86 pages • 2 hours read
The Running Dream
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Book Brief
336
Novel • Fiction
Contemporary
2011
YA
12-18 years
HL650L
Super Short Summary
The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen follows sixteen-year-old Jessica Carlisle, a promising track athlete who loses her leg in a bus accident, and her journey to adapt to life with a prosthetic limb, regain her passion for running, and embrace new and meaningful friendships, especially with her classmate Rosa, who has cerebral palsy. The book discusses trauma, loss, and disability.
Inspirational
Emotional
Hopeful
Challenging
Heartwarming
Reviews & Readership
34,214 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Wendelin Van Draanen’s The Running Dream garners praise for its inspiring and realistic narrative of a teen amputee's journey to reclaim her life through running. Reviewers commend the well-developed characters and uplifting message. Some critique the predictable plot and occasional lack of depth, but overall, it is celebrated for its motivational and heartfelt storytelling.
Who Should Read The Running Dream?
A reader who would enjoy The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen is likely someone who appreciates heartfelt stories of resilience and personal triumph. Fans of Wonder by R.J. Palacio and Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper will find the book's themes of overcoming physical challenges and embracing diversity especially compelling.
34,214 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
336
Novel • Fiction
Contemporary
2011
YA
12-18 years
HL650L
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