Kim: Empty Inside [Turtleback]

Beatrice Sparks (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2002

I am so scared.
I feel like I'm silently screaming for help
and no one pays any attention of tries to hear me.
I can't control anything anymore.
It's all out to get me!

When Kim can't handle things, she eats. Then she purges. Sometimes she fasts. She knows she isn't as thin as the other girls on her gymnastics team, and she's worried that now, away from home for the first time as a college freshman, she won't be able to live up to expectations -- especially her own. Eating is the one thing she can control -- or can she?

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7-10-Kim, a high school senior, is on a downward spiral into anorexia. Speaking through her journal, she confides the hopes, fears, and pressures typical of a teenage girl. Her weight figures prominently in her wish to be accepted into the UCLA gymnastics program, and eventually she blames food for most of the bad things that happen to her. Kim progresses from not eating to the use of laxatives. Her rapidly changing emotions ring true, as do her feelings of helplessness-even though she is ashamed of her actions, she cannot stop herself. However, her willingness to admit her problem and accept help seems artificial and diminishes its severity. This book may encourage readers to search for additional material in the resources listed. For a more thorough picture, they should try Steven Levenkron's The Best Little Girl in the World (Turtleback, 1979).
Michele Capozzella, Chappaqua Public Library, NY
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Beatrice Sparks is a family and adolescent therapist who edited the diary that formed the basis for Go Ask Alice, and has since edited many diaries on topics such as gangs, AIDS, and teen pregnancy in the 1988 Annie's Baby. She lives in Provo, UT. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Turtleback
• Publisher: Demco Media (December 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0606254099
• ISBN-13: 978-0606254090
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A work of fiction, July 29, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Kim: Empty Inside: The Diary of an Anonymous Teenager (Mass Market Paperback)

... Others ... have remarked that this diary doesn't seem like any thing a teenager would write...and with good reason. This cautionary morality tale is actually a work of fiction, NOT A REAL DIARY, written (not edited) by Beatrice Sparks. The 80 year old Ms. Sparks is also the author of "Go, Ask Alice" and many other alleged "diaries". This book does not offer accurate information on the causes and treatment of eating disorders.

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Empty Inside (her head), June 21, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Kim: Empty Inside: The Diary of an Anonymous Teenager (Mass Market Paperback)

I probably shouldn't be reviewing this because I didn't even finish the book.. I got about 1/4 of the way into it and after so many "And then Billy looked at me!!!!!" type of sentances I stopped reading.. this is obviously not a real diary, no one that stupid would have gotten into UCLA. The whole thing is extremely patronizing to teens as obviously someone older wrote it thinking this is how we think. Uh, no. Thanks for playing granny.

21 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars VERY INACCURATE!!!!, August 28, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Kim: Empty Inside: The Diary of an Anonymous Teenager (Mass Market Paperback)

AS A GYMNAST AND FORMER ANOREXIC/BULIMIC, THIS BOOK IS VERY INACCURATE. FIRST, THIS DOES NOT PORTRAY THESE REAL DISEASES.THE INTENISITY IS FAR FROM WHAT YOU READ IN THE BOOK.YOU HAVE NO TIME FOR BOYS,FUN,FAMILY,ETC. ANYWAYS,AT THAT LEVEL OF GYMNASTICS,KIM WOULD NOT HAVE TIME FOR ANYOTHER THINGS BESIDES GYMNASTICS. SHE WOULD BE IN THE GYM FOR APPROXIMATELY 6 HOURS, 6 DAYS A WEEK. THE ONLY REASON THAT THIS BOOK GETS 1 STAR IS BECAUSE AT LEAST IT HAS A STORY LINE. I WOULD NOT RECCOMEND THIS BOOK AT ALL.