The Empty Summer

by Caryl Brooks

Envying her friend Kimberley's beauty, intelligence, and otherwise ideal life, Maggie begins to suspect that something is very wrong with Kimberley and learns during one fateful summer about teenage mental illness. Reprint.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Fiction

192 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[wAnderlUst · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was one of my most beloved books that i read in my teens... mainly because of the revelations it served to me. this book explores the common pitfall of thinking the grass is greener on the other side, that most people have at some point in their lives... we all have had moments where we think someone's life seems so much more ideal than our own. in the story, maggie, an average everyday teenager meets a model who she becomes infatuated with. thinking the model has a perfect life, which appears to be magical and charmed, she soon discovers that her new friend has more going on underneath her hood, and inside her heart than she could have ever imagined. this book explores typical adolescent coming of age scenarios, but within that storyline, is a much deeper message. that everything is not always as it seems. at a time in my life, where i was going through all the same things as maggie, comparing myself, and being a dissatisfied teenager, it made me realize that you can have all the things you think you want that can make you happy and still be broken inside. it also has a message of not taking things for granted, family in particular. maggie as most adolescent girls tend to under-appreciate the concern and support of their immediate family, when often unaware of the true blessing those relationships really are in the end. Poor kimberly may have been a beautiful successful model with the handsome popular boyfriend, a great group of friends and all things money could buy but deep down something in her was broken that couldn't be fixed. the book has a tragic ending and i enjoyed reading it from beginning to end. highly recommended! its one of my eternal favorites!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

She wanted to be her. The perfect girl: beautiful, long blonde hair, clear blue eyes, skinny, worldly, popular, also had a boyfriend. Did I mention she was a model too. She chose her to be her friend. They shared secrets during a magical summer at the beach. 15, going on sixteen. The perfect girl had witty quotes. But she had a secret, only her older boyfriend would never tell. The perfect girl missed her Father, her Mother was glamorous and ignored her daughter. Her mother also popped pills and had face-lifts. No one knew the perfect girl was empty inside and scared. Why would the perfect girl want to be "normal" like her, and be her closest friend?

[Jillian · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave up on this wretched book, as it still hadn't improved halfway through. If I had a teenage daughter, I would not let her read this disturbing portrayal of unhealthy obsession. Bleh. See my reading notes for more.

[Kathryn Grace Loves Horror · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly not sure if this book really deserves 5 stars. I just know I read it in 4th grade and loved it. First book I ever read that talked about sex, and I remember feeling scandalized. So I guess it really gets those stars for nostalgia value.

[Tiffany Krcma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had read this book long ago it it was the first book that I read and actually enjoyed. Thus I started to read all the time after that book. It mad me cry so sad and a bit strange.

[Alex ahlert · Rating 4 out of 5]

feeling bad for herself

[Charlotte Seth · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I haven't read this book in years, it was my absolute favorite book as a young teen.