The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen

The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen
2011; Knopf Books for Young Readers

Summary

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. (Courtesy of Goodreads)

Review


In The Running Dream, Jessica the 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