1. The Running Dream
By: Wendelin Van Draanen
Realistic Fiction
PowerPoint by: Dasia Toone
2. “The Running Dream” book review
This book is about a girl named Jessica Carlisle who is a
track star in her high school. After setting a league record at a track
meet she was in a tragic bus accident. Jessica was left with her leg
in critical condition. It was so bad that she had to be hospitalized.
The doctor tells her she is making great progress but day after day
she feels worse and worse. She feels as if she will never hope
again, that she will never run again.
Jessica learns what's important in life and as she
faces the pain from losing her leg and depression, her best friend
Fiona helps her to cope with it. She meets Rosa, who’s in a
wheelchair because of cerebral palsy. Even though they’re in the
same math class, Jessica hardly even noticed Rosa before. Rosa
helps Jessica with math and soon they become good friends. Rosa
gives her hope despite of her own condition. Jessica’s track
team, family and friends help her through with this experience.
So, will Jessica ever run again?
3. Jessica
Jessica is a junior at Liberty High and she
is an enthusiastic runner. She has a really great
passion for running, after all her whole life revolves
around running. On her way home from a track
meet where she beat her own personal best
time, a vehicle runs into her bus. Jessica has to be
hospitalized. She has to adapt to a prosthetic
walking leg. She struggles with depression and
wonders if anyone would ever like her. With the
help of family and friends she gets over not having
a leg and gets determination. She is devoted and
ambitious to run again.
4. Fiona
Fiona is Jessica’s best
friend. Fiona goes to Liberty
high too. She is also on the track
team and has a passion for
running. She and Jessica has
been friends for a long time.
When Jessica is in this accident
Fiona feels its her job, as a
friend and teammate to build
her up.
5. Liberty High Track Team
The Liberty High track is
Jessica and Fiona’s team. Jessica
has many friends there including
her coach, Kyro. Liberty High
was headed back from a track
meet where they dominated as
usual. The bus was in an
accident and everyone escaped
except Jessica and Lucy. Liberty
High has an outstanding record
and is a great team. Most
importantly they give Jessica
more drive and determination to
try to help Jessica run again.
6. Rosa
Rosa is a student in Jessica’s
math class. They never really notice each
other in class until Jessica came back to
school from her incident and was seated
right next to Rosa. Rosa has cerebral palsy
which causes her to be in a special
wheelchair. People generalize that other
people diagnosed with CP can’t do
anything but Rosa is really smart and
tutors Jessica in math. Rosa helps her
catch up with her missing work. Since she
has CP she is a little hard to understand.
Rosa gives Jessica lots of hope. Rosa says
she would like for people to see who she is
inside and not her condition.
7. What I think…
I think the book, The Running Dream, is a very
intriguing and inspirational book. My eyes were glued from
beginning to end. It taught and enforced two lessons. One
was that life throws out many hurdles, but you have to jump
over them or find a way around them, as Jessica
demonstrated. Also it taught me that I should be really
thankful for what I have and to count my blessings.
I liked the authors style of writing with short
chapters and it was right to the point. I like how Wendelin
Van Draanen captured the aspect of running. She described
Jessica's passion for running using descriptive and dramatic
words. Each character had an important role in her life. I
didn’t like that she included too much content on Jessica's
relationship with Gavin and Rosa, and the main focus often
wasn’t on her recovery and running.
Overall I thought that it was a great book. I would
rate it 5 out of 5. I think it’s a great book for people to read
especially an athlete because you can make a good
connection with Jessica.
