The Running Man

Reader reviewed by the book muncher

Joseph Davidson is a shy and artistic boy. So naturally, when hes given a school assignment to make a portrait, he is unsure of whom he wants his subject to be. So, he never expects to pick him mysterious neighbor, Tom Leyton. At first, he tells Caroline, the sister or Tom Leyton who first suggested Tom as the subject, that he will think about it. But when another neighbor thinks that Joseph would be too afraid, he takes up the challenge.

Gradually, Joseph spends more and more time with Tom and gets to know him. Tom at first is very cold and reclusive and doesnt respond much to Tom. But soon, he opens up, and Joseph and Toms meetings are spent taking care of Toms silk worms more than working on the portrait. But Toms eyes are still stony and cold; Joseph feels that he cannot capture Toms true self until he can see whats really behind Toms eyes.

The Running Man is set up a little like The Luxe by Anna Godbersen in that it begins with a funeral and then flashes back to the events before it. However, the two stories are extremely different, as one could expect. The Running Man goes much deeper and is not filled with gossip about high society; rather, rumors circulate about Josephs mysterious neighbor Tom. In some ways, this reminded me of Boo Radley from To Kill A Mockingbird, because Tom and Boo are so similar in many ways.

The Running Man was a beautiful and touching story. Its about the tentative friendship between two people who need each other. Its also one of those deep books filled with metaphors that can seem confusing at first but are explained. Its about the miracles that friends provide for each other and conquering the demons in your past. Its about reaching out to others who need you and making peace with your life.

I recommend this novel to readers who are up to a thought-provoking read. While The Running Man is not full of excitement or suspense and is more of an emotional novel, readers will not be disappointed. This book has already been published by Scholastic, but it will be published again by HarperTeen in July.

reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com/

Reader reviewed by Megan

There is always something worse. That is what Joseph Davidsons neighbor Tom Leyton tells him. Joseph, however, can not see anything worse than the reoccurring nightmare he has about the Running Man, a creature in town that always seems to be running.
Joseph only meets his reclusive neighbor at the request of Toms sister, Caroline. Rumors spread like wildfire about Tom across the town. Some people say that he fought in the Vietnam War, and that is why he is never seen. Others still say that he used to be a teacher, and he had inappropriate contact with a young boy. Caroline only fuels Josephs fear more by reassuring him that she will always be there when he comes over to draw Toms portrait for school. Even through his fears, Joseph becomes closer to Tom Leyton and a shaky friendship is formed over a box full of silkworms.
Bauers writing in The Running Man gives a breath of fresh air in a genre clouded with the same topics. I especially like the authors use of poetry in this short novel. Bauer included pieces from both Douglas Stewart and John Milton. The author leaves the readers at the end of the book with this important message: miracles do happen