5 Miles to Empty

by Jarold Imes

When Franklin Dell lived in Denver, Colorado he and his group of friends sold candy in their middle school, fought gang violence and enjoyed a nearly peaceful seventh grade year. Franklin has always... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1934195022
• ISBN13: 9781934195024
• Release Date: June 2007
• Publisher: Abednego's Free
• Length: 154 Pages
• Weight: 0.47 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.5" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 14 years and up

Customer Reviews

True friendship is a special bond that doesn't break till one is gone......

5 MILES TO EMPTY is one of the most unique stories I have ever seen in print. The story of Franklin and Mike is more than just a story of how male friends bond into brothers, it's also a story of how understanding promotes unity, as Franklin is straight, and Mike is gay. The story begins with Franklin, who is sitting in a college class at Gilbert State University, receiving a phone call from Mike's friend Eric, informing him that Mike is in the hospital. Franklin immediately persuades Tia, a classmate who lives in the city where the hospital is located, to take him to see Mike. At the hospital, Eric asks Franklin to tell him about when he first met Mike, and the story begins. Franklin and Mike met when Franklin moved to Winston-Salem five years before, at the age of thirteen. Franklin had to suffer the alienation of being the "new kid" at school. Mike took the initiative to meet Franklin after class, and a friendship was born. Mike informed Franklin that he was gay as they ate lunch. Franklin did not understand what the term meant. At that point of their friendship, Mike took on the role of mentor to Franklin, not only explaining to Franklin what it meant to be gay, but helping Frankling through the passages of life, as he grew from teenager to young man. Franklin and Mike accept each other for who they were, and the experiences Franklin shares with Eric show a transition from friendship to brotherhood between the two. No matter what happens in their lives, they always are there for each other. As the story ends, Eric is awed by the close bond Franklin and Mike share, and Franklin realizes that most of his memorable life experiences have been shared with Mike. The book ends with a beautiful lesson for the reader of the power of love. 5 MILES TO EMPTY is quite enjoyable; the characters are all well-developed and believable, and the friendship between Franklin and Mike is a wonderful example of brotherly love, and of the unity that is born of acceptance. Jarold Imes is a masterful storyteller, and I plan to read more of his books in the future! Reviewed by Rowena Winfrey for The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE (token787)

Loved this book. I was moved and captured. I loved the characters,especially Mike. This was a true friendship for Mike and Franklin. Not many straight boys would take the risk an become best friends or even hang-out with someone who calls themselves gay. This story will teach you about friendship, love, and most of all self-acceptance.