How does Barbara Park use imagery in Mick Harte Was Here?

Imagery:

"I still hadn't cried. It wasn't that kind of pain yet. Mostly it was just this total feeling of emptiness in my gut. Like a cannonball had been shot cleanly through my middle."

"I mean grieving isn't exactly the kind of activity that makes you want to leap out of bed in the morning and get "up and at 'em."