Runner (Lorimer SideStreets) [Paperback]

Peter McPhee (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1999 | Series: Lorimer SideStreets

Kyle never expected to see Calgary's hard side--its seedy neighbourhoods marked with trash-filled lots, abandoned buildings, abandoned lives. But when his 14-year-old sister Meghan runs away from home, he knows he has to track her down.

Soon Kyle discovers a dark world of after-hours clubs, desperate street kids, drugs and violence. As he gradually uncovers clues about Meghan's whereabouts, he realizes that she is in grave danger and his search becomes an urgent race against time. Kyle is willing to do what it takes to save Meghan--but will it be enough?

Set against the gritty world of Calgary's inner-city, Runner is a suspenseful story of a brother's love for his troubled sister. [Fry Reading Level - 4.1]

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-Readers get a look at the darker side of life in McPhee's tale of a high-school football player who is searching for his runaway sister. After their parents divorce, Kyle, 17, and Meghan, 14, are uprooted from their hometown of Toronto to live in Calgary, where Kyle immediately makes friends and the football team while Meghan struggles to find her niche. Falling in with the wrong crowd, she takes to running on the streets. As Kyle works to locate his sister, he finds himself struggling to fit into her milieu to do so. A page-turner with no happy ending, this is a realistic picture of street life.

Rebecca J. McTavish, Schlow Memorial Library, Clearfield, PA

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Runner realistically portrays life on the streets and dispels any myths teenagers might have about 'living free'. The quality of writing is excellent, and this book should be in every junior- and senior-high school library... highly recommended." (Brenda Baltensperger Canadian Book Review Annual )

"The world of teen runaways that he has painted jumps to life. Dirt, crime, poverty, abuse, drugs, prostitution, violence - they're all there - without being unbearably graphic. The dialogue rings true. The plot moves along quickly. This is an easy book to read." (Kristen Butcher Resource Links )

"...an exciting story of a life on the streets of Calgary. It is hard to put this book down once you start reading it because of the suspense that builds throughout Kyle's search for Meghan." (Connie Hall Resource Links )

"Readers get a look at the darker side of life in McPhee's tale of a high-school football player who is searing for his runaway sister. ...A page-turner with no happy ending, this is a realistic picture of street life." (School Library Journal )

"Runner gives us a fascinating view of Calgary's underside. Through skillful storytelling and strong characterizations, Peter McPhee has crafted an exciting read." (Monica Hughes )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Lorimer (January 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1550286749
• ISBN-13: 978-1550286748
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,639,208 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Soo great!, November 7, 2002

By 

steph (british columbia canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Runner (Lorimer SideStreets) (Hardcover)

I am not a big book reader, but i finished this one in 2 days flat because it was such a good book. My friend left it at my house and i just picked it up and statred reading to my surprise i cooldnt stop! it was such a great novel and had a great story line. I cant wait to read another one of Peater Mc Phees novels

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, October 22, 2002

By 

caLi aNgeL (California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Runner (Lorimer SideStreets) (Paperback)

The book Runner is fairly short, a little over 140 pages. It's about a football player named Kyle who moves from a wealthier class to a lower class of town, where there are a lot of homeless people and goths and scums. His sister Meghan, ran away because of family troubles and not fitting in and everything. Kyle finds her diary and he starts to believe that it was his fault that Meghan ran away because he wasn't acting like an ideal older brother. The story contains parts of Meghan's diary, and you can relate that to what happens to Kyle. He meets this one Gothic girl who, he discovers, can lead him to where his sister is. There's a lot of detail and you feel as if you're actually there. It's a great story, and I totally recommend it!