Carl Jackson appears to be the model teenager to those around him. He excels in school, works part-time, and never gets in trouble. All of these observations hide terrible secrets that eventually lead to him running for his life. Living in an abusive home, Carl takes matters into his own hands. He runs away in the hope that he can locate a lost family member strong enough to change the abuse with which he and his mother feel forced to live. Taking only a sleeping bag and his meager life savings, he begins his quest. Running across America, he witnesses a murder and suddenly realizes that his problems are much larger than he ever anticipated. Alone and running for his life, Carl encounters people who wish to help him and others who wish to make him disappear. Running on Empty is a vivid and descriptive adventure that reveals the character and determination a young boy must find inside himself. This is an engrossing account of how his adventure changes his life and the lives of complete strangers forever.