Customer Reviews

Runaway

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Twelve-year-old Holly has had enough of "the system." She is not going to let another foster dad touch her, or allow another foster mom to hit her. If she runs away, she knows she will have to fend for herself, but at least she won't have to worry about being locked in a utility room without food, or having her head shoved in a toilet as punishment for refusing to be touched. And, most appealing of all, she will not have to face being called a liar by the adults in "the system."

Holly believes that trusting adults can only result in trouble for her, and she cannot bring herself to take a leap of faith with her teacher, Ms. Leone. However, when she gives Holly a journal and suggests she explore writing as a source of comfort, Holly decides to give it a try, even though she is certain it is a waste of time: "Giving me this journal was a totally lame thing to do. You think writing will get me out of here? You think words will make me forget about the past? Get real, Ms. Leone!" (p. 1). However, over the next several months, Holly finds that the journal is the only friend she can trust, the only one that is always there for her and, ultimately, the only guide that keeps her on track to something better.

RUNAWAY, presented entirely as journal entries, follows Holly from May 17th until December 1st, as she chronicles her life on the streets and her constant search for food, a bath, and a warm place to sleep. Some of the poems seem a bit much to have come from the pen of a twelve-year-old, until one considers that Holly's life as a "gypsy"--inspired by a way of life one would hope is a bit much to actually exist in the real world, but, unfortunately, is neither farfetched nor unrealistic--makes her mature expression of ideas more than plausible.

RUNAWAY could be a real eye-opener for middle school kids, while easily being engaging enough for older teens. Additionally, although at 272 pages the book may appear lengthy for younger readers, the journal format will actually appeal to readers with shorter attention spans.

Reviewed by: Mechele R. Dillard

Life has made Holly tough. She grew up quickly, too quickly. Her mother was a heroin addict; her father, who knows. She was a witness to her own mother's death due to a drug overdose. After that, she bounced around from foster home to foster home, living in five houses in less than two years.

At the age of twelve, Holly finally succeeds in running away from her abusive foster family. She thinks living on the street will be nothing compared to the abuse she suffered at the hands of the various adults who were supposed to take care of her throughout her life. She decides to go to California all by herself. She doesn't need anyone or anything - or so she thinks.

As with story Don't You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dumphrey by Margaret Peterson Haddix, Runaway by Wendelin Van Draanen begins as a class assignment and is written in first-person journal entries. Even though Holly despises her teacher - remember, she thinks adults aren't trustworthy - she keeps writing in her journal throughout her travels. She sleeps outside on park benches, stows away on trains, and steals food to fill her empty stomach.

The author did a great deal of research for this book, and it shows. Runaway is a real eye-opener of a book. It deserves a lot of attention, and will inspire a great deal of discussion in the classroom and in the home.

Twelve year old Holly decides that life on the streets would be better than staying in an abusive foster home. She recounts her experiences in a journal, and finds out that this is a tough environment. Wendelin tempers the rough parts of the book with some great poetry. The book is well written and should be read by all teachers, social workers and foster parents. The author dedicates this book to teachers everywhere and is a fitting tribute to them.

When Holly's teacher, Mrs. Leone, gives her a blank journal, Holly is disgusted. Writing in a journal can't make her forget that she's a 12-year-old orphan and that her mother died of a heroin overdose, or that the foster parents she's living with abuse her, locking her in the laundry room for days and sticking her head in the toilet when she tries to defend herself. Mrs. Leone could never understand Holly and, in Holly's opinion, probably doesn't care to. No one knows what she faces each day because she tells no one. But when boredom threatens to drive her crazy one night in the laundry room, Holly starts to write. And despite her scorn at the mere idea of keeping a journal, she continues writing.

When Holly can no longer take the abuse, she runs away. Unlike her previous attempts, this time she succeeds, making it out of town and heading west. She takes only the essentials...and her journal, filling long hours of fear and boredom by updating Mrs. Leone, despite the fact that her teacher will never see her or the journal again.

We follow Holly through her struggles, victories and worst nightmares as she heads toward the Pacific Ocean and does whatever it takes to stay alive and free from her biggest fear --- Social Services. No stranger to the streets, Holly sleeps out in the cold, steals food and supplies, hides in the hot, dark cargo hold of a cross-country bus, and lies to everyone but her journal. She enjoys reading (and eventually writing), loves dogs and plans to become a vet someday by learning math and science with stolen textbooks (though she feels guilty about stealing anything but food), and somehow manages to hold herself and her dreams together in the face of constant and life-threatening dangers.

Over the course of her journey she also learns to face her past through her writing and discovers a true knack for poetry, much to her surprise. What started as a way to fend off boredom by writing angry and sarcastic notes to Mrs. Leone slowly becomes a tool for self-discovery, an honest account of her life and, in a way, her only confidante and most prized possession. As Holly comes to terms with her life and overcomes obstacle after obstacle to improve it, she eventually learns to accept love and kindness instead of running from it.

Holly may be familiar to fans of Wendelin Van Draanen, as she originated in the author's earlier novel, SAMMY KEYES AND THE SISTERS OF MERCY (and Sammy shows up in RUNAWAY as well). Holly is spunky, smart, brave and vulnerable, and we love to root for her. Despite the horrors she endures, the book is not as gritty as it could have been, and Holly's mature and insightful writing sometimes make her world seem less threatening than it might be in real life --- although that could also be because Holly doesn't tell us everything and occasionally skips the most horrific of her experiences.

RUNAWAY seems to have a touch of innocence that doesn't always mesh with the idea of a child living on the streets. But Van Draanen is an excellent writer and Holly is someone to admire as she perseveres in a life that would destroy most people. Her story is worth reading and learning from.

--- Reviewed by Emily Shaffer

This review is going to be an ongoing review. I am starting this review early. Despite the fact that I am only 20+ pages into the book as of right now I need to start to describe this book. This girl is angry. She has had a rough life. Nobody believes anything she has to say. She has been homeless. Her mother was a druggie and now lives in a foster home where the parents are very mean to her, but act perfect in the public eye. It makes me angry to even read about it.

I also had to stop and think about the kids we teach and see each day. So many of them we don't always get the full picture of what they are dealing with on a daily basis. This girl in the story does not do her homework, but would you if you were stowed away in a freezing cold laundry room and not fed? It makes me stop and remember to really think about the 1000+ kids in our building and all the baggage some of them bring to school everyday.

14 Hours Later.....
I finished the book. I read this book in one day. I could not put it down. I have read other novels by this author(Swear to Howdy being one of my all time favorites) and this book did not disappoint. In many ways I liked it more than her other novels. It seemed more real, more edgier, but at the same time perfect for middle school kids to read. She presented life on the street as being very hard and dangerous, but never brought in any details to heed caution to who should read the book.

The journal structure of the novel was perfect. This is the ideal way to present the ideas of Holly. She is one mad girl just trying to find some guidance and trust in the world. She has runaway from her problems and this time is successful.

The novel stuck a nerve with me and no in a bad way. I kept picturing this girl going through all of this feeling bad for her and it made more realistic for me as I kept thinking of some of my students and one in particular who shared something so devastating to me that it has not left my mind. It reminded me once again that we teach students who deal with things that are so difficult that I can see what school is the last thing on their mind.

What I really enjoyed most about this book is such a small feature, but something so clever in my eyes. Sammy from the Sammy Keyes series makes an appearance which corresponds to the first novel in the series where Holly was a small character in that book. How the author kept things within the same world, but creating a whole new tone to the story was a creative masterpiece. I am blown away by authors and how they can create these wonderful stories time after time.

This is going to be a tough decision on my part and for my partner on choosing which book makes it to the next round in the tournament. I have to read Matched by Ally Condie next and then begin to deliberate which one is better. Starting with Runaway was a great start to the tournament and a book that I would recommend to many students in my school. This one is a keeper. Check it out.

The major conflict in the book Runaway is about Holly Janquell a middle school girl has runaway from another possible family. Her mother died so she was living with the Bender's who make her live in a laundry room and all she has is a journal to write in. She ran away to become a sea gypsy. She has got away this time and made her way to California and build her own home and sold aluminum cans for money. Then a homeless guy destroyed her small home and she broke down. The way she this conflict got resolved is Holly went to live with a girl named Meg and her daughter. Meg got Holly into a middle school and made many friends. Holly got spend a thanksgiving eating turkey and all kinds of other things and she ended up living their.
Holly Janquell and Tabias MacIvey, The way that Holly from "Runaway" and Tobias from "A Land Remembered" is that they both know what it is like to not have a great house and have to go around trying to find food of shelter. I think if the meet they would get along because they know what it is like to not live a perfect life with lots of food and money. The way that they would help each other is by sticking together. Helping each other get to where they need to go. Each of them has a way of getting food so they can show each other how they get their food and money so they can try it and it could help each other a lot.That is how Holly and Tobias would be great friends.
I would recommend this book to all of my friends. The reason I would recommend this book if you like when people have to figure out something to do in order to survive in the world. this book also can make you think what is going to happen next. I think a person who likes a suspence or action book with a great start and ending that makes you want a sequel. Also if you want to see how a person goes from a bad life to a great life you should read "Runaway". Those are the people I would recommend this book to many people.

JACKET BLURB: Holly Janquell an middle school girl who's mother died and has ran away from many homes but got caught every time. This time she has escaped finally and wants to get to California and become a sea gypsy. The challenge know is to survive with the weather getting food, shelter,and love. Will Holly Janquell make it to California and survive the wild things in stored for her?

The Young Adult Book Club for my Orange County, CA school district made this our book for May. The story is very intense and very realistic, yet the author has managed to refrain from inappropriate language and/or graphic descriptions of abuse. This makes the book user friendly in a middle school classroom environment. We loved the use of the journal to tell the story through the voice of a very smart and street-wise 6th grade girl. Her adventures are exciting and often scary, but she has dreams for her future and perseveres in the face of crushing odds.

My students are standing in line to read this one. A great read. Highly recommended.

Holly is a twelve year-old girl who's been through more than most adults probably have. She didn't no her father (he died in some freak tractor accident) and her mother, the only person she ever truly loved was a heroin addict... and now she's gone. Holly doesn't want to be in foster care anymore. The abuse, the violence, the hunger, the lack of love - she can't take it anymore.

So she decides to runaway... And this time she WON'T get caught.

This book is looked through the eyes of a young girl who's homeless and struggling for servival day after day. Although this book is written in journal format it was surprisingly hooking and I found that it hadn't taken me long to read it. This is an emotional story when you'll laugh, cry, and scowl. Read this book: Runaway.

Happy Reading!!

Moving story of a young girl who runs away from an abusive foster home, convinced that anything, even a life on the streets, will be better than her current situation.

She leaves with nothing more than a backpack full of supplies, which includes a journal given to her by a caring teacher. Initially, Holly writes in her journal as a way to pass the time, and ridicules her teacher, who knows nothing of her students' real lives. Gradually, as time passes and Holly encounters many dangers on the street, she comes to see the journal as her only real safe haven.

Excellent, and not overly explicit, so a good choice for middle school readers.

This is a very good book by Wendelin Van Draanen. It was so interesting I barely noticed how long it was. As Holly goes from home to home and shelter to shelter she gives tips to the reader about surviving on the streets. The book really makes you appreciate what you have - food, warmth, clothing, shelter, a permanent loving family, etc. I highly recommend this book for readers ages 11 and older. But, be prepared to read about some mature issues. I feel this is the first book I read that dealt with realistic, adult issues rather than more childish themes.