Run Far, Run Fast [Hardcover]

Tim Decker (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

The Pestilence has arrived. With it come death and fear, hiding and desperation. A young girl is hastened out of her dying town and told by her mother, "Run far, run fast." The child obeys and travels from village to castle, castle to countryside, in search of shelter. Wherever she turns, the Pestilence has already appeared. Scared and tired, she finally meets a stranger who knows something of this plague. He is kind and learned, but the girl cannot know whether his knowledge will be enough to save her family. Timothy Decker explores the bleak yet breathtaking world of fourteenth-century Europe in this quiet story of hope during desolation. Stark pen-and-ink drawings emphasize the realism of this romanticized period, and straightforward prose creates a truly haunting tale.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Treading a narrow line between picture book and graphic novel, Decker employs the strengths of both formats to convey a sense of desperation and, ultimately, hope. As the Black Plague encompasses fourteenth-century Europe, a young girl is freed from captivity by her mother and told to escape the town - and the plague itself. The power of the story springs from the book's picture-book simplicity of layout, composition, and text. The open space in the pictures, the brevity of the prose, and the darkness of the subject matter capture the isolation people feel in desperate times, but the story never loses track of the fact that, while there may be no assurances, there is power and hope in human kindness. Echoing issues examined in Decker's The Letter Home (2005), this profound tale best suits advanced readers prepared for its subtle, potent message. --Booklist

About the Author

Timothy Decker has spent several years engaged in large format and landscape photography. This pursuit led to world travel and various exhibitions. In 2004 he began teaching creative writing to young adults, at which time he began to write The Letter Home, his first book.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Front Street Press; First Edition. states edition (October 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590784693
• ISBN-13: 978-1590784693
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,111,357 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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