The Big Empty [Paperback]

J.B. Stephens (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Big Empty | Publication Date: October 12, 2004

One year ago, a devastating plague called Strain 7 killed three quarters of the human race. Around the world, power systems failed and supply chains screeched to a halt. The surviving population of the United States has been relocated to the coasts; the heartland is now a wasteland called The Big Empty. But seven teens trying to put their lives back together will learn that the abandoned zone holds danger, secrets, and above all, hope.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up–In the very near future, a devastating virus has killed off more than half the human race. In the United States, a military dictatorship has taken over, moving the population toward the coasts, away from what has been renamed The Big Empty. Seven teens come together in what used to be Clearwater, MO. Keely, Jonah, and Irene are there looking for Novo Mundum, which seems to be a commune of intelligent, creative sorts who don't want to follow the martial law of the new and unelected president. Diego, a local, has been shot by soldiers after refusing to evacuate. Streetwise Amber is 15, pregnant, and looking for her ex-boyfriend. Michael and his about-to-be-ex-girlfriend, Maggie, meet up with the group when they flee their comfortable lives in order to avoid execution for a crime they didn't commit. Stephens's dystopian vision is all the more frightening because it's not outside the realm of possibility. The adventure is filled with little details that set it firmly in the next few years, and all of the teens are smart and resourceful (except for Maggie, a living, breathing cliché who absolutely refuses to admit that the world she knew no longer exists). The ending leaves the door wide open for further volumes. Give this one to fans of Jennifer Armstrong and Nancy Butcher's "Fire-Us" trilogy (HarperCollins).–Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 204 pages
• Publisher: Razorbill; 1st edition (October 12, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595140069
• ISBN-13: 978-1595140067
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #507,979 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Empty, December 1, 2005

By 

Avid (NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Big Empty (Paperback)

A deadly strain of a respiratory illness has decimated the world's population. Everyone is familiar with death as Decontamination Units round up the dead. The newly self-attested President has declared martial law and evacuated all surviving US citizens to the coastal cities to pull their resources. With the lack of a working population, everyone must survive on food rations and protein shakes. A year later, the story to The Big Empty begins. Keely, a former prep-school student, Irene, a medical school wanna-be, and Jonah began their individual treks toward Novo Mundum, a secret utopia nestled in the evacuated zone nicknamed "The Big Empty." Along the way, Keely's path crosses with Amber, a pregnant juvenile delinquent set on catching up to the boyfriend who abandoned her. Irene's path is joined with Diego, a teen recently shot by a soldier for being in the big empty. Finally, Jonah is joined by Michael and Maggie, an odd couple escaping from a crime they did not commit. These seven teens all coincidently end up in the city of Clearwater, avoiding soldiers and the renegade group "The Slash," while trying to locate the safe haven of Novo Mundum.

The plot sounds EXCELENT! I was thrilled when I read the back synopsis... After reading the book, I was disappointed. This plot has so many avenues for twists, turns, surprises, close calls, and adventure. I felt like Mr. Stephens missed all of them. All of the characters winding up in the same city was a little too clean cut. For an area without any supplies, the group never seemed to have trouble surviving without drawing unwanted attention. Most of the characters were two-dimensional and bordering on stereotypical. In developing his characters, Mr. Stephens left little to the imagination. Like the other reviewer noted, he did much more showing than telling. All of the characters thoughts and motives were laid clearly out without leaving the reader any of the excitement of inferring. This constant strand of character thought also resulted in annoying repetition. I was never able to fully believe in the characters or connect with any of them. Instead, I felt it was a distant read and I really didn't care what happened to them in the end.

The underlying concept of this book merits 5 stars...the writing deserves 2.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Book Won't Leave You Empty, December 15, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Big Empty (Paperback)

When a respiratory disease makes all wrong in the world, an adventure is about to begin. The actions starts when a teenage girl, Keely Gilmore, a girl whose mother hung her out to dry, begins to receive mysterious e-mails, but she is not the only one. Along with six other teens, they stride to reach a common goal; a better life.

Strain 7 has taken over half of the human population. About every human being on Earth has lost a loved one. The president is a former sports reporter that has declared an unlimited government. But now, the teens are trying to escape.

The Big Empty was a book for the complex reader. But when I look back, my favorite scenes are very confusing and you have to reread them sometimes to understand them. One is at the beginning when one of the teens is shot on his grandmother's farm. I also liked when all the characters met up. The end left me buzzing for hours after I was done with the story.

My favorite character had to be Michael, a teen whose father was a business man and seemed to know the art of trade. He was a rebel who was a natural leader and stood up for the right thing. My least favorite character is Michael's ex-girlfriend Maggie, a ditsy girl who is totally oblivious to the world around her. She was annoying and reminded me of Dory from "Finding Nemo" and Maggie wasn't funny.

All though this story takes place in an alternate present, many modern day teens can relate to the characters. This book is a killer read.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Life or Death, September 28, 2005

By 

Tigers#1 (Versailles, Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Big Empty (Paperback)

Could you imagine losing over one-forth of the U.S. population and evacuating many states because of one disease, the Strain 7? People everywhere not knowing what to do with themselves, because many jobs are now worthless. Quit imagining. A small group of people who can't stand the outer world form a town letting people join only to make them stronger.
One of the many things I liked about this book were the different lives all seven people were leading to have all ended up at the same place. Another thing I liked was the drama that happened to each person because there was never a dull moment. One of my dislikes would have to be the ending because it wasn't how I had expected it to end.
I think that if you have ever read The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants then this would be a great life drama story for you to try.