About the Book The book I read for my project was entitled The Running Dream, and written by Wendelin Van Draanen. The book`s date of publication was January 11, 2011. The story begins with Jessica, a sixteen year old girl who loves to run, in a tragic accident on the bus ride home from a track meet. As the result of the accident, Jessica loses her leg. Throughout the story, she must cope with the loss of her leg and try to persevere.
About the Author The author of this novel is Wendelin Van Draanen. She was born on January 6, 1965, in Chicago, Illinois. Although she always enjoyed reading, she did not decide to become a writer until she was an adult. She got her start writing, when she tried to write a screen play about a family tragedy. Through the process of writing this screenplay, Wendelin discovered her love for writing. Her major works include the Sammy Keyes Series (published from 1998-present), Flipped (published in 2001), Runaway (published in 2006), and of course, The Running Dream (published in 2011). She is well known for her spunky lead characters and very real classroom dialogue. Her books mainly center on an inspirational theme, which usually provokes in the reader a feeling that they can conquer any obstacle.
Characters and Conflict The main character of the story is a sixteen year old runner named Jessica. The main conflict of the story is that Jessica` s bus gets in an accident on the way home from a track meet and she wakes up in the hospital with only one leg. Thinking she lost the one thing she lived for, the ability to run, Jessica just wants to give up. However, her family, her doctor, her best friend, and her track coach will not let her give up her dream that easily. Jessica is forced to face her tragic situation head on and in the process she discovers things about her life she never realized before. During this time, Jessica meets Rosa, a girl with cerebral palsy, who her and her friends always overlooked. As Rosa helps her in math, she also helps Jessica deal with her heartbreaking situation. Jessica begins to believe that maybe she can run again with the help of her prosthetic leg, but she is determined to reach her goal with Rosa right next to her.
Theme In the novel, The Running Dream, Wendelin Van Draanen uses a tragedy to show the reader that although obstacles may occur in life, they can be overcome with hard work and determination.
Review The Running Dream, by Wendelin Van Draanen is a story of inspiration and hope. After the main character, Jessica, loses her leg in a tragic car accident, she feels depressed and almost upset that she did not die in the accident. Thinking she lost the one thing loved most, the ability to run, Jessica just wants to give up. Her loved ones won`t let her however and she is forced to face her tragic situation head on. During the story, she gets to know a girl named Rosa who has cerebral palsy. Rosa helps her find the strength to follow her dream and try to run again. In the process, Jessica decides to find a way to reach her goal with Rosa by her side. This is a truly inspirational novel that I would recommend to anyone who feels defeated or depressed. I guarantee the book will make you feel positive, and give you the motivation to follow your dreams and to not accept defeat.
Analysis of Style In The Running Dream, Wendelin Van Draanen uses her serious yet positive style to tell the story of how a young girl battles back from impossible odds to reach her dream. One example of her delicate style is when she says, “I wipe away my tears and nod, because the pain in my leg is nothing compared to the one in my heart.” This quote shows how Wendelin Van Draanen uses sensitivity to convey to the reader the main character, Jessica`s, feelings and pain. One review to back up the statement about her style, is when Raven Haller, a professional reviewer said, "Van Draanen takes a taboo subject and brings it to light in a refreshing and exciting novel." Another reference to back up the statment that Van Draanen`s style helps to tell a touching story in a positive way is that Publisher`s Weekly said, "Van Draanen sensitively conveys Jessica`s struggles, from getting into the shower to her fear that no guys will be attracted to her." One last piece of support for her style is that Kirkus` Reviews stated that, "Nevertheless, 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."
Works Cited Haller, Raven. “The Running Dream.” Rev. of The Running Dream, by Wendelin Van Draanen. RT Book Reviewers. RT Book Reviewers, Jan. 2011. Web. 17 May 2012. Kirkus. “The Running Dream.” Rev. of The Running Dream, by Wendelin Van Draanen. //Kirkus//. Kirkus Reviews, 11 Jan. 2011. Web. 17 May 2012. Publishers Weekly. “The Running Dream.” Rev. of The Running Dream, by Wendelin Van Draanen. Publishers Weekly. PWxyz, LLC, 14 Feb. 2011. Web. 17 May 2012. Van Draanen, Wendelin. The Running Dream. New York: Random House, Inc, 2011. Print.
The Running Dream
The book I read for my project was entitled The Running Dream, and written by Wendelin Van Draanen. The book`s date of publication was January 11, 2011. The story begins with Jessica, a sixteen year old girl who loves to run, in a tragic accident on the bus ride home from a track meet. As the result of the accident, Jessica loses her leg. Throughout the story, she must cope with the loss of her leg and try to persevere.
The author of this novel is Wendelin Van Draanen. She was born on January 6, 1965, in Chicago, Illinois. Although she always enjoyed reading, she did not decide to become a writer until she was an adult. She got her start writing, when she tried to write a screen play about a family tragedy. Through the process of writing this screenplay, Wendelin discovered her love for writing. Her major works include the Sammy Keyes Series (published from 1998-present), Flipped (published in 2001), Runaway (published in 2006), and of course, The Running Dream (published in 2011). She is well known for her spunky lead characters and very real classroom dialogue. Her books mainly center on an inspirational theme, which usually provokes in the reader a feeling that they can conquer any obstacle.
The main character of the story is a sixteen year old runner named Jessica. The main conflict of the story is that Jessica` s bus gets in an accident on the way home from a track meet and she wakes up in the hospital with only one leg. Thinking she lost the one thing she lived for, the ability to run, Jessica just wants to give up. However, her family, her doctor, her best friend, and her track coach will not let her give up her dream that easily. Jessica is forced to face her tragic situation head on and in the process she discovers things about her life she never realized before. During this time, Jessica meets Rosa, a girl with cerebral palsy, who her and her friends always overlooked. As Rosa helps her in math, she also helps Jessica deal with her heartbreaking situation. Jessica begins to believe that maybe she can run again with the help of her prosthetic leg, but she is determined to reach her goal with Rosa right next to her.
In the novel, The Running Dream, Wendelin Van Draanen uses a tragedy to show the reader that although obstacles may occur in life, they can be overcome with hard work and determination.
The Running Dream, by Wendelin Van Draanen is a story of inspiration and hope. After the main character, Jessica, loses her leg in a tragic car accident, she feels depressed and almost upset that she did not die in the accident. Thinking she lost the one thing loved most, the ability to run, Jessica just wants to give up. Her loved ones won`t let her however and she is forced to face her tragic situation head on. During the story, she gets to know a girl named Rosa who has cerebral palsy. Rosa helps her find the strength to follow her dream and try to run again. In the process, Jessica decides to find a way to reach her goal with Rosa by her side. This is a truly inspirational novel that I would recommend to anyone who feels defeated or depressed. I guarantee the book will make you feel positive, and give you the motivation to follow your dreams and to not accept defeat.
In The Running Dream, Wendelin Van Draanen uses her serious yet positive style to tell the story of how a young girl battles back from impossible odds to reach her dream. One example of her delicate style is when she says,
“I wipe away my tears and nod, because the pain in my leg is nothing compared to the one in my heart.” This quote shows how Wendelin Van Draanen uses sensitivity to convey to the reader the main character, Jessica`s, feelings and pain. One review to back up the statement about her style, is when Raven Haller, a professional reviewer said, "Van Draanen takes a taboo subject and brings it to light in a refreshing and exciting novel." Another reference to back up the statment that Van Draanen`s style helps to tell a touching story in a positive way is that Publisher`s Weekly said, "Van Draanen sensitively conveys Jessica`s struggles, from getting into the shower to her fear that no guys will be attracted to her." One last piece of support for her style is that Kirkus` Reviews stated that, "Nevertheless, 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."
Haller, Raven. “The Running Dream.” Rev. of The Running Dream, by Wendelin Van Draanen. RT Book Reviewers. RT Book Reviewers, Jan. 2011. Web. 17 May 2012.
Kirkus. “The Running Dream.” Rev. of The Running Dream, by Wendelin Van Draanen. //Kirkus//. Kirkus Reviews, 11 Jan. 2011. Web. 17 May 2012.
Publishers Weekly. “The Running Dream.” Rev. of The Running Dream, by Wendelin Van Draanen. Publishers Weekly. PWxyz, LLC, 14 Feb. 2011. Web. 17 May 2012.
Van Draanen, Wendelin. The Running Dream. New York: Random House, Inc, 2011. Print.