Health class can recite to you: "rape is about power not sex, rapeisaboutpowernotsex" but it doesn't change the fact that even shows like Law & Order or Veronica Mars always suggest that rape victims are conventionally attractive. Well, that's why they get raped, right? Of course not, but it doesn't stop that portrayal of rape and rape victims becoming embedded in pop culture. Howeverrrr...I've also read that message before, in Amanda Davis's Wonder When You'll Miss Me which, like Empty, features a teenage girl who is raped by a guy she has a crush on. It's just so goddamn familiar, and that stops it from being truly meaningful.
This is only highlighted by the ending, which I predict will cause controversy. It's quite a wham, unexpected by me, but I found it manipulative and totally unearned. One of the problems with how Empty leans on such familiar YA tropes is that you can't help comparing them to others. As awful as the bullying Dell undergoes is, it's nothing in comparison to the crazily intense cyber, mental and physical torture of Regina Afton in Some Girls Are. As terrible as the rape is, her feelings about it are nowhere near as intense and tear-jerking as Melinda Sordino's in Speak. As emotionally involving as her struggles with her body are, they're not as interesting as Virginia's in The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things. Walton is definitely an author to watch, but I'd recommend this more to people who haven't read a great amount of YA literature, because it can just feel hackneyed to someone who has. As horrible as this is, I found myself thinking, "c'mon, girl, it could always be worse...what are a few bitchy comments in a private Facebook session in comparison to a hate site which the entire school joins?" (especially when you've read worse in better novels).
If this book changes the opinion or the outlook of just one person, it's worth it. But it didn't change mine. -
Wow, what an amazing, relatable, and powerful story. Adele, a 17 year old overweight high school student, falls into a deep, dark depression after her father cheats on and divorces her mother. Her once perfect, athletic, skinny life, now ruined falls apart around her. Not only does Adele have to deal with the problems of home life she deals with bullying and horrific comments about her weight made by her classmates. When things couldn't get any worse Adele is accused of raping the jock of her high school when in reality it was him who raped her. Enough is enough and Adele has to take action. I won't tell you more because I would ruin the ending.
A must read for any middle school or high school student. The author really captures the every day happenings of a high school teen and what Adele is going through. A truly remarkable story. My heart really went out to Adele and I wanted to go through the book and just hug her and tell her everything will be fine. I think this should be mandatory read for all students, maybe then readers will understand that words really do hurt. -
I removed my original review because, looking back on it, my intention is to help authors grow. Just because I did not like this book and found parts of it unlikable does not mean there is no hope for it. I’m also trying to grow as a reviewer and see the better in things instead of just focusing on the negatives.
(Still not changing my rating though 😅) -
Books involving fat protagonists are an incredibly hard sell for me. I've never read a YA book that got it right without sensationalizing it, or grossly exaggerating some of the more "disgusting" details just for shock value. Empty's one of those books, and it made me vaguely uncomfortable the entire time I was reading it. Not the "good" sort of uncomfortable, where you want to keep reading and be unsettled, but the bad kind of uncomfortable, where you can tell you're reading a book by someone who doesn't get it. If you spent your teenage years (or any years) being fat, I think you might understand. The way it's portrayed across the board is frustrating and makes you wonder if the people responsible have ever spent any time with someone that's fat.
It's hard not to look at books a little personally when they're on things that you've experienced. For me, Empty didn't feel real. At all. Dell's attitude and character was completely wrapped in the the fact that she'd gone from a size 10 to a size 24 in a short time, and her every waking second was consumed by the experience of being fat. There seems to be nothing else in Dell's life other than her god-awful attitude, her shallow emotions, and oh, right she can sing. Because Dell fits right into the mold of countless other weak YA books in which the character is defined by two things:
1. Their "issue"
2. Their one hobby
It happens in books all the time, and it's something I've grown wary of over the years. It feels like they're produced on an assembly line. Take some issue that teenagers can relate to, and pick one thing they can be good at. Mix together some emotions, and you've got a protagonist who doesn't reflect either with any accuracy. The "issue" seems wooden, and the "hobby" comes off planned, expected even. Teens are not defined by their issues, and I wish that books would stop letting this happen. They're not defined by their one or two hobbies (unless those hobbies are really that they're elite gymnasts or Olympic-level athletes, and even then, Lauren Tanner liked scheming as much as she likes gymnastics).
Dell has gained a significant amount of weight, and her parents are horrible to her. Dad abandoned her, and Mom is more interested in her pills than her daughter. But they both have plenty of time to snap at their daughter and remind her that she's fat. Really, everyone is horrible to her. Being fat has stripped all of Dell's self-confidence, her voice, her ability to control her emotions and her physical nature. Being fat takes up all of Dell's life and time, being fat takes up every page of this book. It takes up emotional space, it takes up all of the conversations she has, it weighs on Dell's mind every second of every day -- and that's not supposed to be a cute joke about being fat. There is nothing to her character the doesn't revolve around it, and we're reminded all the time.
That's not how being fat works. Even for a teenage girl. It's like the book is about Dell's fat, rather than Dell. I'm not griping because it's not sending the right "message" to readers, I'm bothered because it's an inauthentic portrayal of a young girl that creates a wall between the character and the reader. If K.M. Walton wanted to tell the story of a bullied, misunderstood, broken young girl as she states in her saccharine author's note, she failed. She told a story about a teenager's fat body, and how it ruined everything.
We have a plot to the story that will remind the avid YA reader of several other books that came first. Dell is sexually assaulted by her friend's boyfriend. The second people find out, they turn their bully radar to her and make her life a living hell. To that note, what I did like about this book is that we are reminded, finally, that survivors of these types of assault are not just one type of person -- despite what TV and movies and other books would like us to believe, it happens to any kind of person, not just "the beautiful people." I think that if the author had focused more on that than the other things I've talked about, this book would have been so much stronger. If Dell was given a character, rather than an issue, it could have worked.
As much as that might have been important for the author to get out in the open, it's hidden under miles of things that make Dell, and the story, completely unlikable. There's a talent showcase, Dell's supposed to sing for it. Her best friend's on the verge of ditching her for the popular crowd. Because we are firmly in YA land, where this happens to every other girl. It's not just Dell whose character suffers. Her best friend is portrayed as weak-minded and vapid, like so many other "best friends" before her.
Empty is at its core, a story that pulls the melodramatic bits and pieces from other books, and attempts to make them its own. This can work. Unfortunately, the writing is not strong enough to make this one stand out, the wooden characters are effortlessly forgettable, and the ending? Yeah, the title is rather accurate. -
I have to say that EMPTY is one of the most tragic, gritty, raw and realistic stories that I have ever read. This is a story of a girl that has absolutely no self-esteem, no self worth, no respect for herself. Dell is a 16 year old high school student that deals with many, many issues throughout the book. One of Dell's biggest problems is that she is severely overweight. Like obese. Now, Dell wasn't always so heavy, most of the weight packed on as her life spiraled more and more down hill beginning in Middle School when her father left their family for another woman. Dell is so deeply hurt by this and the super close relationship with her father that no longer exists, she starts binge eating to make herself feel whole again. Of course that doesn't actually work but it feels the hollow, empty feeling she has inside of her for a very brief time. Dell's home life is one of a true nightmare honestly. Her mother has completely fallen apart since her husband left her. She has become addicted to prescription drugs, completely ignores Dell and leaves the largest responsibility of all for Dell to deal with. Her baby sister. Still in diapers, not able to do anything for herself. Thank goodness too young still to realize what a crazy mess her parents have really become. Dell's life at school is not much different from her home life. She goes every day with a fake smile on her face, making horrifying jokes about herself before others can beat her to it and then laughing along with them like it doesn't bother her. Yet all the while, she is slowly dying inside and feels that she has absolutely no one to share her feelings and fears with. Not even her so-called best friend. Yeah, the same best friend she's had for years. The same best friend that doesn't stick up for her and doesn't really talk with her. Really, it's just the best friend that seems to be the best friend because it's convenient. While watching all of the horrors that Dell had to live through on a daily basis made me hurt inside for the child she never got to be, the teenager she never will be and the adult that may become as hateful and/or miserable as her own parents. Dell's story is one that unfortunately happens in many homes all over the world and that honestly breaks my heart. When I finished reading EMPTY, I could not just go on with my life as if everything were normal. I could not stop thinking of her and how simply wrong it was for her to have a life as she did. EMPTY will move you in so many ways, you will be thankful for the life you have, for the love and friendships you have. Dell's story is honest, brutal, harrowing, thought provoking and truly breathtaking. Walton has written a story that is tragic and very memorable. Dell's story will stay with me always. I encourage anyone and everyone to read it. Maybe some will actually see that the sun doesn't shine all the time for every one.
"EMPTY is Dell's story.
Dell's story is important.
Dell is in desperate pain.
Her pain is in her soul. Her heart. Her very skin." -
Holy f'en hell!
This......what the fuck did I just read! This has......man I have no f'en words.
That. Ending.
What. The. Actual. Fuck.
Yes I swore. Im not big on swearing. But this has seriously messed with my head.
The whole way through I was thinking that the fat shaming was the worst thing about this story. But boy was I wrong. I dont mean 'worst' as in its a bad story. Its not. It is extremely relatable for me. I may not be obese or morbidity obese but her thoughts I know too well. I was not prepared for that ending. No way holy shit no way.
Nope. I need another book. Preferably one about rainbows and where everyone is happy and there are kittens everywhere. My brain needs to run away from this book. Far away. Its too real. -
Harrowing, powerful and dark, Empty is, quite simply, an unforgettable read. It's a story of a girl who founds herself in a downward spiral of depression. A bleak and disturbing tale of desperation, bullying, rejection, self-loathing, betrayal, abuse and negligence. An irrefutably authentic, utterly engrossing and supremely readable novel that will leave you tear-streaked and emotionally drained. You absolutely can't afford to miss it.
Dell is overweight. Since last summer she has gained over 70 pounds. Her life is a big mess. When her father checked out on her and her mom, Dell's "emotional eating" started. She turned to food for comfort and stress relief. Unsurprisingly, this has only made matters worse. Her weight quickly became an out-of-control problem, resulting in even more stress. Her plans for the future and carrier dreams were shattered when she got cut from the school's softball team. The only thing that's keeping her alive is her best friend, Cara, but she, too, seems to be getting more and more distant. Between problems at home and being ostracised at school, Dell finds herself in a very dark place. She is a tough girl. She puts on a brave face and pretends all the cruel jokes, mean remarks, stares and name-calling don't bother her, but on the inside she is crumbling.
Wow, what an incredibly affecting novel! I feel like my heart has been wrung out like a Shamwow! This one here is going on my-top-favorite shelf and I can definitely see myself coming back to it over and over again.
Dell's narrative voice is raw, realistic and infused with real emotions. She makes witty jokes and hides behind a mask of confidence and cynicism, but if you look closely you can easily see through her act. You can practically taste the sadness, the fear and the pain this girl is experiencing. You can hear her silent screams. You can feel her desperation and just how lost she is. And you end up genuinely caring for her. K.M. Walton's character development is masterful. All her characters - especially Dell - are convincing, complex and well-drawn. It's virtually impossible not to get emotionally involved in the unfolding events. This book sucks you right in and keeps you hooked on until the very end. I absolutely loved it.
It's not a secret that I appreciate well-written issue books that explore meaningful (and often difficult) subjects. And Empty is one of the best issue books I have ever read. It's poignant, thoughtful, intelligent and brutally honest. K.M. Walton does not hold back. This book is not for the faint hearted or overly sensitive people. It contains scenes of violence, abuse and some coarse language. And while it's a thought-provoking and eye-opening read, because of it's overpowering darkness I would not recommend it to people struggling with depression or eating disorders. It's just too depressing to stomach when being in a difficult place yourself.
Overall, Empty was a truly breathtaking and memorable read that will stay with me for a very long time. K.M Walton is undoubtedly a supremely gifted writer and I'll be sure to follow her writing carrier closely! -
How can I start this review... I have to say that I have never ever read a book that has taken my breath away and then shattered me in such a good way. Shock is one thing but Empty is so much of everything it takes the reader by surprise. It has everything from bullying, to followers, to girls being violated. I have to say that Rape is never ever easy to read about and this book is no exception only you really don't know that is what happens to the main character for a while. So while you are reading K.M. sets up the plot and you are thinking okay this girl is over weight and she is bullied and all she wants is for someone to realize that she is hurting and no one not a one person comes to her rescue. To add insult to her her parents are divorced and her father is a complete douche and her mother is over worked and leaves her to raise her baby sister by herself.
To say this book struck a nerve is an understatement. I was violated by someone I thought I loved and trusted and he took that from me. It took a long time to get over it but with my best friend I got over it. In this story it is so tragic the way people bully and harass Dell the main character. So in Empty now that I have ranted enough we meet Dell and her best friend and only friend Cara. Dell plays softball but after gaining a lot of weight she is hindered. She still plays but then something happens to her and she is off the team. The weight complicates things for her but she can't help but eat. She is so depressed and angry that her father left them for another woman. She eats to find comfort and no matter how hard she tries she just can't diet. The pain and the anger consume her and she continues to eat.
Then at school her crush for forever Brandon bullies her and she complies with him. Every time he tells her to "moo" like a cow and act like a sumo wrestler she does it. In the hopes that he will one day like her.But Brandon is popular and is dating the most popular girl so Dell sits back and pines for his love and acceptance. Then one day Dell and Cara are at a party and Dell goes to find a bathroom when she encounters Brandon. What happens next is the story and I will not spoil it because you have to read it to believe it. At points in the book I had to go back and re-read what I read because I just could not believe what I was reading.K.M. has written such a beautiful and haunting story that it will grip you right from the first page and have you holding your breath at the end. -
Is it possible to love a book and simultaneously rip out the last pages. If so, that is my feelings after reading Empty.
The ending hit me in a way to personal level and i cried and nearly didn't finish the book... I was hoping for something different to happen. It left me heartbroken and wishing that things could change in this world, as well as hurting for myself, and my family who some of these issues have hit way close to my heart.
That said, Adele is a character that could have been me in so many ways. I have tried to both east away and starve away my problems, as well add cut them away so I know what it means to shove down pain and problems and not deal with them. I just wish that I could give her a hug.
Her voice was so powerful and she took me on quite a ride with her ups and downs.
This book takes a dark and realistic view of important issues such as eating issues, bullying, the power of words both positions, negative and unsaid, as well as taking pills.
This is for mature teens only with the themes as well as cursing.
As for characters, while i liked Adele and wished things were different for her,.the other characters made me remember high school in a bad way.
Bottom line. Powerful, dark and emotional book. -
Empty was such a great read. It was so engaging that I blew threw it in one sitting. At some points, it is very difficult to read Dell's story. Her pain is so palpable through Walton's writing. I have to say that I was shocked by the ending but that I understood it.
I applaud K.M. Walton for writing this story. Bullying is such a part of so many people's lives (especially for the target age of the book) that I think it will resonate with just about every person who reads it. I was reminded a lot of Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak while reading it because you can just feel the despair of Dell.
After reading Empty, I am definitely going to check out Cracked. I really did enjoy Walton's writing style and ability to create such sympathetic and realistic characters.
This one will be a definite staff pick. Although it is better suited for older YA readers due to content, I feel as though mature middle school readers will appreciate it and find value in it as well. -
I've read a lot of books about bullying and this one really puts you into the mind of just what the victim is thinking and feeling.
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Was a bit too predictable for me.
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Talk about gut wrenching and extremely hard to read! empty (yes that small e was on purpose, that’s how it is on the cover) caught my eye on the shelf at the book store because of it’s shockingly white cover amongst all the blacks & reds at the book store. Upon picking it up I remembered that a friend of mine had read it and highly recommended it to me as a very good heavy issue book. I didn’t know much about the story other than it dealt heavily with weight. I wasn’t too sure which end of the spectrum it dealt with because, let’s face it, I don’t actually read blurbs. So upon digging in and finding out that it deals with the gaining of weight, emotional eating and obesity I prepared myself for an emotional read that would touch on an issue very near and dear to my heart.
Adele, or Dell as her friend calls her, has been struggling with overeating and her weight gain since her father up and divorced her mother for a younger 2.0. Dell was such a frustrating character for me. She goes through some extremely difficult situations and keeps everything inside which just forces her farther into the downward spiral she is on. I wanted, so many times, for her to open up to her mom, of her friend Cara, or even someone at school. I, as an adult reader, knew that the majority of her problems at one point in the novel were just made exponentially worse by the fact that she kept everything inside. The emotions built up inside of her and the only way for her to make them go away was to fill her stomach up with something else, food. I have obesity in my family and I have seen exactly how emotions affect eating and weight gain. I think Walton did a phenomenal job at tackling this addiction (that is so often thrown off as NOT a valid addiction) in a very realistic light. Yes, it was very hard to read at times but it was real.
The relationships within these pages were so flawed. I really didn’t know how to gauge her friend Cara at any point in the novel. At one point she is encouraging Dell to act as a sumo wrestler and “moo” for the popular kids so they can be in the “in-crowd” but in the next breath she is pushing Adele to come out of her shell and use her amazing voice in the school talent show. Even at the end of the story I had no idea at all how to read her. I think she loved Adele a lot and I think she was genuinely worried about her well-being but her longing to be “cool” clouded her judgment in a lot of instances. Adele’s mom was struggling with prescription drug abuse and her dad was off with his new fling so neither of them were around to help her at all. The one beautiful relationship here was Adele’s love for her little sister Meggie.
Touching on bullying, rape, addiction and depression, empty will piss you off and it will make you feel for Adele. The ending is one that I will definitely be thinking about for a long time because it really ends at a total crossroads and we will never get to know where it goes. I really think it was the perfect ending for this story to let the reader take away from it what they will and I am sure that will be completely different for everyone. If you like heavy issue books that knock the wind out of you, pick this one up people.
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You can read all of my reviews at
Alluring Reads. -
How can I start this review... I have to say that I have never ever read a book that has taken my breath away and then shattered me in such a good way. Shock is one thing but Empty is so much of everything it takes the reader by surprise. It has everything from bullying, to followers, to girls being violated. I have to say that Rape is never ever easy to read about and this book is no exception only you really don't know that is what happens to the main character for a while. So while you are reading K.M. sets up the plot and you are thinking okay this girl is over weight and she is bullied and all she wants is for someone to realize that she is hurting and no one not a one person comes to her rescue. To add insult to her her parents are divorced and her father is a complete douche and her mother is over worked and leaves her to raise her baby sister by herself.
To say this book struck a nerve is an understatement. I was violated by someone I thought I loved and trusted and he took that from me. It took a long time to get over it but with my best friend I got over it. In this story it is so tragic the way people bully and harass Dell the main character. So in Empty now that I have ranted enough we meet Dell and her best friend and only friend Cara. Dell plays softball but after gaining a lot of weight she is hindered. She still plays but then something happens to her and she is off the team. The weight complicates things for her but she can't help but eat. She is so depressed and angry that her father left them for another woman. She eats to find comfort and no matter how hard she tries she just can't diet. The pain and the anger consume her and she continues to eat.
Then at school her crush for forever Brandon bullies her and she complies with him. Every time he tells her to "moo" like a cow and act like a sumo wrestler she does it. In the hopes that he will one day like her.But Brandon is popular and is dating the most popular girl so Dell sits back and pines for his love and acceptance. Then one day Dell and Cara are at a party and Dell goes to find a bathroom when she encounters Brandon. What happens next is the story and I will not spoil it because you have to read it to believe it. At points in the book I had to go back and re-read what I read because I just could not believe what I was reading.K.M. has written such a beautiful and haunting story that it will grip you right from the first page and have you holding your breath at the end. -
Dell's life has slowly been crumbling around her ever since her father walked away from her family. But now, things seem to be stuck in fast forward...her best friend is getting farther and farther away, her mother is losing herself deeper in prescription pills, and the very thing that keeps her connected to the memory of her life with her father is about to slip right through her fingers.
Except no one sees her. Not really. Not the real her. How far is Dell willing to go to make them see her?
My thoughts: Tragic. Absolutely, heartbreakingly tragic and all too true. Every day I walk into work/school, whether it's the high school, the middle school or the charter school, I look at the students around me and wonder what their lives are like when they walk out our doors each day. Do they have a bed to sleep in tonight that's their own? Will they be getting a meal tonight? Will they get to sleep through the night uninterrupted so they're ready for the next day of learning when they walk back in our doors? Is someone there to take care of them tonight, or are they the sole care-giver tonight and every night? Are they a parent themselves already? How far do they have to go to get home? Do they have shoes, or a coat, or gloves that will keep them healthy on their travel home? Do they know they are loved? These are just a few of the questions that buzz through my head. There are SO many more! My life, though certainly not perfect by any means, has been filled with love and safety every single day. I have always, always...
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In Empty, K.M. Walton paints a very disturbing image on what it is like to be a high school student with an eating disorder. Ever since Dell's parents split up, her life seems to be tumbling down around her. She’s losing her best friend, her dad doesn’t want to spend any time with her, and her mom is addicted to prescription drugs. Worst of all, Dell can’t seem to stop eating. Even after she is full she takes comfort in eating more. Since her parents separated, she went from a size ten to a size twenty-four. I felt quite a bit of pity for Dell. She had no self-confidence whatsoever. Not only did her classmates make fun of her, she also made fun of herself. She would moo and act like a sumo wrestler just to get the attention of the other students. She went through a lot of bullying and ridicule. Dell’s best friend Kara is an absolutely horrible person. She isn’t a friend at all. When Dell was getting picked on by the other students Kara didn’t stick up for her. In fact, Kara laughed right along with the rest of the students. She didn’t care about Dell enough to believe her when something horrible happened to her. She also didn’t care enough to get Dell the help she obviously needed. All Kara did care about was becoming popular. This book definitely made me feel sad and sympathetic. The ending was absolutely heart-breaking. However, if it was written any other way it wouldn’t have been as good. I think the author definitely sent a very powerful message with the way she ended the book. I will definitely be reading more of K.M. Walton’s work in the future.
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Wow. Another powerful book. I'd have given it a 4.5. While I couldn't help but fly through this book so much of it made me actually gasp.
Dells life was a nightmare. Her dad was uncaring and unattentive, left the family for another woman. Her mom is just a really bad mother. Yes, she has an addiction problem but she shows Adele nothing but disdain and what seems like hatred. Her only friend Cara, is not much of a friend. Her main concern is crawling up that social ladder and how Dell is hindering that. Adele is clearly in trouble but cara hasn't a clue. Oh, and did i mention that she was fat? Not just pleasingly plump, but 286 pounds, and this defines her. Her only joy in life is her beautiful and sweet baby sister. And singing.
The cruelty displayed by pretty much everyone she is in contact with is horrible. The terrible things girls and boys both subjected her to broke my heart. To have a human treated the way is just wrong, more than just mean girls, yet sadly it does happen. So often I wanted her to stop laughing along with them and degrading herself trying to be funny and accepted.
From her fathers indifference, her mothers job loss, her being kicked off the softball team, her only friends betrayal to that event at the party that sent it all spinning out of control. I kept waiting for someone, anyone, to notice that this girls life was in shambles and help her.
Didn't much like the ending, although unfortunately it was rather realistic. -
Grade- B-
3.5 of 5
Dell's life couldn't be much worse. She rarely sees her father since he took off with his girlfriend and her mother is popping pills, working 2 jobs and constantly criticizing. She's packed on 70 pounds since last year, which has gotten her kicked off the softball team. Her social climbing best friends is obsessed with breaking into the popular group, the same group that bullies and teases Dell mercilessly. She's depressed and lethargic. Things are about to get even worse.
EMPTY is a heavy read, not due to the very readable prose, not because of the topic, which is incredibly heavy. Dell's first person POV illustrated her profound depression. I could almost feel her despair. Despite Dell's despair, EMPTY is a fairly quick read. I enjoy Walton's writing style and will look for her again. Some of the minor characters did seem stereotypical and a bit over the top. Mean girls and bullies exist, but not within every student in a school. Dell's parents were completely narcissistic, almost too awful to be believable. Parents like hers do exist, I just felt as if Walton tried to make everyone in Dell's life as awful as she could, which wasn't necessary to tell the story. Walton ended the book in a creative and brave way.
Put this one on your to-read list. -
Walton writes books that matter. She writes with the intent of saving lives. There is a crude ugliness to the picture she paints with her words, but while the horror of Dell's story guts you, it also makes you weigh the cost of human cruelty. It makes you wonder why we carefully dole out kindness like it's a precious substance in high demand, instead of something that knows no limitations. Dell's story is so hard to read because it rings true. It is too close to the bullseye. There are more people than we care to acknowledge that have an inner monologue scarily similar to Dell's. This is overwhelming. Yet, Walton does provide us hope at the end of this story. The very act of writing it illustrates her belief that we have the power to prevent others from dying empty. Or perhaps even worse--living empty. I won't lie, this is not an easy read, but in a world where a gunman shoots elementary students, it is a necessary one. We would be remiss to think that gun control or improved mental health services are the only components needing our attention in order to create a safer world. Words are weapons-- but as Walton has deftly illustrated-- they are also hope.
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Yes, this book actually did get published.
I read it as one of PulseIt's free books put up for a certain amount of time. It's one of my favorite things. However, I'm pretty dang disappointed this made the cuts.
This isn't a YA novel about a human being. It's a YA novel about fat. More specifically, it's a YA novel about a large amount of unwanted fat that takes residence on a human being and proceeds to ruin ALL the things.
Not a single realistic, believable character exists within these e-pages.
All that matters is fat.
The author tried so, So very hard to write something that mattered, and that really does show. She wanted to write about the effects of bullying, amongst other things that have some awful impacts on young people. Instead, she wrote an offensive, sloppy, book about fat. -
I wasn't expecting this book to be about an over eater. It was definitely a nice change of pace because no book I've ever read had that as an issue. The issue always involved NOT eating. However all the food was making me feel nauseas at times.
I found this to be a page tuner. Always wanting to know what was going to happen next. I felt bad for Dell. Not having a true friend or a mother or father who truly cared about her.
The flow of this story kind of annoyed me, hence the reason for 3 stars. Like why would a girl who's struggling with her weight even go back on the softball team? I get it was to stay connected with her dad, but come on. -
Finishing this book made me realize that you should love yourself first because people would treat you crap if you will let them.
Most people doesn't enjoy the ending but it's my favorite thing about this book. It's different and it's thought provoking. -
I recommend reading the author's note first to understand the intention behind Dell's story and to have an idea of the trigger warnings. I think the meaning behind the title is clever, and pay attention to the fading font. I appreciate the foreshadowing (or as my sister puts it "the thoughts leading up to the climatic end"). Despite how shallow and self-absorbed the people who should care are presented, they aren't totally horrible people and Adele never really faults them for it because there were times they mean well (except ). I think the writer did a good job delivering the intention of presenting "a window into the soul of the broken, neglected, abused, humiliated" and how powerful and painful hurtful words are. I warn you that it's not a happy story, and it doesn't offer a solution to help someone in Dell's situation. But, I appreciate her story as a tool to help anyone understand (even if it's a little bit) . Keep in mind that it isn't completely representational of all cases. However, Dell might remind you of someone you know, like she did with me.
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I am in shock. I understand exactly what lead Adele to her final plan, but I never thought she would truly go through with it. The way it ends, I’m not so sure that’s what she really wanted either. In the moment, yes, she wanted to go. To stop existing, but once she realizes she didn’t have her sister’s blanket, I think part of her realized she didn’t have it because she didn’t really want to leave. She wanted to stop the hurt and it is so sad to see she had to go to suck extreme measures to find peace.
I’ve been in her shoes before. Maybe not exactly, since I was never bullied as bad as her or had the same home life struggles, but life hasn’t been easy for me either. I have been down on my luck and come up with a plan. Pre-write letters and have lists of who wouldn’t miss me. I understood her pain and kept trying to tell her things would get better after high school. I saw myself in her and this story made me realize how lucky I am to have kept going. To have found people who listen to me and help me through tough times.
Feeling alone in such a vast world is scary. Especially when you’re surrounded by people. Dell could have chosen to speak about her hurt, rather than hide behind food and self depreciating jokes and maybe she would still be alive.
I’m still shocked that the author actually killed her. I’ve never read an ending like that and it definitely sparked some old feelings in me. I felt as if she were inside my head at some points.
Adele will mourned. She will be missed. She will always be loved.
