The Running Dream

The Running Dream is a story about a girl, who used to be a runner, and gets in an accident and becomes an above the knee (AK) amputee. Jessica was in love with running. And then she loses her leg and feels like her life is over. She learns to deal with all of the complications that come with being an amputee in high school: emotionally, as well as physically.

I absolutely love the effort Wendelin Van Draanen puts into her books. All of the interviewing to truly understand a person more than the just their physical loss of their leg.

I recommend this to anyone who wants to read a heartwarming story about a high school amputee.

What would you do if everything you had ever worked for was taken away in one moment and you couldn't do anything about it? Author Wendelin Van Draanen tells us an inspiring story about Jessica, a girl who loses the ability to run in a car crash just hours after her best time in the 400m dash. Jessica became a BK amputee, with a prosthetic leg and a yearning for running. After her track coach shows her videos of Olympic runners with prostheses, she decides that she WILL run again, just with a different goal in mind instead of winning a race.
I absolutely recommend this book, it was inspiring and the writing style was amazing.

Reader reviewed by Kate10

The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen was an amazing book.  Through the voice of the main character, Jessica, the author draws you into her thought and her feelings about losing her leg in an accident.  As a runner I could relate to Jessica's passion for running and her disappoint and fear when she wakes up and learns she has lost one of her most valuable assets, her right leg. 

The characters story is moving and inspirational.  It made me appreciate what I have and my gift to run.