The Running Dream, Wendelin Van Draanen
The Running Dream, Wendelin Van Draanen
9 Rating(s)
List: $17.00 | Sale: $11.91
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The Running Dream

Author: Wendelin Van Draanen

Narrator: Laura Flanagan

Unabridged: 6 hr 59 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/11/2011

Synopsis

The acclaimed author of Flipped delivers a powerful and healing story that’s perfect for anyone who’s ever thought that something was impossible. Readers will revel in the story of a girl who puts herself back together—and learns to dream bigger than ever before—after she’s told she’ll never run again.

Jessica thinks her life is over when she loses a leg in a car accident. She's not comforted by the news that she'll be able to walk with the help of a prosthetic leg. Who cares about walking when you live to run?

As she struggles to cope with crutches and a first cyborg-like prosthetic, Jessica feels oddly both in the spotlight and invisible. People who don't know what to say, act like she's not there. Which she could handle better if she weren't now keenly aware that she'd done the same thing herself to a girl with CP named Rosa. A girl who is going to tutor her through all the math she's missed. A girl who sees right into the heart of her.

With the support of family, friends, a coach, and her track teammates, Jessica may actually be able to run again. But that's not enough for her now. She doesn't just want to cross finish lines herself—she wants to take Rosa with her

Winner of the Schneider Family Book Award

About The Author

Wendelin Van Draanen recently ran her first marathon. She was struck by the people with physical handicaps who were also running and was inspired to write this book about overcoming adversity with courage and grace and strength.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Whitney on August 02, 2017

I can't believe I listened to this entire thing in one night. It was so addicting. My favorite thig about it is that it's not just some story about Jessica recovering and being able to run again, but it has this great moral about disabilities in general that you should never judge anyone based off o......more

Goodreads review by Hannah on October 01, 2024

LOVED this book. Great for anytime you need a pick me up. All the characters are lovely (well, all but one, perhaps). Very little dwelling on ableism. Lots of maturity. Various stages of grief and change. Something I’ll be setting aside for my niece in a year or so (when she’s old enough to have a c......more

Goodreads review by Danielle on February 04, 2021

2013 F.A.B. Bookclub pick # I.❤️. F.A.B. Yeah, I’m pretty sure this is the second time I’ve read this book. This is why I use good reads. I like reading new books, not re-reading (unless, of course it’s an amazing book). This is a story about a teen who loses her leg in an accident. She’s a runner a......more

Goodreads review by Sarah on January 16, 2018

The main reason why I wanted to read this was for the friendship that I thought would develop between Jessica, a girl who just lost her leg in an accident, and Rosa, a girl who Jessica had previously ignored because she didn't know what to say to her because she had CP. I guess I thought I was going......more

Goodreads review by Frezanda on July 31, 2014

There was some books that a 5-star is not enough to convey how amazing they are. This is one of the books. I wish I can give it six stars, ten stars....because this book is up there on a caliber by itself. For me, what makes this book amazing is how real the story was told. This story is an emotional......more

Quotes

"I read The Running Dream on my way to the World Championships. I nearly missed my flight for reading it and inhaled it before I touched down. It's a truly touching story that feels very real."--Katrin Green, Paralympic Gold Medalist

"This heart-touching story is a helpful reminder that we must appreciate each day and each blessing. When I go around "Rigor Mortis Bend" and think of Jessica, my legs do not feel nearly as tired anymore."--Jordan Hasay, four-time USA Track & Field Jr. Women's Champion

"Van Draanen's extensive research into both running and amputees pays dividends--readers will truly feel what's it like to walk (or run) a mile (or 10) in Jessica's shoes."--Booklist

"Inspirational. The pace of Van Draanen's prose matches Jessica's at her swiftest. Readers will zoom through the book just as Jessica blazes around the track. A lively and lovely story."--Kirkus Reviews

"Van Draanen delivers an abundance of interesting medical detail and emotional authenticity in this accessible and inspirational novel."--The Horn Book Magazine

Awards

  • Bank Street Child Study Children's Book Award
  • California Young Reader Medal
  • Connecticut Nutmeg Children's Book Award
  • Illinois Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Award
  • Indiana Young Hoosier Award
  • Kansas William White Award
  • Maine Student Book Award
  • Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Award
  • Minnesota Maud Heart Lovelace Award
  • Nebraska Golden Sower Award
  • New Jersey Garden State Teen Book Award
  • Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award
  • Schneider Family Book Award
  • Tennessee Volunteer State Book Award
  • Vermont Dorothy Canfield Fischer Book Award
  • Washington Evergreen Young Adult Book Award
  • Young Adult Services Division, School Library Journal Author Award
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