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    The Running Dream
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    The Running Dream
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    The Running Dream
    Audiobook7 hours

    The Running Dream

    Written by Wendelin Van Draanen

    Narrated by Laura Flanagan

    4.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    The acclaimed author of Flipped delivers a powerful and healing story that's perfect for the millions who watch the Olympics or 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

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateJan 11, 2011
    ISBN9780307747990
    Unavailable
    The Running Dream
    Author

    Wendelin Van Draanen

    Wendelin Van Draanen has written more than thirty novels for young readers and teens. She is the author of the 18-book Edgar-winning Sammy Keyes series—often called “The new Nancy Drew”—and wrote Flipped, which was named a Top 100 Children’s Novel for the 21st Century by School Library Journal and became a Warner Brothers feature film, with Rob Reiner directing. A classroom teacher for fifteen years, Wendelin resides in California where she can be spotted riding shopping carts across parking lots. She and her husband, Mark Parsons, have two sons and enjoy the three R’s: Reading, Running, and Rock’n’Roll.

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    Reviews for The Running Dream

    4.5/5

    203 ratings33 reviews

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    • 4/5
      After reading this book, I think I have want to have a better view of handicapped people. I am referring to Rosa who wants people to see her and not her handicap. The story is about a high school girl who is returning, with her team, from a track meet when their activity bus is involved in a wreck. She ends up losing her leg. This is devastating for anyone but maybe more so for a runner. As you read, you experience all emotions, self-pity, depression, thankful to be alive, etc.
    • 5/5
      Wow, this is such an inspirational story and so beautifully written - I can't recommend it highly enough! At sixteen, the unthinkable happens. Jessica is involved in a serious accident which leaves a team mate dead and part of her leg amputated. Being an elite runner, Jessica feels that her world has ended. However, this is a book about courage, perseverance, hope, true friendships and new beginnings. I was totally engrossed in Jessica's journey. I shared her highs and her lows. I laughed and cried with her, and I found myself cheering for her time and time again. She is a fabulous, moving heroine with an honest voice and is supported by a range of wonderful characters. I love Fiona, Jessica's best friend, who is quirky and upbeat, but I think I was touched most by Rosa. Rosa has cerebral palsy, a fabulous mathematical brain and continual words of encouragement for Jessica, but she wants to be known for who is is, not what disability she she suffers from. I particularly liked how the friendship between Jessica and Rosa develops and was moved by what Jessica does for Rosa at the end of the story as a thank you for everything Rosa has done for her. This story will have wide appeal to a range of readers.
    • 3/5
      Jessica, a runner, loses her leg in a school bus accident. RD is a day-by-day recounting of her path to healing. It's a bit prosaic and, to this reader, at times, overly optimistic (would a town really rally to raise $20K...?) It will speak to students with disabilities, however, and is relentlessly positive. Adults are portrayed in a supportive light (yay).
    • 4/5
      A feel-good story about overcoming adversity and going beyond oneself to help others. Jessica is devastated when there is a bus accident and her leg is amputated. She had just PR'ed in a track meeting and suddenly her past time for running is ripped from her. This story has Jessica share her journey of recovery, her drive to run again, and her developing friendship with Rosa, a girl with cerebral palsy who will never know how it feels to run. This is a story designed to pull at the heartstrings. Sometimes it is too perfect - Jessica's best friend Fiona always does and says just the exact right thing - but it is a touching and inspiring journey.
    • 4/5
      This is my favorite MSBA nominee (outside of the one written by Gary Schmidt). I enjoyed Jessica's journey and thought it was an accurate teenage reaction to losing a dream only to come up with a new one. There were a few parts that were a little too tidy.
    • 4/5
      When Jessica loses her leg in an accident on the way home from a track mete, her despair is overwhelming. Bit by bit, she regains hope and perspective, thanks to friendship, family, and her team's devotion. The characters in this book may be too good to be true, but it's a powerful story nonetheless. The information about amputation and prostheses is interesting. Although there is some edginess and irreverence, there isn't bad language or sex, so this will meet the need for a "clean" teen book. The audio reader, Laura Flanagan makesa a believable teen.
    • 4/5
      This moving book was about the determination of youth and the love of running and how these factored into getting a young woman back into the race. Jessica lost one of her legs BK (below the knee) because of an accident and has to learn all over again how to walk and how to rejoin the world of high school. Along the way she learns that she does not have the worst situation, that she can have a boyfriend that doesn't feel sorry for her, and that friends and family are everything.This is a book about a remarkable young woman with incredible strength who makes a terrific comeback thanks to her family, her friends, her teammates, and her community.
    • 5/5
      This book is very realistic and heart touching. I loved every part of it.
    • 5/5
      The Running Dream is a great fiction novel about a teenage girl named Jessica and her struggle to get her life back on track. After losing her leg in a car accident, Jessica struggles to believe she will ever run again, but when her fellow track team comes up with a plan to help Jessica, her life might be turning around. I thought The Running Dream was full of heartfelt and love as Jessica's family and friends help her to regain not only her confidence, but her faith in herself and in others as she faces the biggest challenge of her life. The Running Dream is a great read for both young adults and adults of all genres.
    • 4/5
      The Running Dream is a look into the mind of a girl who has become a BTK (below the knee) amputee. Van Draanen really did her homework on this one. I know I learned a lot about the world of prosthetics and how people deal with losing a limb. It really makes me want to read Soul Surfer by Bethany Hamilton to see her real life experience.Jessica is a character I can believe in and care about. She spends the first part of the book wallowing in her own misery and even tries to block the mental pain with drugs. Thank goodness her parents are on the ball with that one and throw away the pills. That is another good thing about the book. The parents do not just fade into the background, instead they are fighting right along side Jessica, especially her mom. Her dad is hard at work trying to pay the bill because of Jessica's lack of insurance. It really makes me want to check and see that everyone I know have insurance because I do not want them to go through what Jessica's family goes through. This however gives her track team the initiative to start a fund raising campaign to buy Jessica a racing prosthetic racing leg. The team really pulls together and supports Jessica, especially her best friend Fiona. Fiona is a friend that I want right now! She helps Jessica and also pushes (not just her wheelchair) her to be more! There is also a story line that involves a girl in her class that has cerebral palsy. Rosa is also an awesome friend that helps Jessica with her own tidbits of wisdom. Jessica dreams of being able to race with Rosa and show her what it is like to run. This is an inspiring story and made me cheer throughout. It is a bit predictable but that is part of its charm. I would recommend it to anyone who needs an inspiring tale!
    • 5/5
      For readers:I highly recommend this book to everyone. It's got a story you can't stop reading, characters you'll fall in love with, and believability oozing out its pages. Jessica is a competitive runner who loses her leg in a horrible accident. Convinced she'll never run again, Jessica can barely bring herself to face the world. But as she progressses through her recovery, she meets Rosa, a girl with cerebral palsy who teaches her a lot about math and even more about perseverance.Kids who will like this book: kids who like stories about friendship, kids dealing with hardship, pretty much anyoneFor Educators and Librarians:Van Draanen really became a big name with Flipped. This book is even better than Flipped, and that was a very good book. But whereas Flipped has lots of appeal for 6th through 8th grade, any teenager will like this book. Jessica is a very relatable character; she's not a saint, but her toughness and determination shine through, so you are always rooting for her. If you don't have this book in your library, you should. Just sayin'. Reading level: 5th grade and upAppropriateness: Recommend or assign without worry!Who would like this book: Anyone, even boys. There's something for everyone.
    • 3/5
      Jessica is a runner. But on the way home from a track meet, her school bus is hit by a runaway truck, and Jessica loses a leg below the knee. She wants to run; she dreams about running. Will she be able to get a prosthetic leg that enables her to run?
    • 4/5
      really liked this book about a girl who gets in trouble even though her intentions are good. About her friendship with a troubled girl and how they help each other. Good brother/sister relationship too.
    • 5/5
      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
    • 5/5
      Sixteen-year-old Jessica loves to run. She runs around her neighborhood with her dog every morning before school, and she is a medal-winning athlete on her school's track team. When Jessica's story opens, however, she is in the hospital after a car accident, her leg amputated, her running dreams on hold.Jessica doesn't see how she'll ever be able to walk, much less run, again. It takes her weeks just to make it out of the hospital and back into school. But then her track coach shows her videos of athletes running record-breaking sprints - on special prosthetic legs. With the help of her uber-supportive friends and teammates, Jessica hatches a plan to raise the $20,000 for a "running leg" so that she'll be able to compete in track events her senior year. Will Jessica be able to achieve her "running dream" despite her accident?The Running Dream is a pretty good book. Jessica's story is inspiring, and van Draanen's writing really brings readers into Jessica's thoughts and hardships. What made this book especially great, however, is that it's not just about a girl who, despite a terrible accident, is able to come back and start achieving her dreams again. Van Draanen adds an extra dimension to the story with Rosa, a freshman with cerebral palsy whom Jessica meets because she's sent to the back table in math class - the table for students in wheelchairs. In fulfilling her dreams, Jessica doesn't forget the dreams of Rosa, and she helps her new friend (and raises awareness of Rosa's condition) in a unique way that brings readers to the inspiring conclusion of the novel.
    • 5/5
      Awesome book. Didn’t realize it was fiction until I looked up info halfway thru. Highly recommend!
    • 5/5
      Actually listened to this with kids in the car. 2014 Caudill nominee -- always a good sign of excellent kids' lit. Perfect for ages 10 and up (high school content, dating, etc.) Beautifully crafted story of Jessica, a high school track star, who loses her leg in a school-bus related accident. Told from her point of view, the story follows her recovery through all its stages. Very inspiring and great model for kids. Brings "Soul-surfer" movie to mind, but with a little more depth.
    • 3/5
      Narrated by Laura Flanagan. After losing her leg in a car accident, high school track athlete Jessica struggles to find her footing (so to speak) in her new life as an amputee. Not being able to run again is her greatest loss. But Jessica is fortunate to have a strong emotional support system at home, school and eventually the wider community. She is also further enlightened after forming a friendship with a student who has cerebral palsy. The one small flaw for me was that Jessica's grief seemed short-lived. But perhaps as an athlete with a support system, it would be appropriate. Flanagan expresses Jessica's struggle well and brought action to the running scenes which I would probably have glossed over in print.
    • 4/5
      Really good story about a girl athlete who is injured in a car accident and loses a leg.
    • 4/5
      This is an excellent YA book about a young girl who loses her leg in a car accident. Since she is the star of her high school track team, she is devastated. This is the story of how she overcomes her disability with the help of friends and family, and how she is able to help others see the "real person" not the disability. Very good book!
    • 4/5
      Jessica is hit with a tragic accident that takes a part of her that she can't get back. The emotional roller coaster that comes with becoming an amputee after a fatal accident that takes the life of one of her team mates takes readers on a ride they will never forget. Jessica's life is turned upside down, but there are always alternatives and ways of coping with the help of family, friends, and new friends that help along the way. This is a sad, yet uplifting story of a girl that loses her leg and her dream is shattered, but pieces can be put back together with hope and courage.
    • 4/5
      The storyline centers around a high-school-aged track athlete who loses a leg in a car accident. She lives for running, and when she wakes up from surgery, she can't even walk. She needs to adjust to her new circumstances and learn how to live with her disability. For me, I learned a lot about what a recovery from such an injury would look like, from figuring out how to get in and out of the shower or car, to living in a wheelchair and using crutches (Can this table accommodate my chair? How am I going to get up this staircase?), to fitting and acclimating to a prosthesis. I also learned a lot about cerebral palsy.The book was well reviewed (and here's another review). It's LibraryThing rating is 4.23 out of 5 stars, and on GoodReads, it has 4.29 out of 5 stars. The book won the 2012 Scheider Family Book award. I think it is a good book and I liked it, but I am slightly less enthusiastic about it than many of the reviewers. I thing the author is good at drawing the reader in, and allowing the reader to feel that she is in the book, seeing and experiencing the things the characters are seeing and experiencing. As I said above, the book has a little too much optimism in it to be realistic, and it puts message over story in some ways. That the characters' "can do" attitudes always paid off just rubbed me the wrong way.
    • 5/5
      5Q 3PJessica had just ran the best race of her life only to find herself in a hospital a couple of hours later...with one less leg. She's horrified, confused, angry, and embarrassed. As she comes to term with her new life, her family, friends, and doctors are there to support her but it is up to Jessica to lift herself up and gain the confidence to stand on her own leg.The novel will draw readers in with Jess's first person perspective. It's difficult to not go through the emotional roller coaster Jessica is on but readers will come out in the end happier, stronger, and hopeful.
    • 4/5
      5Q, 4PThis book is easy to read, well paced, and emotional. I have never been a runner, nor cared to, but reading Jessica's love for running, and how much a part of her life physical activity is made me feel like running is second nature to me which speaks to how powerfully Van Draanen writes about such a complicated topic. When her leg is amputated, Jessica has to battle depression and readjust to life, and rebuild her identity. Her perseverance throughout her hardships, and the fact that she does not let her disability define her or limit her is particularly inspiring for young adults facing difficulties (whether physical, emotional, or mental) of their own. I find that the author's positivity and optimism is refreshing, and she has a style of writing that helps someone who does not have a mental disability to relate to Jessica's struggles.
    • 3/5
      A heartwarming but predictable story about a young runner, Jessica, who loses a leg but finds compassion. After the bus carrying her track team crashes, Jessica wakes up in the hospital missing part of her leg below her knee. We follow her through her grief, eventual acceptance, and adaptation to her new physicality. Buoyed by the steadfast friendship of her best friend Fiona, she reenters high school and through a new friendship with Rosa, a girl with cerebral palsy, becomes a champion for people with disabilities. While the descriptions of prosthetics and unique obstacles amputees must overcome seemed well-researched and made the story interesting, the rest of the story seemed fairly uncomplex. Everyone in Jessica's life was just so supportive. Her friends didn't gradually fade away; her parents' marriage didn't disintegrate; her family wasn't pushed into poverty due to medical bills (though there was the threat of that happening). Altogether a nice, if unchallenging, read that will make you feel good.
    • 4/5
      This book was very readable from page 1. Jessica shares the story of the school bus accident in which she lost her lower leg. Her transition from feeling depressed and helpless to getting back to her running team is very moving and realistically told. As a medical librarian I found the details of her rehabilitation and the making of her prosthesis fascinating. Because of her own loss, she connects with a student with cerebral palsy and realizes that she was overlooking a girl who comes to be a good friend.
    • 4/5
      On the way back from beating a state record Jessica's bus gets into an accident and she must have her leg amputated below the knee. For Jessica who lives to run, this is as bad (or worse) than a death sentence. As she goes through therapy and learns how to walk again, Jessica realizes that you must work through the tough times to make everything worth more. Super whiny at the beginning...but it got better by a quarter of the way through. Good messages, not too much teenage angst past the first part, and quick. She has a good group of friends, and even befriends a girl in a wheelchair she would have never met before her accident. Sometimes the friendships seem too cliched, but girls will enjoy reading about true stick-by-your-side friends (especially during the drama that is frienship is middle/high school).
    • 5/5
      I love how the main character Jessica is strong and relate able. You are able to feel her pain as she goes through losing her leg and coming to terms with her new life, however, she realizes that just because she is different doesn't mean she cannot still do what she loves, running.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      4Q, 4PJessica is the best runner in high school, running is her life so when she loses her leg, she's obviously devastated. The overall message of the book is a good one - there's a lot of positivity and inspiration. However, I feel like there could've been a little more character development, especially with Gavin - the whole thing felt confusing and I was not sure why it was there. Overall though I feel this is a good reads that I think teens would enjoy a lot.Quote: “Don't sum up a person based on what you see, or what you don't understand; get to know them”
    • 4/5
      The Running Dream sucked me in right away. The pace is quick and it was hard for me to put the book down. Van Draanen does a great job of describing the mental anguish of Jessica’s first weeks after losing a leg. She also provides a lot of details about doctor’s visits, prosthesis fittings, etc., that feel authentic and are told in a way that is interesting. The story if very upbeat, perhaps to a fault, and the characters are not overly nuanced. However, this didn’t stop me from enjoying the book overall and I think it would appeal to a lot of readers.