Review Detail

‘Running’ by Natalia Sylvester is a trend-setting anthem for anyone who has ever wanted to be the change they wish to see in the world. When Mari’s father decides to run for president, she gets a lot more than she bargained for in return. She learns that it isn’t just about going along with what someone else says, but figuring out who you are and what you stand for all on your own. She goes on a journey of self-acceptance, much to the chagrin of her father, whose values she quickly learns are not ones with which she aligns. His upset at this, and the way he deals with her when she questions him, make her want to push back even harder. She wants her life to mean something, yet she doesn’t quite know how to reconcile hurting him with her own personal growth.

She is accompanied in her pursuit of the truth by her friends, both old and new, even though she feels as though her family couldn’t possibly understand what is propelling her to make such drastic choices when they are so present in the spotlight, working to win the primary and eventually the White House.

When Mari discovers that the water in Miami is tainted, and that a friend is being affected by it personally, there’s no turning back. She must question everything, including all of the decisions her father has made, the votes he has cast while in the Senate, and how her mother fits into it all. She wants to do what’s right by her family, but she finds it difficult when so much seems to be at stake outside of her own sheltered world.

‘Running’ will make readers question themselves and their beliefs again and again. It will enlighten and inspire, all while focusing on what changes can be made to help engage in social action in meaningful, relevant, active ways. It will help readers discover more about their comfort levels and how to cope with new understandings of ideas that seemed clear-cut, yet might not truly be. It will propel readers forward, and show how family and friends shape our lives in essential and transformative ways.