The Running Dream

By Wendelin Van Draanen

After losing a leg, a runner must redefine her dreams and find new ways to cross the finish line.

4.3/5 Goodreads · 33,083 ratings

336 pages

$11.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

Jessica's world shatters after a car accident takes her leg, threatening her passion for running. As she navigates life with a prosthetic, she meets Rosa, a girl with cerebral palsy who becomes her unexpected ally. With the support of her community, Jessica discovers that running again is possible, but her dreams now include helping Rosa cross the finish line too. Can they both defy the odds and achieve the impossible? This is a story of resilience, friendship, and the power of dreaming beyond limitations.

From the publisher

When Jessica is told she’ll never run again, she puts herself back together–and learns to dream bigger than ever before. The acclaimed author of Flipped delivers a powerful and healing story. 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, Jessica feels that she’s both in the spotlight and invisible. People who don’t know what to say act like she’s not there. Jessica’s embarrassed to realize that she’s done the same 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. “Inspirational. 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. A lively and lovely story.” –Kirkus Reviews