Empty Places - Hardcover

Wiechman, Kathy Cannon

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1629794511 ISBN 13: 9781629794518

Publisher: Calkins Creek, 2016

Synopsis

It is 1932, in Harlan County, Kentucky. Times are tough in the mining community, especially for thirteen-year-old Adabel Cutler's family. As they fight to survive, Adabel has to figure out her own identity while dealing with her volatile father, her dutiful sister, her defiant brother, and her mother's disappearance, which she can't seem to remember. This is a beautifully written and deeply felt coming-of-age novel by the acclaimed author of Like a River. Includes an author's note, bibliography, and archival images.

About this title

About the Author:

Kathy Cannon Wiechman’s second novel, Empty Places (Calkins Creek, Spring 2016) is a beautifully written and deeply felt coming-of-age novel about a coal miner’s family struggling through the Great Depression that takes place in 1932 in Harlan County, Kentucky. Her debut novel, Like a River: A Civil War Novel was published by Calkins Creek (Spring 2015) and earned a Kirkus star and the 2015 Grateful American Book Prize. She lives with her family in Cincinnati, Ohio. Visit kathycannonwiechman.com.

From School Library Journal:

Gr 4-8-This is another fine work of historical fiction by the author of Like a River: A Civil War Novel (Calkins Creek, 2015). Set in Kentucky during the Great Depression, this book is written from the viewpoint of 13-year-old Adabel. With their mother gone, Adabel and her siblings must deal with an alcoholic father who works in the coal mines. She struggles to remember her younger days with her mother and yearns to fill in the empty places in her memory. In this emotional read, Adabel searches to uncover her past and what happened to her mother, discovering some deep secrets along the way. Adabel worries about her brother Pick, who leaves the family after a physical altercation with their father. Adabel also has concerns about her older sister Raynelle's plans to marry. Dramatic moments, such as when Adabel's younger sister Blissie reaches into a fire to retrieve a treasured doll, will have readers on the edge of their seats. Written in dialect appropriate to the time period and geographical region, the story is told through short chapters with believable dialogue and unforgettable characters. Closing sections with author notes accompanied by historical photos and a bibliography provide interesting background information. VERDICT Wiechman offers a moving look at life during the Depression, family relationships, and coal mining.-Lynn Vanca, Freelance Librarian, Akron, OHα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

About this edition

• Publisher: Calkins Creek
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1629794511
• ISBN 13: 9781629794518
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 240