Super Short Summary

In the contemporary young adult thriller Running on Empty by Colette Ballard, River Daniels, a girl from a poor background in rural Texas, becomes the victim of a brutal attack by her abusive boyfriend and accidentally kills him in self-defense. Fearing disbelief because of her socio-economic status, she and her two friends flee town, facing numerous challenges while trying to clear her name. The book addresses domestic violence and sexual assault.