Izzy Barr, Running Star

By Claudia Mills, Rob Shepperson (Illustrator)

Book #3 in the Franklin School Friends series

A young athlete seeks her father's attention as she races against rivals and family expectations.

4.8/7 Bookroo expert·3.9/5 Goodreads · 153 ratings

160 pages· 15,004 words· Est. 2 hour read

$10.99Save 5%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Izzy Barr excels in sports, but her father's attention is focused on her half-brother, Dustin. As the class field day approaches, Izzy hopes her dad will finally cheer her on. When he misses the event, Izzy's disappointment is palpable. However, a citywide 10K run offers a second chance for her dad to show support. Will Izzy's determination win her the recognition she craves, or will family dynamics overshadow her achievements? Join Izzy as she navigates the challenges of competition, family, and self-worth in this heartfelt tale.

From the publisher

Izzy Barr is the star athlete of the third grade: she hits homeruns on her softball team and is one of the fastest runners in her class. But at home, her half-brother, Dustin, seems to be her father’s favorite athlete—why else would her dad go to all of his games and miss so many of hers? Izzy pretends that she doesn’t care, but as she, her friends Annika Riz and Kelsey Green, and the rest of their class are gearing up for class field day, she can’t help but hope her dad will be there to cheer her on in the big race against her rival, Skipper Tipton. Dad doesn’t make it to field day, but when he realizes how important it is to Izzy, he and all of her friends and family are there to watch her participate in the citywide 10K run.

At a glance

Format: Paperback
Pages: 160
Words: 15,004
Reading age: 7–10
Audience: Juvenile Reader
Lexile: 810L

Themes & topics

Books about sports and recreation Books about friendship Books about family relationships Books about running Books about perseverance

After the last page

Talk about it together

Ask your child about the “Famous Footsteps” activity that Izzy and her classmates complete in the book. Who would your child choose to feature if they were to do the same project?

What readers & critics say

Reviews

4.8

out of 7

4.8

“Izzy Barr loves to run and really hopes to win a 10K race, as well as some family and friends to cheer her on in the sidelines. This book has a lot of great aspects, like great friends and teachers and learning to work through feelings and emotions. One of my favorite parts of the book was a homework assignment Izzy and her classmates did where they chose someone they look up to and learned about them, and this added some great, inspiring facts throughout the book.”

B is for Bookworm

Trusted reviewer

For readers who can't stop at one