Friday, July 22, 2011

The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen



Nitty Gritty
Jessica wakes up in a hospital bed and learns she's lost her leg below the knee in a terrible school bus crash. Jessica is a also a runner, so this presents more than the usual problem of losing a leg. She slowly adapts to her new way of life, struggling with the practicalities of moving around, as well as the weightier psychological implications of being an amputee. She befriends Rosa, a girl with cerebral palsy, who sits with Jessica in the back of their math class. Jessica's dream is to somehow run again, and together with the help of her family and friends, she is determined to make it happen.

Touchy Feely
Flippin' loved this one. The writing is direct, honest, and the book moves along like a fifty yard dash. Jessica is an inspirational character, and her struggles are neither too Pippi Longstocking-ishly easy nor too mopey-dopey depressing.

Nerdy Bits
Prosthetic limbs
Oscar Pistorius

Full Coverage
Less is more. Lovely white space, nifty font, and cool shoes. I think the paperback cover will be different thought, probably with a faceless girl running into the sunset.

Dewey Love
796.42

Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen by Christopher McDougall

Inspirational Moment


Final Thoughts
I think that even though this not be a book that people will like "Oooh! Teenage amputees!" that once they read the first chapter, they'll be hooked. Highly recommended.

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