The Running Dream

By: Wendelin Van Draanen

Libby audiobook 7 hours

Read by:  Laura Flanagan

Published: 2011

Genre: YA realistic fiction

 

Louie and I recently watched Flipped up at the lake. I remembered how much I loved that story and decided to "read" other books by this author. 

 

Initially, I found the protagonist Jessica to be a bit of a pill. But then I thought, if I were passionate about running and my foot was crushed in an accident and had to be amputated at age 16, wouldn't I have been a bit of a pill? Yes. The story was written realistically and as a story of transformation. As Jessica starts to move forward with her life, she begins to hope that she might be able to run again.

 

One thing that jumped out at me was that Jessica was inspired by Oscar Pistorius, who ran on "blades." This book was published in 2011. He was an amazing athlete, but murdered his girlfriend in 2013. There's no way the author could have foreseen what a villain he would become and his role in this story is simply inspirational for a young woman who needs to learn how to walk again after being a very fast runner.

 

Somewhere in my mess of papers, I have notes about this book. Once I find it, I'll go back and add to this. I loved Rosa, a girl two years younger than Jessica who has cerebral palsy but is also a math genius. 

 

<Above published 3.16.26. Below added 3.22.26.>

 

I found my scrap of paper.

 

The self-pity was off-putting at the start of the story, but again, I had to consider how my sixteen-year-old self would have responded to something like this . . . and I would not have been less "poor me" in my attitude.

 

The whole issue of insurance / who pays / expensive medical treatments . . . really rings true. It is so sad to me how many people in the USA are devastated financially by a medical emergency. We have a lot to learn from the rest of the world.

 

The concept of hope vs. reality was strong. I understand her dad's frustrations and pragmatism, but to shoot down his daughter's hopes as mere "pipe dreams" was heart-breaking. The team holding fundraisers to try to make money for her to get a running prosthetic leg was so sweet. (I knew immediately who the anonymous benefactor was doubling the funds.)

 

Track vs. other sports was interesting. The aspect of the "mental game" and psyching people out was interesting.

 

I loved her "bestie" Fiona! What a rock star! Gavin Vance as the handsome and "unattainable" guy was interesting. I wish we had gotten to know more about Lucy, the teammate who died in the accident. Sherlock the dog was a wonderful addition to the story! And yes, Rosa and her friendship (and math tutoring) with Jessica were a fantastic part of the story.