Running Wild (Puffin Novel) [Paperback]

Thomas J. Dygard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1998 | Age Level: 10 and up | Series: Puffin Novel

When Pete Holman and his friends are busted for joyriding, the arresting officer makes Pete a deal: join the school football team, or spend the night in jail. Much to Pete's surprise, not only is he a natural on the field, he likes it. Soon Pete is the Cartwright Bulldogs' lead running back, and beginning to turn his life around--when his old gang shows up. Dygard scores again with a fast-paced story that skillfully blends exciting sports action with a realistic portrayal of the dynamics of high-school friendships. -- Booklist Thomas J. Dygard (19311996) was praised by Booklist as being consistently one of the ablest writers of teenage sports fiction. He was the author of more than fifteen sports novels.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-8?Early in the novel, high-school troublemaker Pete Holman is faced with a decision: either join the football team or spend a night in jail. Given the choice, he joins the team. Soon it is discovered that Pete is a natural athlete, with the ability to be an outstanding running back. Yet the young man is torn between the need to be accepted by his old friends and the potential he sees for himself in football. By the novel's end, Pete is a star. His athletic career is nearly ruined, however, when his playbook is stolen and sold to a player on a rival team by one of his villainous friends. Things work out only when Pete's teammates rally around him, forcing the culprit to fess up. This is a standard story of redemption through sports. Pete's crimes (smoking in the boiler room, joyriding, drinking beer) may seem pretty tame by today's standards. The description of his gradual realization of his athletic skills is right on target, however. Equally effective are the accounts of the games, which are fast paced and also ring true. This is the sort of story that many young football fans will enjoy, even if it's not unique or particularly memorable.?Todd Morning, Schaumburg Township Public Library, IL
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 7^-10. Arrested after a joyriding accident, Pete Holman is annoyed and confused when he's released to his high school's football coach on condition that he report to practice for the rest of the season. Pete is not a jock--nor are his friends, Jimbo and Bucky--and he doesn't intend to obey. He's stunned, however, to discover that he has natural athletic ability, and he loves the thrill of success on the field and the attention it brings. When Jimbo and Bucky attempt to sabotage his success, Pete learns what friendship, loyalty, and teamwork really mean. Dygard scores again with a fast-paced story that skillfully blends exciting sports action with a realistic portrayal of the dynamics of high-school friendships. Chris Sherman --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (August 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140386874
• ISBN-13: 978-0140386875
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #481,943 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Running Wild, July 24, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Running Wild (Puffin Novel) (Paperback)

I recommend this book for ages 12 to 14 because it shows how one boy changes his whole live and how he goes about doing it. He overcomes his drug usage and drinking habits by choosing either "to spend the night in jail or join the football team". Pete does choose the football team which starts to change his whole live. " Good job Pete for joining the team and not using drugs or drinking ". This shows that you can do anything that you want to do. Pete in the end changes his whole live, and has success in football and goes on to college. This is a good book and I hope you get a chance to read it and find out the whole story.

4.0 out of 5 stars Nate's Review of Running Wild, June 11, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Running Wild (Hardcover)

The Book Running Wild starts off with its main character, Pete Holman, getting into trouble with the cops for getting into a car crash. This was not an ordinary visit to the police station though. The officer had cut him a deal, which the same thing happend to him as a kid, in which Pete could go home early, instead of waiting for his mom to get off work, if he were to go out for football. This started a whole new way of life for Pete. At first he didn't know if he would last the first practice but he thought that all of the jocks would say oh Pete isn't tough he couldn't last one football practice. Pete started to like football and he then came into a conflict. Pete found himself having to choose from his old friends and his new friends. When Pete began to become a star running back he found himself hanging around with his fellow teammates. Pete found himself hanging out with a better crowd and making a better relationship with his mother. Pete liked how things were going and in the end found himself making a truths with and old enemy.

5.0 out of 5 stars There is a good side in everyone, November 15, 2001

By 

ryno (Beaverton, OR USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Running Wild (Hardcover)

Running Wild is a really good book. It is about a high school kid named Pete Holman. He and his friends, Jimbo and Bucky, get in a lot of trouble. They do anything from smoking in school to driving into cars on the road. One day only Pete gets caught but the others escape, and Pete didn't do anything. The officer makes a deal with the coach of the high school. He will let Pete go if he plays on the football team. Pete discovers his natural athletic ability and ends up staying on the football team. It keeps Pete away from trouble that he and his friends used to get in. The officer knew that football would keep him away from trouble because he himself used to be like Pete. Just when Pete starts getting all the glory for his talent. His old friends try to ruin it for him by trying to suspend him. I think everyone should read this book because the author did a good job describing exactly what was going on in the games. The book has a great story so it's worth reading.