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Monday, January 7, 2013

Blog Tour: EMPTY by K.M. Walton - Review + Giveaway



I'm so excited to announce that EMPTY is finally available to the world. 

That means, if you have not picked up a copy, I highly suggest doing so. 
I have a couple surprises for you along with my review. I hope you enjoy them. Oh, also make sure you enter the giveaway to win a finished - signed copy of K.M. Walton's first novel, CRACKED, some fabulous swag and a super awesome surprise item.


Title: EMPTY
Author: K.M. Walton
Pub. Date: January 1, 2013
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 256
Source: Author


Dell is used to disappointment.                                                                                                                                         

Ever since her dad left, it’s been one let down after another.
But no one—not even her best friend—gets all the pain she’s going through. So Dell hides behind self-deprecating jokes and forced smiles. 

Then the one person she trusts betrays her.
                                                                                                                  Dell is beyond devastated. Without anyone to turn to for comfort, 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?
 

          "Maybe I Have Disappeared

I LIKE THE IDEA OF MAKING THINGS DISAPPEAR.

It’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately."

"Kindness Matters"


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, and 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 sudden lack of the super close relationship she used to have with her father no longer exists. Dell starts binge eating to make herself feel whole again. Of course, that doesn't actually work but it does fill the hollow, empty feeling she has inside 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, she's just the best friend that seems to be around 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 utterly broken as she did. 

EMPTY will move you in so many ways, you will be thankful for the life you have, for the love, friendships, and family 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 people will actually see that the sun doesn't shine for every one all of the time.      
"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."

What would you say to a teenage girl who has been bullied and violated?

Do not stay silent. Tell someone who can help you. Do not stay silent. Tell someone who can help you. Do not stay silent. Tell someone who can help you. Do not stay silent. Tell someone who can help you. Do not stay silent. Tell someone who can help you. Do not stay silent. Tell someone who can help you. Infinity times. -K.M. Walton
K.M. Walton
K.M. Walton is the author of Cracked (Simon Pulse ~ Simon & Schuster 2012), Empty (Simon Pulse ~ Simon & Schuster 1-1-2013) and the co-author of Teaching Numeracy: 9 Critical Habits to Ignite Mathematical Thinking (Corwin Press 2011 - lead author Margie Pearse) for mathematics teachers K-8. As a former middle-school language-arts teacher she's passionate about education and ending peer bullying. She gives school presentations on the topic "The Power of Human Kindness." She lives in PA with her husband, two sons, cat, and turtle.

          Codex by Radiohead

PLAYLIST

- Shake it Out by Manchester Orchestra
- Codex by Radiohead (is for Dell)
- Paradise by Coldplay (is about Dell) 
- Angel by Sarah McLachlan 
- Empty by Ray LaMontange 
- The A Team by Ed Sheeran 
- If I Die Young by The Band Perry

                  
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8 comments:

  1. This looks great, Amy. I love the way the text is framed now.

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  2. Hmmm, the one I can think of is The Karma Club by Jessica Brody.

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  3. Christina K. in the rafflecopter

    I LOVED Nick and Nora's Playlist:))

    Thank you:)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Um, Timeless by Alexandra Monir?

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  5. Amy and Roger's epic Detour! I loved the book!

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  6. There are a few, I like the playlists that Sarah Dessen comes up with. The playlists in Amy and Roger's epic detour are great. I also really like the playlist that was included in Falling in Love with English Boys.

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  7. Saw you put this up on Facebook. I read this book since your review.

    This book will break you.

    ReplyDelete