Runner by Carl Deuker

Did someone say “summer reading?” Yes, children. It’s almost here: summer vacation. And with that, of course, comes everyone’s favorite assignment, the summer reading packet. Does your school have a packet - or just a list? We’re hardcore, my friends, we distribute an entire packet to be completed for September. I think I’ll even give a test on the required reading. Ooohh. So mean.

And yet not. Did you know that your reading skills can go down two levels over a summer without reading? Add that to the grade level or two you are already behind and, well, that spells disaster.

So how about coming up with a plan for how you’ll handle the reading this summer? Let me help you out: how about starting out with this book, Runner by Carl Deuker.

I picked up Runner when I was wandering around another teacher’s classroom, teaching an especially boring study hall. I have a bad reputation for stealing books from other rooms but, to be fair, I always bring them back. Anyway, I did what I always do, I chose Runner based on the cover and, as usual, I wasn’t wrong.

At first glance, Chance Taylor, Runner’s main character, has an awesome life, living on a sailboat with his dad in Seattle. And that would be really cool - except that the boat is a rickety bucket, he has no other house, he has been abandoned by his mom and (what, the other stuff wasn’t bad enough?) his dad is alcoholic and generally unemployed.

Responsible young man that he is, Chance seems more worried about paying the bills than his dad. Which is why, when offered a shady sounding job that pays cash, he doesn’t think too hard about the details, but takes what he can get. It seems someone at the marina has noticed Chance running a long route to the park and back each day and wants him to incorporate a package pick-up into his routine. Some days, his new “employer” explains, they’ll be a package, other days, not. Chance just needs to casually pick up whatever is there, drop it into his backpack, and leave it in a locker at the marina. No questions, no looking into the packages. The $200 a week it pays is too much for Chance to turn down.

What do you think is in those packages? Drugs? Maybe. Something more sinister? Probably. Body parts? Now you’re being ridiculous. You’ll just have to read it to find out.

LAME FACTOR: Runner is a very clever book with an interesting twist and a very likeable main character. Zero on the lameness scale.

YOUR PARENTS WILL FREAK FACTOR: The adults are the irresponsible ones here, not the kids. If anything, they’re role models.

BRAIN POWER: Runner won’t hurt your little brain. Go ahead and add it to the summer reading list.