Rate this book

The Running Dream (2011)

by Wendelin Van Draanen(Favorite Author)

4.3 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

0375866671 (ISBN13: 9780375866678)

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Knopf Books for Young Readers

review 1: The book is called "The Running Dream", it's by Wendelin Van Draanen. The book is about this girl named Jessica and she has gone through this terrible accident that makes her loose her leg. The kicker is though, she was an amazing high school runner. She doesn't know how she is going to go on. One day her best friend named Fiona comes by the house and takes her to school. That same day she visited her coach because he wanted to show her a video. The video was about this double amputee (the runner lost both his legs), and she got so inspired because the runner was running with running prosthetics. Then the team gets this big idea to raise money to get them but they cost a lot of money. You'll have to read the book to find out if she gets them or not and to see Jessica's jou... morerney through this rough time. I really enjoyed the book and I recommend the book.
review 2: I’m a very unathletic person. I don’t tend to enjoy exercising and don’t play sports, so for me to say that The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen made me want to get up and run is high praise in itself. The Running Dream follows 16 year old Jessica through her journey of grief and healing as she attempts to live life as an amputee. Her loss of her leg means the possibility of running (Jessica’s main passion) seems to be just a dream - unattainable. One of the reasons I rated this book highly is because Draanen manages to convey a feeling of real grief. Jessica is a relatable character in the sense that her feelings feel real. She’s not optimistic at first, and it takes time for her to heal. Also, it’s obvious that Draanen thoroughly explored the process of getting new prosthetics and living as an amputee. Draanen did not simplify living as an amputee, or over look the facts that often are skipped over because they’re more gory or harder to deal with. Overall, Draanen’s use of realism made the book touching, it made it feel like you were in Jessica’s story, and in her world. Draanen also touches on topics that that don’t just apply to amputees or those with disabilities - but everyone. One of the quotes from the book that made me see things in a new light was, “I wonder about the deep, wide abyss between good intentions and concrete action, and how many of [the people of her town] lept over it.” The quote is very applicable and inspired me to want to do something. It reminded me that the way to make change happen is to act, something that we don’t often do even though we’re sympathetic to a cause. Also the quote represents a main theme in the book - which is that evolution of the mind and body occur through action, determination, and hard work. The Running Dream also delved into the idea of “seeing [a person], not their disability”. Because of this, the book reminded me of Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper. Out of My Mind is about a girl with cerebral palsy, similar to Rosa, a character who has cerebral palsy in The Running Dream. Both explored the territory of teen characters living with disabilities and their journeys, and both share the similar theme of looking past ones disability and seeing them as a person.I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone, runner or not. The Running Dream is one of those books you zoom through and never forget. Jessica’s story is a true inspiration, it reminds us of everything we have that we forget to be thankful for and take for granted, but more importantly how to keep pushing through the challenges we face. less

Download links for: The Running Dream

Advertising