Empty and Me

August 1, 2023
A child's-eye view of the emotional impact of losing a parent. In a dark apartment building, a tan-skinned protagonist stares at a photograph--"the last picture of Mom and me and the last pot we planted together." The young narrator explains that soon after the picture was taken, Mom died. Empty, a translucent, bloblike figure, showed up soon after and became the narrator's new constant companion and sole friend. Empty not only rides the bus with the narrator and walks the child home from school, Empty also literally comes between the narrator and Dad at dinner, on trips to the amusement park, and at bedtime. Slowly but surely, the protagonist's relationship with Empty changes. The shift begins when the plant that the narrator planted with Mom flowers, and the narrator gives Empty one of the flowers. Soon after, the protagonist and Empty adopt a lost kitten. Featuring exquisite, muted illustrations, this heartbreakingly tender story includes spare text in both English and Persian. The author and artist portray the protagonist's grief starkly and frankly while leaving plenty of literal and metaphorical space for readers to apply their own experiences. The ambiguous ending--it's not clear what becomes of Empty--may confuse some readers given that the plot is otherwise straightforward, but with grounding from caregivers and educators, it may also spark conversation. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A devastatingly honest book about loss, mourning, and recovery. (Picture book. 2-8)

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Starred review from September 1, 2023

K-Gr 3-This bilingual picture book tells a tale of grief. Upon the death of her mother, a fair-skinned young girl is joined by a large soft being called Empty. Empty travels through life as the girl's friend and is with her everywhere, from school to an amusement park. As hope begins to grow in the form of a plant, the girl is able to find more joy in her life that she can share with Empty, her rescued kitten, and her father. Empty's role in the girl's life helps her move through the world of grief and plant a new beginning. The sepia and gray-toned images, although digitally rendered, mimic colored pencils and set a solemn tone that reinforces the girl's loneliness in a vast world without her mom. The character of Empty is soft curves and bright white, the perfect complement for the sharp edges of loss. Additional characters are diverse in nature and scenes are generic, which helps to support the universal theme and build connections for readers. VERDICT A strong purchase to introduce loss and, not incidentally, expose students to translated works.-Danielle Schwessinger

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