The Running Dream (Schneider Family Book Award - Teen Book Winner)

I'm currently reading the "Universe in a Nutshell" by Stephen Hawking. I find this book book far more interesting then this book. The book was well written but it just gets boring after a while when you can predict absolutely everything that happens in the book. The book is absolutely cheese. I also have a theory as to why I didn't like the book was because I'm reading it for school and I don't ever read this genre of book normally or at all. I'm also only 14.

I selected this book off of my "to read" list because it was about running. I've recently started an exercise routine, and I thought it might help motivate me to run if I was listening to a book about an amputee while I was running. I'm not really sure it worked, but I did really enjoy the book.

Van Draanen did a great job of putting the reader inside the head of a teenage in tragedy. Jessica's voice was terrific, and her reaction to her situation seemed realistic. She is completely down on life, wishing she'd died because she thinks she'll never run again. But when she's given hope by seeing amputees running in videos her coach shows her, she turns around quickly.

Jessica's best friend, Fiona, is amazing. It was refreshing to read a book about a teen becoming disabled where the best friend rallies behind her instead of deserting her. Fiona and Jessica's coach get the whole track team on board to raise money for a running leg for Jessica. It's an entirely positive view of teenagers that is rarely seen in realistic fiction.

The whole story is very inspirational. And when Jessica befriends Rosa and takes on another cause, it becomes even more uplifting. That Jessica is already concerned about helping someone else after her accident is such a fantastic element of the book.

http://momsradius.blogspot.com/2015/06/book-review-running-dream.html

This was sweet and inspiring and full of so many important themes.

Jessica experiences a tragedy on the first page and you are thrown into her narrative as her life (as she knew it) spirals out of control.

This book really explores teenage identity and what it means to be a true friend, and also what it means to examine yourself and see your own flaws and opportunities.

What I like the most is the honesty and grief that Jessica experiences in the first quarter of the book, while also acknowledging that many of her reasons are shallow....and that's okay...and honest and normal.

Some of it does come off as a touch cheesy and too good to be true, but alas, it was heartwarming and tender and oh so satisfying with each page.

A really good read.

The novel The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen is an absolutely phenomenal and inspiring story about a sixteen-year-old, die-hard track star named Jessica Carlisle. Jessica has been running her whole life and is the best in her school track league. One unfortunate day after one of her track meets, Jessica and her team get into a heartbreaking and car accident that kills one of her teammates and causes her to lose her leg. Read this book to learn about the inspiring journey Jessica takes to get back on her feet again. I recommend this book to young readers who enjoy lively, heartwarming, and inspiring books. I love this book for three main reasons, one, the book has a very strong and compelling lead to the story, two, the book leaves you wanting more, and three, the book has effective descriptive language.
First, this book is a must-read book because it has a powerful, suspending lead. I can understand the setting, characters and problem right off the bat. For example, on page 1, “I am a runner. That’s what I do. That’s who I am. Running is all I know, or want, or care about. [...] Running aired out my soul. It made me feel alive. And now? I’m stuck in this bed, knowing I’ll never run again,” (Draanen, p. 6). This specific piece of evidence left me hanging. I wanted to know and read more. I could almost feel like I was Jessica herself, and right away, I wanted to know how she was going to fix her problem or even what her problem was. I was intrigued. It pulled me in. This is one of the best things you can ask for in a book. Another example of a strong lead is, “‘Fifty-five flat!’ Kyro shouts. ‘Fifty-five flat!’ It’s a new personal best for me. A new record for the league. It’s also the last race of my life. My finish line,” (Draanen, p. 11). In this piece of evidence the author is showing us that Jessica is dreaming back to the last race that she had since her accident where she lost her leg. Jessica feels weak and “dead” inside, because she thinks that she will never be able to walk again, let alone race. Some part inside of me thought that she would find away to race again so I kept on reading, I ended up reading 90 pages that night just to figure out what Jessica’s solution was. All in all, this novel is an absolutely awe-inspiring because of it’s powerful lead that hooks the reader right in.
Second, the author was able to put me into Jessica’s shoes and I felt what she was feeling - no matter how sad, excited, curious, or broken. At one point in the book, Jessica is at the grave of her track friend who dies in the terrible accident. “‘Hi, Lucy,’ I begin. ‘It’s me, Jessica.’ But I’ve never spoken to a grave before. I don’t know what to say. I don’t know how. ‘I’m so sorry,’ I choke out, but that’s as far as I get before I start crying. I feel bad that she’s gone. I feel overwhelmed. I feel guilt,” (Draanen, p. 310-311). I feel so emotional at this moment in the book because Jessica is starting to understand how lucky she really was that she survived that car crash. How lucky her family was. I feel the guilty, overwhelming depression that Jessica is experiencing. Another instance is, “She’s on her third boyfriend since Gavin, so I don’t know what her problem is with me, but today she actually comes up to me. ‘He’s only going out with you because he feels sorry for you,’ She whispers as she invades my personal space on a classroom ramp. ‘You’re, like, his community service project.’ I’m stunned, and the truth is, her comments cut deep. I have no zinger to fire back.” (Draanen, p. 313). This is important because it helps the readers understand the kinds of problems Jessica has to face, not only with her leg, but also in her social life. I can feel the defeat and hurt that Jessica is feeling right now after her teammates and boyfriends ex-girlfriend criticizes Jessica and her unchangeable foot. I can relate to Jessica because I myself have had many instances in school where I get extremely hurt and there is nothing or anyone who can cheer me up. Therefore, The Running Dream is a must-read book because of the way it makes the reader have very strong emotions.
Finally, this an incredible book because of its effective descriptive language that makes you feel as if you there in the scene with the characters. For this reason, “Whing, whoosh, whing, whoosh . . . I start down the stretch, my arms pumping. Good form, smooth form, glide, glide, I say inside my head. My breathing’s easy. My rhythm’s good. I push. Pump. focus. Whing, whoosh, whing, whoosh . . .” (Draanen, p. 316-317). Though you may be thinking that this scene isn’t very descriptive at all, I think that it is because when I read this part, I literally had a mini dream that I was running right beside Jessica on the track, and that not only made me feel just like her, but it also inspired me to run like her. Another piece of evidence to support my reason, “‘Something’s on my leg!’ I cry. ‘Get it off!’ ‘There’s nothing on your leg,’ she says, looking from me to the covers, back to me. ‘Absolutely nothing!’ I’m at a slant and I can’t really see what’s past the hospital tray, but I know she’s crazy. The pain is so real. So strong. There’s something on my shin twisting my foot! I shove the tray aside before I remember that I don’t have a shin. Or a foot,” (Draanen, p.32). This shows that Jessica is really struggling with not having a leg. Even though I have not ever experienced something so hard in my life to have lost a limb, the author describes the situation so well that I can picture and imagine myself in Jessica’s position, weak, hopeless, and most of all, broken. In conclusion this book is spectacular because of its strong mindful description that helps the reader feel like they are there with the characters.
All in all, The Running Dream is a five out of five star book because of it’s strong and intriguing lead, its feeling that it causes the reader to have, and it’s strong choice of description that helps paint a picture. I would definitely recommend this book to young adult readers who love an inspiring story about a teenager who followed her dream, which hopefully motivates you to follow yours.

Jessica had lost her leg in a bus accident. Never being able to run again scares her, she loves to run, it’s her favorite thing to do. Soon after the incident she had gone back to school and became friends with a girl named Rosa after a run up with a teacher. Rosa has cerebral palsy and is in a wheelchair, but that does not phase Jessica. Her community helps get her a prosthetic leg to help her run again. Being able to run again she helps Rosa with one of her dreams.
Getting an award from the Schneider Family Book Award, the story that was written got an award. This is a book that possibly everyone who reads it can enjoy. Also this is a story that many people can learn from. Giving an act of kindness and also helping yourself at the same time, which is inspirational. This inspiring book teaches us all many things about life and the way that we should treat others. This heartwarming story gathers our attention and tells us to never give up, even if thats what we want to do the most. Written by Josey, 7th grade

This book is seriously one of the best I've ever read.

Van Draanen grabs you and pulls you in to Jessica's story... and what a story it is.

The plot is so rich and heavy with massive character development on so many levels. I loved how it was heart-wrenching and so poignant and how Van Draanen really made you feel what Jessica was going through every step of the way.

I felt like this was more of a memoir and that I was actually reading about somebody. And in a way, I was. I got an inside glimpse of how individuals with disabilities live and how they are treated and the struggle they have to face every day of their lives. But I also got a glimpse of the rewards.

Friendship and family and struggle and having the feeling of losing something so important to you and then having the courage and determination to get it back. All of those things and more is what this book is.

I encourage everyone to read this remarkable novel. It comes with so many great messages and I believe that anyone that can take something out of this book and become a better person for it.

I am going to start off this review with this one word WOW!!!!!!!

I don't think I can even give a review worthy of this book. I am not one who generally picks up realistic fiction, but this book was being showcased at my local library and I picked it up. The book had me wrapped emotionally from the first chapter.

This story ran multiple feelings through me as I read and contemplated the life of Jessica. I couldn't even begin to name all the emotions that my heartfelt with every word of this book. Jessica is an amazing character. At the beginning she is your typical teenager and lives a typical teenager life. She goes to school, hangs out with her friends, and runs on the school track team. One day, after a track meet, an accident changes everything.

This story basically had four parts for me... recovery, reality, adaptation, and overcoming.

The story starts off with Jessica waking up after her leg has been amputated. The first thing that ran through my mind was the emotional stand point of losing a leg. I never once gave though to how physically painful this would be. The first part of the book was about Jessica adapting to the idea of losing a leg while she was recovering in the hospital. The author does a wonderful job living the emotional and painful moments of Jessica's recovery from the surgery.

The second part of the book deals with Jessica going home and the reality of her new life. Jessica refuses to go to school and to leave the house. The reality sets in that she can no longer do what she once could and this leaves her to believe she cannot be who she once was. She really doesn't know who she is now that she is no longer a runner.

The next part of the book deals with Jessica adapting. She has to learn to do everything differently and adapt to her new reality. Jessica has amazing friends and family. This was a real inspiration to me. Jessica's friends never look at her different and track team, friends and her family pull together to make sure Jessica will run again. Jessica learns to adapt to a life of prosthetic leg and adapt to being the center of positive attention.

The final part is the overcoming. With the overcoming, comes the inspiration. Jessica doesn't stop with learning to walk or run again but she overcomes every obstacle she can to make someone else's dream come true.

This book gave m the chills, kept me in tears, and opened my heart to a new world. I cannot recommend this book enough. I think everyone should read it, and it made me want to go out and run. This book is all good and no bad. It's a wonderful, tear jerking, inspirational story that I will read over and over again,

With the YA genre going through a bit of a romance obsession, The Running Dream is a breath of fresh air and a cold glass of reality all at once. Jessica is a refreshing heroine. She's more interested in her passion, running, her friends, and her family than she is in boys, which seem to rank a distant fourth.Which is why it's that much more terrifying when it looks like her ability to run is going to be permanently compromised by her disability.

The novel begins with Jessica dealing with the loss of her identity as a runner and the addition of a new identity- that of an amputee. The vastness of her pain and loss is made apparent to the reader through a series of short chapters that cut right to the heart of the matter. Through Jessica's reactions, and those of her family, we are given a terrifying glimpse into what it would be like to lose an entire identity in a matter of moments.

The resolution of the story is made even more brilliant and heartwarming by the stakes that are presented to us. Jessica isn't worrying about who her next boyfriend is, she's worried about who she is without the passion that defined her and trying to find a place in her world.

It's hard to select an aspect of The Running Dream that stands out as the strongest. The characters are well drawn and avoid being flat. In particular it was nice to see a best girl friend who wasn't vindictive, jealous, or shallow. Fiona is the kind of best friend everyone has had and remembers fondly. The pacing is spectacular, even though the main character is struggling to move we are never left in a setting for too long.

Ultimately, it's Jessica's strength and passion that drive the action, and we are thrown into her world entirely. Even as a dedicated couch potato, I felt that I could relate to her and understand her motivation and persistence.

Wendelin Van Draanen has been a popular author for many years, and is most closely associated with the Sammy Keyes series. She also writes many stand alone novels for older young adult readers. She writes that the message that she truly wanted to impart to readers with The Running Dream was one of hope, starring a triumphant underdog, because really, who doesn't love an underdog?

Meghan Drummond
Wovenmyst.com

Jessica is a runner. A track star. She lives to run. Then an uninsured truck plows into the side of the school bus the track team is traveling on and Jessica loses her right leg. Her running dream is over. Maybe. At least as far as she is concerned it is. Thankfully, Jessica's best friend sticks by her side and pushes her to her limits. Her track coach shows her video of amputees who can and do run. Her team decides to raise the $20,000 it will cost for a special running leg. And then there is Rosa. Rosa has never been more than "the girl in the wheelchair" to Jessica. She has been invisible in Jessica's world, but now Rosa becomes Jessica's math tutor, her confidant, her friend who really understands what it is like to deal with a disability. Her track friends give Jessica encouragement and support, but Rosa gives her hope and inspiration. As all of this huge support system wraps around Jessica and plans to get her back on the track team and running, Jessica must also battle her own insecurities and fears, the people who discourage and want to tear her down, and her worries over mounting medical bills caused by the accident. Can she overcome her obstacles to once again achieve her running dream? Recommended for grades 6 and up. A South Carolina Junior Book Award nominee for 2013-2014.

A high school track team suddenly crashes on a bus, on their way to a track meet. Is everybody okay? Who is hurt? Did somebody die? Jessica the main character must find a way to run track again, after a terrifying bus crash. This is a preview of the book "The Running Dream," written by Wendelin Van Draanen.
Wendelin Van Draanen is a very good children’s writer. In the book "The Running Dream," she has very interesting details throughout the book, she expresses her characters feelings, and she creates real life problems that has happened to kids and adults before. In the book "The Running Dream," one of her most famous books, she keeps the readers on the edge of their seat and creates many suspenseful moments. She starts the book by grabbing the reader’s attention and keeps their attention all the way till the end of the book. There are real life problems in "The Running Dream" that can happen to any kid or adult, but Wendelin Van Draanen shows in the book that nothing is impossible and even if somebody has a disability, they can do anything they want to do.
The characters always expresses their emotions or feelings throughout the book. The reader will always know what a character is feeling or thinking. Wendelin Van Draanen is a great author and I believe "The Running Dream" is one of her best books she has ever written. I give the book "The Running Dream" five stars.

An accident involving a junk-hauling truck and a school bus leaves one high school track team member dead and one team member with her leg amputated below the knee.

When Jessica wakes up after surgery, she learns that her leg was hopelessly crushed, leaving doctors no choice but to amputate it. At the same time she is facing her own crippling injury, she learns that her fellow teammate, Lucy, didn't survive. Her world looks pretty bleak and hopeless.

Because she is young and healthy, Jessica's recovery goes smoothly and she soon heads home from the hospital. Physical therapists have been preparing what remains of her leg for a prosthetic replacement. Her wish is to walk, but she doesn't hold out much hope that she will ever run again. Supportive family and friends work hard to convince her that she needs to be patient and keep a positive outlook. Of course, this is easier said than done.

Upon returning to school, Jessica finds herself working hard to catch up on the work she has missed, especially Algebra II. Because of her wheelchair, she sits in the back of the classroom with Rosa, also wheelchair-bound due to cerebral palsy. Jessica discovers that Rose is a math whiz and can explain the concepts even better than the teacher. It's amazing how Jessica never really noticed Rosa before the accident, but now she understands that cerebral palsy is just an outside condition and that there is much more to Rosa on the inside.

Meanwhile, medical expenses are challenging the family budget, and when the track coach mentions the idea of a "running" leg for Jessica, the $20,000 expense seems impossible. But, once again, her friends step forward and decide to make Jessica's ability to someday run again their cause. There are bake sales, car washes, and anonymous donations to raise money for a special prosthetic running leg. All this enthusiastic support encourages Jessica to begin dreaming of one day running again.

THE RUNNING DREAM by Wendelin Van Draanen explores the heartbreak resulting from a tragic accident. Being a teen is difficult enough, but add to that the loss of a limb and life seems too depressing to go on. Not only is Jessica battling the loss of her running dream, but also the self-esteem issues of how others now view her and how she fits into the world of other healthy, happy teens around her. Van Draanen proves that determination, courage, and empathy for others can sustain hope in what might be considered a hopeless situation. Readers from middle school on up will find this one a rewarding read.

Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"

In The Running Dream, Jessica the lifelong sprinter learns that life is indeed a marathon and not a sprint. Jessica loses her leg after a tragic car accident. Jessica lives to run - she starts her day with a long run with her dog and she ends her day with track practice. Without her leg, she may still be alive, but her life is over.

The author does a wonderful job of portraying the physical and emotional aftermath of losing a limb, especially for someone who defines herself by her physical abilities. Jessica does not wake up from the hospital geared up and ready to start her new life. Of course not. Who would? She's despondent. Then she's angry. Then she's sulky. She basically goes through the classic steps of grief. Additionally, it is fascinating to learn about the physical aspects of losing a limb. The idea of phantom limb pain is explored as well as many details about prosthetic limbs. The reader is entertained while subconsciously educated.

When Jessica goes back to school she can't fit beneath a desk in her wheelchair, so she is assigned to sit with Rosa, who has cerebral palsy. Rosa has always been there, but she was invisible to the healthy, happy Jessica. Just like she is invisible to everyone, inside and outside of school. They develop a slow friendship. At first, Jessica is mostly just being polite to Rosa, but soon she discovers she truly cares for Rosa and looks beyond her disability. I love how Rosa was portrayed. She was not just a kid with cerebral palsy. She was a math genius. She was funny, caring, and thoughtful. She wanted more out of life. Physical disabilities are so rarely portrayed in YA literature. The author did a wonderful job in creating a character who was only partially defined by her disability.

Slowly, Jessica starts to heal, physically and emotionally. Rosa was a big part of that process. Jessica realizes that she is lucky in a way Rosa can never be. She can walk again - with a prosthetic limb she can even run again. She has tons of friends and supporters. She will never be invisible. Jessica heals not only for herself, but for her family, her friends, and for Rosa.

There is a little romance in this book. It's really a side plot. Perhaps thrown in there to meet the quasi-requirement of a crush in a YA novel. While it wasn't necessary, it was sweet and moved the book along.

Wendelin's prose was excellent. The book moved quickly and smoothly. The prose was simple yet elegant. You really felt Jessica's emotions and healed alongside her. At the same time, it didn't go overboard. It never felt like trumped up drama. I could easily be stepping into a real person's life, thoughts, and emotions.

The Running Dream is a well-written, enjoyable novel. It is a serious book, but will leave you feeling uplifted.

Rating: 4.5 / 5

Sixteen-year-old Jessica Carlisle lives to run. Every morning, she and her dog, Sherlock, tackle a five-mile loop to start the day; the wind in her hair and the pull of her muscles make her feel alive. After school, she and her best friend, Fiona, join the track team for practice and competitions. Jessica is even counting on winning a track scholarship for college. But then her entire world screeches to a painful dead end.

The man who crashes into the track team's bus doesn't have insurance, and that's the smallest of the disasters he leaves behind. One member of the track team dies in the accident, and Jessica's crushed leg requires amputation. Now she faces huge obstacles just to use the bathroom, take a shower and climb the stairs. After taking some time to heal, she is fitted with a prosthetic leg and struggles in learning to walk again. In addition, she continuously battles the demons of self worth, all the while believing she will never run again.

But then Jessica finds some seeds of hope. There is a special prosthetic leg available just for running, but it's terribly expensive. Her track family decides to raise the money to buy it for her, enlisting the help and support of the entire community. Meanwhile, Jessica struggles to catch up on her missed homework and calls on math whiz Rosa for assistance. She has never paid much attention to Rosa, who uses a wheelchair and suffers from cerebral palsy. But their friendship sparks a new strength and light in Jessica that inspires her to want to give something back to Rosa. She is determined to share her love of running with her new friend in a way Rosa never could have imagined.

In THE RUNNING DREAM, the vastly talented Wendelin Van Draanen invites her audience on a journey of survival and self-discovery. Right from the beginning, the storyline pulls you through the pages with a passion. Along the way, you will learn much about prosthetics and cerebral palsy, both the facts and the feelings, without it ever seeming like a lesson. You will bond with Jessica, feel her pain, mourn her loss, celebrate her achievements, and cheer her to the finish line.

THE RUNNING DREAM is an amazing story filled with nightmarish endings and torturous new beginnings, oozing with heart and hope, and lingering warmly long after the last page is turned.

--- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman, author of FINDING MY LIGHT

The Running Dream is a well written YA realistic fiction about a young woman coming to terms with her life after a devastating accident. The author did a good job of explaining Jessica's injury and her tough road back. This book lends itself well to the audio format and I would recommend it to YA readers of all ages.

Ani J

I'm doing a book review on the running dream. I wanted to review this book because it made me think about how grateful I am for everything and how lucky I am to have all my limbs. In this book a girl name Jessica gets in an accident and she wonders if she will ever be able to run again. This made me think what could have happened to Jessica if she was never be able to run again? Later in the book Jessica is living in the hospital for a while and she is really doughting life right when she gets released from the hospital has to go back to school. At this point she's feeling very very nervous about going back to school.

Jessica started school now and in math the teacher is not kind at all to Jessica and makes Jessica sit in the back of the class next to a girl named Rosa. Jessica at first hates it but she soon comes to see what a good friend Rosa is.

Its time for track and Jessica really wants to find someway that she can participate by this time her and rosa are really good friends plus Jessica is working with her doctor to get her a artificial leg.

Now Jessica has her artificial leg and has joined the track team. Her life has really been turned around.

“I am a runner. That's what I do. That's who I am. Running is all I know, or want, or care about.” That’s how Jessica feels about her life, until one horrible moment when she lost everything. That horrible moment happened right after she had broken the league record for the 400-meter run. Right after she felt like she couldn’t have had a happier moment in her whole entire life; that was the moment when everything plummeted down, leading to days and days of restless moments and terrifying thoughts. That accident ruined her life, it took away her leg. Throughout this book Jessica learns how to cope with only having one leg, and learns how to cope with all the other things going on with her life; she will also learn that people you never expected to become friends with can be the people that you turn to when you need someone to talk to. She learns the true meaning of this quote as well, “Don't sum up a person based on what you see, or what you don't understand; get to know them.”

The Running Dream is an extremely inspirational book written with precise detail and great show of emotions. I read this book in the summer of 7th grade and found it just a tiny bit predictable. For example, sometimes I could tell exactly what a character was going to do or say at the very moment. The emotion within the characters of this book was extremely realistic and relatable. I believe that it is important for books to have complex characters and the main character in The Running Dream, was definitely complex both emotionally and physically. I would recommend this book to 5-7th graders who are looking for a book filled with emotion and a realistic plot line. ​

Very good book about a high school student who was a promising track athlete until she lost her leg in an accident. Jessica thinks her life is over, but help from family and friends (new and old) plus actually learning to run again with a racing prosthesis helps her turn her finish line into a new start.

The beginning was emotional and well rendered, managing to show how much running meant to Jessica by describing what it felt like to have it taken away. The chapters were short and staccato especially toward the beginning, which helped emphasize the abrupt ups and downs of her experiences. And the narration almost always did a good job of introducing people and situations without feeling like they were deliberately expository. Interestingly, the story is written in present tense and it took me a while to notice; it was just that natural. And I liked that the book was divided into sections that drew their titles from running metaphors, taking Jessica's life in micro and generalizing it to the big picture.

The only bits that felt a little fake for me were Jessica's relationship with a guy she'd had a crush on for a long time (who of course ends up actually liking her) and some of the saccharine lessons Jessica learned through befriending a girl with cerebral palsy and learning to see beyond her condition. I thought the best thing about the book was how realistically it depicted a teenage girl dealing with guilt, shame, depression, and inspiration, and how sometimes she had to re-learn things she'd already learned. I also like that not every kinda crappy, petty character in the book was magically rehabilitated at the end (because that often happens in these kinds of books, yet a couple catty girls didn't seem to learn anything), and I liked that Jessica's friends sometimes said and did the wrong things or didn't know how to feel or were selfish and imperfect, just like Jessica herself.

This book is very inspiring for anybody, but especially for people with disabilities. The main character Jessica lost her leg in a car accident but it didn't mean her dream of running was over. The author puts you in a seat right next to Jessica on a roller coaster of emotions. You ride the highs and lows on the road to recovery from a life altering event that could be ruinous if you give up, but strengthening if you embrace the challenge. The courage, determination, and strength of the main character kept me riveted right up to the last page which seemed to come too soon, but left me feeling inspired and empowered.

Having health problems of my own, I like to read books about other kids that do. I found this book after I had a particular difficult surgery and was learning how to cope with my new life. Needless to say I fell in love with it. Experiencing the same circumstances as the reader, i felt a certain connection. This book helped me through a particularly difficult time in my life and i highly recommend it for anyone facing health problems.

this book was very inspirational. it started off on a depressing note revealing that the once amazing high school runner jessica, was now crippled without a leg. soon this book explained this incident was due to a freak accident between the bus driver and driver on the way to a track meet, this book showed the ups and downs Jessica had to go through, she went into a depression after losing the leg, while she was in the hospital she contemplates if being alive having to live without a leg was even worth it, another one of her teammates had died in the accident, and Jessica wondered if her teammate had the better end of what happened. Jessica became very distant from her friends and family because she believed she couldn't be happy if she was not able to run. running was such a big deal to Jessica because it was practically her life. all the hard work she had put in, in order to get to were she was at, she was one of the best runners to run the 400m event. running was her life, so having to go on with her life without her teammates and not being able to do something she has been training for her whole life was devastating, through the book Jessica teammates and her coach and everyone in her community believed that Jessica would be running soon, but Jessica did not believe it. all the expenses needed for everything Jessica went through the prices were through the roof and Jessica's family were drowning in the medical expenses, but her teammates did not give up they did fundraisers, and articles trying to get Jessica's story out and for her to get the money needed to get the running leg she deserved, along the way of all the things Jessica went through, she met a girl in her class who she had never known before who had cerebral palsy, this opened up Jessica's eyes that she didn't have it as bad as she thought, she became very close with the girl and realized she could have it a lot worse, rosa the girl with cerebral palsy help Jessica get through a lot, overall this book really showed me how much hard work can get you and to always keep a positive mind set because' someone always has it worse than you.

The Running Dream is less about the end and more about the journey to the end. Only through a great change in her life does Jessica realize something. Her story affects more than just her and her family, but the entire community.

Jessica has always been running for as long as she's remembered. She had just set a new record when her school bus carrying her team has an accident. A freshman named Lucy died, but Jessica wishes she was dead. The accident took away her right leg; she is now a below-the-knee amputee. Her dreams of running ran straight out the door leaving Jessica behind.

The Running Dream is a heart-breaking novel that left me teary eyed before I reached the halfway point. As a novel that focuses on a drastic change in a life, it is amazing. On a technical scale and how much research the author poured into the novel, it shows. The Running Dream is an all-around winner.

Jessica is a fierce competitor but that doesn't stop her from being a good friend, part of the team, and caring about others. The accident took more than a limb as Jessica deals with depression and her family trying to pay medical bills as fingers point the blame to another. The frustration of being unable to get up the stairs, across the room, and even showering is palpable. Jessica's moods constantly drive up and down from optimism to depression is understandable as each new bump in the road its ups and downs. Despite her mood swings I found Jessica likeable, relatable, and grounded to the situation.

What helped Jessica are her family members, friends, and newfound friends. They push her to become a better person and are openly accepting of her new condition. They joke and treat her the same as she were before the accident. Her new life forces her to sit in the back of the class with Rosa, a freshman math genius who has cerebral palsy who's been stuck in a wheelhouse for her entire life. Rosa is an upbeat person and has only dreamed on running.

The romantic aspect on the novel was definitely lackluster. As a character, he's nice and respectable. He and Jessica are sweet together, but the relationship is a side-side story. There's no ommpf or pow factor.

I really thought this story would be boring. I'm not into sports very much, and most books about sports are really boring to me. Plus, the protagonist loses one of her legs right before the story starts. And, even though I'm fascinated by amputees, I thought a book about someone dealing with being an amputee couldn't be all that exciting. And the first few chapters about Jessica, the amputee, are all about her being very depressed. I really only picked up this book because it was the shortest book on my bookshelf, and I needed a quick read.

But, after I made it through the "My life is over" chapters, I really started to enjoy this book. Jessica is grief stricken at first, and mopes around for the first few chapters. That's really understandable, but she pretty quickly starts picking up the pieces of her life and starts figuring out how to live without her leg. I learned a lot about the process of getting a prosthetic leg, and it was really cool to see Jessica adapt and grow throughout the book.

And speaking of, it's a very emotional book. I'm really glad I have a Kindle Paperwhite, because that let me read this book in almost complete darkness, without anyone seeing me crying my eyes out. But, I didn't feel like the book made any cheap emotional shots, which shows how well-written it is. This book doesn't take any emotional shortcuts, which I really liked. The book is all about real people and real emotions.

I really liked how the book paces through all of the stages of grief. This book is specifically about grief for a lost limb, but I think it's an awesome model for handling any kind of tragic event. I heartily recommend this book to everyone.

Pros:
+Captures teenage angst without being whiny. This is the first book I've read that has done this, which is very impressive, since there's a lot of angst in this book.
+Very well written book
+A book about triumph and the unlimited reserves of humanity
+It's a tearjerker, but it's all about real emotions, so it's not an unfair kind of emotional punch, like most tearjerkers
+Very well balanced

Cons:
-Starts out really depressing, but that's all part of the acceptance cycle of tragedy in this book
-What are the odds that a car crash into a school bus will instantly kill one person, sever the leg of another, and do absolutely no other damage to anybody else? I had to force myself to stop thinking about that, because the rest of the book really is good.
-It's a really emotional book, but in a good way. Read it somewhere where nobody can see you crying.

The Running Dream is very inspirational, and I love books that make me feel, think and moves my heart.
Jessica is a great narrator- she has a concise voice, and I like how the emotion comes out in this book. It is fictional, but it all feels real. From the details, the emotions, the responses of friends and family, down to financial matters.
I love the message that comes through both Jessica and Rose- do not see the disability- see the person. I love that even though Jessica has her own physical problems, she must overcome her prejudices and notions with Rose.
This is a great story and I recommend it

It is rare for a YA novel to deal with teen tragedies in a realistic way (hence the popularity of The Fault In Our Stars), but The Running Dream portrays the loss and recovery from a horrific car accident in way that feels authentic. Jessica, a star athlete, loses her leg and her running future. The Running Dream takes the reader through Jessica's emotional and physical damage, her slow painful recovery and her new future without being schmaltzy or trite. The Running Dream is also a coming-of-age story. Teen girls will relate to Jessica's search for passion and purpose.

this was one of the best books I have ever read! This book is about a 16 year old girl named jessica.Jessica loves and lives for running. Then one day she gets in a really bad accident and loses a leg. Jessica basic gives up on life,because the one thing she loves she cant do anymore. She thinks that the girl who died in the accident got the better side of the deal. Jessica thinks that ever waking again is out of the question, let alone running. But sometimes tragedy can open new doors.
This story is about moving on , bieng brave and accepting your reality. Oh and yes there is romance!

It's a sunny day in California and all is going well for Jessica and her high school's varsity track team; Jessica, the school's star runner has set new record time. As they head back home celebrate their victory, a mini truck slammed into the school bus the team was traveling in. This devastating accident left a teammate dead and Jessica's leg crushed. Jessica's leg was seriously damaged and it needs to be amputated. Jessica thinks that her entire career is over. However, with help and support from family and friends,

You know how it is when you wake up in the morning and sigh...you have to go to work at a place that makes you ill, or you have to face down a bill collector, or spend hours in your home trying to work and take care of your child while outside your next door neighbors are playing music so loud it could wake the dead. Or maybe you can't sleep because of the aches and pains or the icy wind blowing against the window, and you wish your life could be better? I'm guilty of this; I'm guilty of cussing or crying, sighing or grumbling...but what if it was worse? What if I really had something to complain about? I don't. I get up every day on two good legs, with minor aches and pains maybe, but able to walk out the door and follow my dream. This is a book that shows us what real troubles are, and how someone can overcome the fact that they have lost the destiny that they were shooting for with their whole heart, body, mind, and soul.

Jessica Carlisle has a gift - she can run like the wind and win race after race for her team. She's so good, in fact, that she's looking at winning gold medals in the Olympics when she gets older. Not only is she good at running, she loves it. There is nothing like the power - the "whoosh" - as her feet glide across the asphalt to people cheering. In that world she is Queen; in that world everything else makes sense. After a meet one day, where she has set a record almost impossible to achieve, Jessica is sitting on the bus with her friends when the crash comes. The lights go out and when they blink back on, she's in a hospital bed. She has a mother crying beside her; flowers on the table telling her to Get Well; a father who is angry and pacing the floor ready to take out the fates that have hurt his little girl; and, a cheery doctor who can say nothing more than 'you're healing well...you're fine...everything will get better...' and smiling like Jessica should feel like she's just won the lottery. A smile that says forget about the fact that one of your legs is gone, at least you have your life.

What life? Her whole future has been taken away from her. Her leg was smashed under a tangled piece of metal while others escaped with only cuts and bruises. Jessica is mad...beyond mad. Why her?

The story that follows hits you right between the eyes. Not a standard drama, the author writes her pages from Jessica's own mind, showing readers the steps of depression, anger, and the torrent of emotions that happen to someone when life becomes brutally unfair. The power that Jessica shows, the courage and bravery that comes upon her when she realizes that it's not over and there's no way the devil who made this happen is going to win, makes for one of the most powerful stories I've read in a long time.

Jessica's best friend, the boy she's always loved from afar, the support of her parents, schoolmates, and coach, as well as a young freshman in a wheelchair named Rosa who becomes a large part of Jessica's life, all come together to make a story that the reader WANTS to read. Not because of the lessons taught, mind you, but because Jessica's life, while tragic at first, turns into a fun, enjoyable read about friendship and starting over.

I hope this book goes straight to the top where it belongs...and I will try never to whine again. I will chase my dream until the lights turn out for good no matter what stands in my way or is thrown at me. Jessica is a fantastic role model for children and adults to simply keep going and, no matter what, doing what you love. Bravo!

Until Next Time,
Amy, Bookpleasures.com Reviewer

Jessica is a normal sophomore in high school- she's desperately crushing on a guy who's virtually unattainable, is star of the track team, and has her whole life laid out in front of her... until the crash. When riding home from a track meet on a school bus, a truck torpedoes into the bus, killing one of Jessica's teammates and causing Jessica to lose part of her leg. And with that, Jessica's whole world comes crashing down around her. Who cares about learning to walk with a prosthetic leg if you can never learn to run? As Jessica copes with the fact that she's in the spotlight everywhere, and yet also alienated, she meets Rosa, a girl with CP in her math class. As Jessica forms a growing bond with Rosa, a girl she never paid attention to before the crash, she learns that hope is attainable after all. And with help from Jessica's family, friends, and track coach and teammates, Jessica begins to realize that she might be able to run again. But suddenly, that isn't enough. If Jessica is to attain her dream of crossing the finish line, she needs Rosa with her.

When I opened the cover of the book, I knew that it was going to be good. I had heard about it from friends and family, and all had given the book amazing reviews. When I read the first page, I knew that this was going to be a story of beating the odds and acheiving the impossible. I just didn't realize that the book was going to be so GOOD! Van Draanen skillfully incorporates teenage angst with a touching story about a sophmore in high school who lost the one thing she lived for- the ability to run.

I approached "The Running Dream" with some trepidation. I have read several other "recovery from a physical injury" books, but this one struck close to home: as a high school track athlete, I injured my knee and have since gone through two surgeries, numerous reinjuries, physical therapy, and chronic patellar tendinitis. Even though it had been years since I'd been able to run long distances, I still missed it, and I was scared to reopen old wounds and desires.

Yet I felt compelled to read it, having read several of Wendelin van Draanen's other works, knowing that she is a former track athlete (and current marathoner) herself, and knowing how much research goes into her books. I'm so thankful I did.

My fears were correct; "The Running Dream" made me re-experience many emotions: the sudden loss of being a member of a team, the grief over not being able to do your favorite activity any longer, the worry that people will only see your scars instead of your formerly "hot legs," the frustration of not being able to do things that once were second nature to you, the stress of missing school and having to catch up, the concern over the effect of your rehab on the time and finances of your family...

But it also made me remember other experiences: new friendships with people you otherwise might never have met, the gratitude for friends who stand by you and help you laugh, the patience that you can only develop through trials, the realization of what really matters to you, the joy in simple movement you rediscover as your body heals, the reminder that recovery (like all things worth doing in life) is done "step-by-step-by-step-by-step."

It's easy for "recovery from injury" books to get bogged down in the specific details of the particular injury/illness the person is recovering from, or to focus too much on the "stages of grief" and the protagonist's inner struggles. "The Running Dream" falls into neither trap. It is obviously well-researched and gives enough detail to help the reader imagine what it's like to suddenly not have one of your feet.

In one particularly vivid scene, the protagonist, Jessica, takes a shower for the first time after losing her leg, and is frustrated over how long it takes her to get up the stairs and how difficult it is to get into the tub. But then while bathing, she conducts a thought experiment on how difficult it would be to lose a hand instead. This scene stands out because it is one of the few that really focuses so much on Jessica's difficulties; in other scenes, they're there in the background, but the other concerns of her life are increasingly the focus as she adapts to her disability.

"The Running Dream" starts off in Jessica's hospital room, where she's alone with her thoughts. These scenes are mercifully short, giving the reader a glimpse into the despair and sorrow that comes with losing a limb, without wallowing in it. This enables the reader to fill in the details from their own imagination, while the story moves on to explore broader themes of friendship, teamwork, the power of a community, seeing people for who they are on the inside instead of what they are physically, and the importance of staying the course when facing joys and pitfalls in pursuing a goal.

One of Wendelin van Draanen's strongest writing traits is her interesting, memorable, realistic, dynamic characters. "The Running Dream" is no exception. The characters are all loveable yet flawed -- which somehow just makes them more loveable. Jessica is talented, strong, dedicated, caring, and team-oriented, but she's also insecure, bad at math, and occasionally grumpy and self-centered (understandably so, given what she's gone through, and yet she realizes that she must turn her focus outward again as she copes with her disability). Her best friend, Fiona, is enthusiastic, organized, loving, and energetic, but she sometimes is overbearing and speaks before she thinks. Jessica's new friend, Rosa, is a philosophical "math genius" who is sometimes content to let life happen to her (or just pass her by). "The Running Dream" suggests that perhaps Facebook was correct that "friend" is a verb -- an active, continuous verb. Jessica realizes how tenuous friendships can become if you don't work to maintain them, especially when the things you have in common slip away.

The romance in "The Running Dream" is a mere side-story to reinforce the theme that character is more important than the outer package (even when the outer package is attractive). It's refreshing to see a healthy teen romance that becomes an important part of Jessica's life without consuming her other interests and responsibilities. However, the romance is just a side-story, and so much of it is left to the reader's imagination.

The main arc of the story is focused on Jessica re-establishing her personal identity, realizing that she's still the same person, and regaining her ability to run. Throughout the book, little bubbles of hope rise to the surface, building to a triumphant finale. The book is grounded in reality; there's no promise that a prosthesis will suddenly make everything completely better. Success requires hard work and dedication. But with hard work, dedication, and the support of friends and family, you can be happy working towards your goals, because happiness is in the journey, not just at the destination.

"The Running Dream" is truly one of the most uplifting, inspirational, hopeful, triumphant books I've ever read. When I finished reading it, I got up and ran. Just 50 steps, but I ran. And the next day, I ran two sets of 50 steps. I've continued to build my mileage, slowly, through run-walking. I've faced setbacks, even a period of not being able to run at all for 4 months. But throughout the difficulties, I remember the lessons I learned from "The Running Dream": how every goal must be tackled step by step, to focus on the bigger picture (realizing that even with setbacks, if you keep moving forward, you'll still end up farther along than if you'd just given up), how setbacks build character and strengthen resolve, the importance of doing what I love because I love it, not to compare myself to my past self.

I can say with certainty that I would not be running today if I hadn't read "The Running Dream." I have loved running since before I can even remember (I used to escape and run laps around church as a toddler). I have tried countless other times to start running again, but it was only after reading "The Running Dream" that I was able to be gentle enough with myself, to give myself permission to build literally step by step, and to be patient and not give up in the face of setbacks. This book has changed my life. I still think about it and look to it for inspiration at least once a week, even though it's been over a year since I last read it. I've read it more than once, and it helped me find perspective and strengthen my resolve in the face of other difficulties besides running.

They say you can't put hope in a box, but as long as you can fit "The Running Dream" in a box, you can. I recommend it to anyone struggling with any kind of setback, from 12 to 112. It is a book with layers, one that will continue to inspire on each reading (and even between readings). It just might change your life, as it did mine.

Note: "The Running Dream" is deceptively short and uses simple vocabulary, but it is by no means simple itself. I have worked with middle and high schoolers who struggled with reading, and many of the books for "reluctant readers" I've read with them were "babyish" (their words, not mine). I think "The Running Dream" would be excellent for this demographic; it is accessible but thought-provoking.

l read a lot in my spare time and some books are great and others not so much,but this book turned out to be a good one! A friend of mine suggested this book to me and l m so glad she did. The Running Dream really is an inspiring story about a girl who will never give up. l would highly recommend this book and any other books from the auther.

This is a book I'd love to see all teens read. Its overriding message is one of compassion. Van Draanen begins with a fairly basic plot, and we begin to feel that we know where it's going. Then the book takes an unexpected turn; a turn toward an even greater need for compassion. Jessica, the main character, is going through a hellish time, and this experience enables her to see that although she desperately needs the compassion of others, there are others with far greater needs. It is heart-wrenching and heart-warming to watch the newly crippled Jessica placing the needs of another over her own.
This beautifully written story will keep the reader eagerly turning the pages until the tale is told, and the messages of generosity, compassion, and selflessness will not be quickly forgotten.

This book was amazing. At some times it was so meaningful that it made me cry. I definitely would read this book over and over again. Jessica is such a great rolemodle,showing people to not look at people's disabilities or condition but to actually give them a chance and don't underestimate them because you may be surprised.

Lil writes:
Losing a leg is tough, but for a sixteen-year-old track runner, it's not just her leg that she has lost, it is the ability to run. In The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen, Jessica was not expecting to get into a car crash. She was not expecting to lose her leg. And after that, she was certainly not expecting to run again. But her best friend Fiona, her new friend Rosa, and her boyfriend Gavin are helping her to get back on track, literally. Jessica, a sixteen-year-old girl who loves to run, tells this story from a first person point of view. This book can be very emotional and it made me cry several times. The Running Dream captures the depression, stress, and difficulties a disabled person can go through. The Running Dream is one of my favorite books because it inspired me to treat disabled people the same way I would treat any other person. I recommend this book to people 3rd grade and up who like realistic fiction. Overall, The Running Dream is an amazing book that can be enjoyed by both boys and girls who want to know what life is like for a girl with one leg.

This was such a good book about a girl who loses the bottom half of her leg and how she gets through the hard times. It's about her coming back and getting a leg and running again and how she makes friends with an unlikely girl. It's about their "race" together. It shows you that you should never give up no matter what life throws at you.

I found this book touching and beautiful and was choked up many times listening to it on audio CD.

The characters are well-drawn, sympathetic and likable. The technical details about prosthetic limbs seems to have been very well-researched. Best of all, the plot flows well and the story's emotional content is solid and satisfying from start to finish.

Give this book a try!

Laura Flanagan's audio CD narration is masterful, and I hope to hear her work again.

Amazing book! I couldn’t stop reading it! This book was so touching and the ending was especially great (all of the book is amazing). I would totally recommend this book for everyone! I finished it in two days!!!

I've read "Flipped" and "Runaway", both by Wendelin Van Draanen, and enjoyed them immensely. Best known for her "Sammy Keyes" and "Shredderman" series, and the film version of "Flipped", Ms. Van Draanen has proven herself an excellent writer of juvenile fiction (her numerous awards, including the Edgar Allen Poe Award and Christopher Medal awards attest to this). But "The Running Dream" puts her into a whole different league. This story will entertain you, touch you, inform you, and inspire you. As "Motherless Brooklyn" did for Tourette's Syndrome; "Still Alice" did for Alzheimer's disease; and "Club Meds" did for ADHD, "The Running Dream" gives us an insight into the world of a young amputee (track athlete Jessica), as well as a glimpse into the mind of someone with Cerebral Palsy (math genius Rosa). A compelling, quick read, with a powerful message.

This book is about an amazing girl who's life is running. But when she loses a leg, she does not know who she is anymore. All she thinks is that she will never run again. Although, Losing a leg was actually not that bad when she discovered the new found friendship inside a a girl with cerebral palsy whom everyone ignores. Jessica finds inspiration in videos seeing that some pro runners have one leg gone and the hope of her new friend crossing the finish line. She will need 20000 $ to earn the running leg but there are already argument going on between parents and coach wondering who will pay the bills. For a shorter read as good and similar to this book read OUT OF MY MIND by Sharon Draper

Ok, I chose this book because I myself am a sprinter, just like the main character. I have completely fallen in love with the sport of track and field and I thought that this would be a good read for me, especially since i had not read a good book in awhile. But as I was reading this book, I could feel the emotion, I could imagine the pain that the character was going through, and I even felt her triumphs when she accomplished something. This book was an amazing read, and this author is an even more amazing writer. I literally read her book flipped back in middle school, remembered how good it was, looked up the author for more good books to read, and read Runaway as well as the running dream. By far the running dream is my favorite. Read if you want to enjoy yourself with this woman's talent!!!!!!

Actually the reason I bought this book is because I love the author. Big, big fan of hers ever since I read Runaway. Her characters are captivating and well not let you go. This book captures the essence of a girls lost dream recaptured. If you have a child that does not like to read, introduce them to Runaway and The Running Dream and watch what happens. It will amaze you.

The Running Dream is a wonderful book. It teaches you to follow your dream and keep persevering through anything, thick and thin. It's about a girl who loves track with all her heart-loves the wind in her face, and the ground at her feet. But when a tragic car accident happens, she has to have her foot amputated. She goes through easy and hard in this wonderful novel. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes sports, or just a heart-felt story!

I am a 9th grade ELA teacher who is reading this book to her students. I read approximately 2 chapters a day to them and they always want me to read more! They love this book. I am always happy when I find a book that they are interested in and this one definitely is! The students really relate to the characters. My students always say "you're reading today, right?" Excellent book.

Please ignore all reviews less than five stars. This book blew me away, I ended up doing my 7th grade book report on it.This book is such a winner, I didn't want it to end. Do yourself a favor and read this book. You'll be glad you did.

This book was amazing I read it at the age of eleven and read it in 1 1/5 of a day,I think this book is mixed emotions sad,happy,nervous and more I also like this book because this is realistic fiction and could actually happen I would definitely read this book.

I absolutely adored this book! It was and is a must read. It kept me on the edge of my seat and is a page turner. I don't normally reread books but I would definitely read this amazing book again. I recommend this book to 5th through 8th graders.

I read this entire book in a day. I myself am an avid runner and when my father got me this book for Christmas, I was thrilled to start. I do not often cry at books and movies but this book brought me to tears four times before the fifty page mark. It inspired me to push harder, live healthier, and appreciate my ablebodiedness. Beautifully written, I reccomend this book to anyone interested in inspiration, emotion, and a simply great read.

I'd never felt that close to a person with disability until I read this book. The main character's courage inspires me, makes me feel strong, make me feel I am so much lucky that I have a whole normal body, and with that, none of my dreams should be unachievable.
After reading the book for almost a whole night, I wake up, and feeling strong toward everything in my short- and long-term to do lists :)

I teach sixth grade and one of my former reading students recommmended this book to me. It is absolutely amazing. I loved it. I even almost cried at points in the book as the characters overcame struggles and strove to be better people through the tragic situation of their lives. I can't find the words to say how well written this book is, or how much I want as many students as I can reach, to read it.

The Running Dream is one of the best books I have read in a very long time. I really loved how you could clearly see the main character's strength through the obstacles in her way. I honestly could not put this book down and I finished it in only two days! The main character is so relatable which can really help the readers see that in their life, they can get through any obstacle and become stronger along the way. I would highly recommend this book and I enjoyed it very, very much.

Wow. That one word describes this book. It Is fantastic and taught me a great big lesson- make the most of what you have. I wish I could be a more grateful person like Jessica. I read this whole book in one day!!!

I LOVE THIS BOOK !!!!!!! I got it one night and the very next I was done with it !!!!! I love running and the whole time I was reading the book I thought how it would be if I lost my leg , all the things I wouldn't be able to do !!! This book is very inspiring !!!!!!!!:) :) :)

This book was truly amazing and I finished it in one day. I could just not put it down! Me, being an athlete, I can't imagine what it would be like for Jessica or her parents, yet they handle it so well! It was very inspirational and beautifully written. Well done.

I happened to notice this book in a sidebar advertisement, and I'm so glad I did! It's a fast read, but very engrossing and hard to put down! I loved reading about how Jessica grew and changed as a result of her injury and the people she meets. She's fictional, but she feels very real! It's inspirational without being over the top, and it deals with some very real issues in life without being flippant.

This utterly difficult topic -- a teen athlete's loss of a limb -- never comes close to didacticism, which attests to the skill and care of this writer. It's obvious that she's passionate about the subject, one of many reasons why Jessica is so alive on every page. I felt more than Jessica's physical pain. I felt her very teen angst about real everyday teen issues. The character Rosa (wheelchair bound with CP) is a refreshing and unexpected addition, bringing the story full circle without being predictable. Go Jessica! Go Rosa!

I personally loved this book. It was a very emotional and inspirational book. It showed that despite you difficulties, you can get by and succeed. You just need to believe that you can. This book is a wonderful representation of following your dreams. It told me that I can do whatever I set my mind to. It was a delightful book. I very much enjoyed it.

This book inspired me a lot! I love how the main character never quits. You really get attached to her! I love to run, and The Running Dream was a huge inspiration. (Reviewed by a 12 year old reader).

The running dream by Wendelin Van Draanen is amazing! It's about a girl named Jessica who loves to run! Until.... The terrible car acsadent that killed one of her track teammates, who was also her friend. But for Jessica it was far worse than that. Ever since she lost her leg all she wanted to do was walk again, but most importantly run again. This book is so inspiring and so different than any other book you've read. Please, please, read it!?

I loved this book. I feel as though I went on the journey with Jessica. Very inspirational. The authors voice was fun to read as Jessica. Her short sentences that were like a stream of conscience. Perfect book for reluctant readers. Inspiring!!!!!

Jessica is the main character in this book.She went through a very traffic accident that also caused a fatality with one of her friends.she loses a limb and accomplishes some very amazing things.This is a very inspiring book and has taught me that nothing is impossible.thank you Wendelin Van Draanen you rock!!!!!

This is my favorite book. I am a runner and I haven't lost my leg but Jessica reminds me of me. This book is inspirational I am a sprinter and I do cross country. This book has taught me to never give up even when it gets difficult. If there was a sequel I would buy and read It as soon as I hear about it. I hope there can be a sequel. I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!

This book is a must-read for anyone- runners and couch potatoes alike! I really connected with all of the characters, and from now on, I'll be sure to think of Jessica and Rosa whenever I'm in "Rigor Mortis Bend"!

This book is fantastic! A really good story of perseverance and determination. Draanen does a great job with being realistic, unlike other authors where nothing goes wrong. 5/5 stars for The Running Dream.

Teen runner loses her leg in an accident. Interesting and inciteful. The author helps you really understand what it is about running that runners love so much. I am a teacher who will recommend this book to many of my students.

This book has been part of my life for awhile now and I love it. It has so many great lessons in it. I am a former track runner my self and this has taught me to flight till the end. This is an amazing story and I would recommend it to everyone!!

I had to read this book for school and it was so amazing I definitely recommend this book to athletes! I wish that they didn't leave you with suspense at the end, though, because there is no way to find out and you are left with a sort of an empty feeling

This is a fantastic book! Nothing like it is out in book stores. This book shows the story of a girl who lost her leg, and not just her story from recovering, but what she learned. Perseverance, hope, trust, to branch out, and more!

I love this book and would recommend it for everyone. I love the ending and it's just make..me not inspired about how she losses he leg (below knee amputee) and finds a way to make her dream come true. Running.

this book makes you feel good, and make you enjoy the little things like having legs. this book is very touching and when her friends help her she helps her friend who is disabled and cant run. so she helps her do that. it wonder and i reconmend it to everyone!

im 12 and abolsutely loved this book! it was by far the best book I've ever read. I could read this book over and over again and not get sick of it...honestly! it was THAT good. tons of kids who i know have read this book and they all said its their new favorite. im guarentee you'll love this book whether your into sports or not. im honestly so surprised their isn't more people who have reviewed this book...Its a MUST read!

I cracked open this book and was immediately immersed in Jessica's plight. The pace of the book
is quick, the characters are engaging and believable and the message is inspiring. What else do you need to
know? Oh yeah, this book will make a fantastic movie for young adults.

I find this book to be moving even though it is fictional.. I really love the message that this book sends. And I love how when your reading the book everything seems so real. And at times the book was boring, and there were some dull spots. But the entire book cant be eventful. And so overall this was an excellent book and I highly recommend this book!!!!

When I bought this book, I couldn't wait to read it. It sounded like a story never to forget, but then I started reading it. I thought that I should just keep reading and it might get better. I couldn't stand it! The characters were so shallow and the emotions she felt were so unexplored like saying I'm sad. Also the characters were very stereotype driven as well. For instance her sister who was in middle school or something close to that was always texting and ignorant, then the boy she likes is all about charity work and ofcourse there's the shallow mean girl. I mean really?! I was so upset with it, it could have been so better written. Then the great buzz it had been getting, I couldn't believe! I love to read books in this sort of genre, but this was just so undeniably shallow written, it was just horrible.
I wouldn't suggest it for anyone that doesn't like things like the Clique book sort of style where it's more omg sort of descriptions.

Im a guy, but I wanted to read the book. As I was reading, I was thinking about our troops that serve over seas that lost a leg or two and they have to live with It. This book just inspired me so much and I do recommed It.

"We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us."
-- Joseph Campbell

We've all had dreams die. Some of us then give up; some go out and create a new dream.

Jessica's story is interesting, informative and inspiring. Although written for young adults, adults will enjoy this book as well.

Enjoy!