The Emptying Written by Rachel Delahaye. Reviewed by Radhika, Age 11

This book is a thrilling, thought provoking book that is also extremely topical in today’s age, with all that’s happening in the world of AI. It took me on a journey through the authors’ imaginations of an AI powered dystopia as I walked up to the deserted parliament buildings, with a racing heart, only to find them bathed in blood.

I entered the Prime Minister’s underground labyrinth with awe and indignation as I saw how she shut herself off from the world – as if hiding away could erase her mistake. As I slowly entered the wastelands, trepidation filled my every move as I looked around at the unfamiliar faces watching me.

I found all the characters extremely interesting – from sensible Dot who always chooses the “right” path to pent up Acker who never misses an opportunity to speak his mind… from lumbering Toto to spiritual Bean, every single character is unique and different. One thing I found really interesting was that this is a book that had a villain that did not think like a human. A machine with no character flaws that was only doing its job.

One thing I really loved about this book was that it was written from 2 different perspectives allowing you to gain proper insight into 2 characters’ minds – to see what they are thinking at every moment in the book. It also makes it extremely satisfying when the 2 characters meet for the first time.

Heart wrenching, powerful and moving, The emptying is a gripping dystopian fiction that explores the threats that AI poses to us, perfect for dystopia lovers aged 12 and above. It left me with a subliminal feeling of perturbation. If you loved “Ministry of Manners” or “The Underlings”, then this book is definitely for you.