I know most people would say that those are wasted space, but for me, it helped frame out the years the characters are in and just what we’re looking at as a whole. These lend a helping hand to those who like knowing more about the world the characters are in, and just what they are facing. Sprinkled liberally throughout the book are “News Reports” from papers, radio, tv, etc.

After the worst is over, they band together with the help of one of their teachers to find a new way to live that reduces their need for petroleum. Through the book we find Gwen and Tom growing closer, while Nikki and Tom sort out just what their feelings are for each other (don’t worry, it’s not a love triangle – more like typical high school drama). Nikki, the rich cheerleader who has never known a hard day before. Tom, the second string football player with a huge heart. In this novel we see the end of the world from three views, Gwen, a misfit girl with a secret she never wants out and a brother who deals with the black market. No, first we’ve got a great deal of denial to deal with from across the board. Luckily all of these calamity doesn’t mean the immediate downfall of civilization. And to make matters worse, they are seeing hurricanes worse than we’ve ever seen them before. Everything we use that is based from oil is in short supply – gas, plastics, medicines, and food. A gallon of gas runs you $50-100, so only the mega rich can afford to drive anywhere, let alone run generators to keep electricity on and water hot. The only hope is a field in Venezuela, and naturally we go to war over it and the rising prices. If you’re looking for a dystopian that seems a little too realistic, look no further than Empty. This novel is based off the idea that in the not so distant future, the US has tapped out its petrol supply, and the rest of the world is running dry too.

Empty by suzanne weyn summary