Running Full Tilt

Gr 9 Up—Leo's family life is difficult. He is starting his junior year at a new high school across town from where he has lived his entire life. Leo and his family were forced to move after his older brother Caleb's erratic behaviors led to one too many issues with their neighbors. In the new neighborhood, Caleb changes his target and at night attacks Leo, which forces the protagonist to take up running at all hours. Leo does not want to bother his already stressed parents, so he just keeps running. When school begins, Leo joins the cross-country team. He quickly makes friends and attracts the attention of a pretty girl; things seem to be settling into place for him outwardly, but as life at school looks up for Leo, his situation at home gets harder. Early on in the novel, Currinder notes that Caleb has autism, but there are also allusions in the text to other developmental challenges. These are never fully fleshed out, and the vague descriptors lead to a murky understanding of a driving force of the book. Despite the obvious link between Caleb's attacks and Leo's running, that aspect of the book is never fully realized. The two sides—the sports story and family drama—are not quite as smoothly linked as they could be, which results in a forgettable narrative.