We have a winner! Karen will be the proud owner of a signed copy of Sammy Keyes and the Power of Justice Jack. Congratulations to Karen.
(Karen, I have sent you an e-mail; please reply with your mailing address so we can get the book to you. And congratulations again.)
Showing posts with label YA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label YA. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Friday, December 27, 2013
Lucky Like Getting to Be Thirteen Twice: Sammy Keyes and the Power of Justice Jack Giveaway
I have won two books by Wendelin Van Draanen. I first won an advanced reader copy (ARC) of an upcoming book through a giveaway on her blog. And I just won her "Free Book Friday" ("FBF") Twitter giveaway, for a signed copy of one of the Sammy Keyes books. Both times, I was very excited. There's just one little hitch -- they're the same book! So I'm now the proud owner of two copies of Sammy Keyes and the Power of Justice Jack.
I feel a little bad, knowing how many other fans have been trying to win a free book and haven't won any yet, and here I have an abundance of Jack. So I figured I'd do a giveaway of my own. I'm willing to have my signed FBF copy of Justice Jack sent directly to a Sammy Keyes fan anywhere in the world. I'd prefer the book to go to someone who hasn't gotten a chance to read it yet, doesn't own it yet (obviously), hasn't won any of Wendelin's giveaways before, and is a Sammy Keyes/Wendelin Van Draanen fan.
To enter, submit two comments here: one explaining how well you fit the criteria*, which I'll publish to the blog. The other comment, I will not publish (I have to approve all comments before they are published); it should contain your e-mail address so I can contact you in case you win. I will only e-mail the winner to work out the logistics of how to get the book to you, and I won't use any e-mail address for any other purpose, nor will I share the e-mail addresses with anyone. I will determine the winner from all entries submitted by 12:01:00am EST, January 1, 2014 (so get the entries in before the end of the year!), from among those closest to meeting the criteria stated above, using a random number generator (random.org). If no entries meet all 4 stated criteria, I'll choose from those who have met 3 of the criteria (doesn't own it, is a fan, + either of the other two). If no entries meet 3 criteria, I'll choose from those who meet 2 (doesn't own it and is a fan). If there are no entries meeting these 2 criteria, I'll keep both copies.
*You don't have to write an essay, just explain how well you fit the criteria. For example, "I checked JJ out of my library, but I don't own it. I won an ARC of Wedding Crasher once from Wendelin's blog" (just winning something from Wendelin's blog tells me you're a fan) or "I haven't gotten to read JJ yet! I'm a huge fan of SK, but I didn't know Wendelin had a blog or Twitter account. I'm going to check them out now." I reserve the right not to publish anything offensive or obscene. Also, I will not publish anything that I feel contains personally identifying information in it (such as e-mail addresses), for your protection (that's why I ask for you to submit two separate comments, so others can see the entries, but your privacy will be protected).
I feel a little bad, knowing how many other fans have been trying to win a free book and haven't won any yet, and here I have an abundance of Jack. So I figured I'd do a giveaway of my own. I'm willing to have my signed FBF copy of Justice Jack sent directly to a Sammy Keyes fan anywhere in the world. I'd prefer the book to go to someone who hasn't gotten a chance to read it yet, doesn't own it yet (obviously), hasn't won any of Wendelin's giveaways before, and is a Sammy Keyes/Wendelin Van Draanen fan.
To enter, submit two comments here: one explaining how well you fit the criteria*, which I'll publish to the blog. The other comment, I will not publish (I have to approve all comments before they are published); it should contain your e-mail address so I can contact you in case you win. I will only e-mail the winner to work out the logistics of how to get the book to you, and I won't use any e-mail address for any other purpose, nor will I share the e-mail addresses with anyone. I will determine the winner from all entries submitted by 12:01:00am EST, January 1, 2014 (so get the entries in before the end of the year!), from among those closest to meeting the criteria stated above, using a random number generator (random.org). If no entries meet all 4 stated criteria, I'll choose from those who have met 3 of the criteria (doesn't own it, is a fan, + either of the other two). If no entries meet 3 criteria, I'll choose from those who meet 2 (doesn't own it and is a fan). If there are no entries meeting these 2 criteria, I'll keep both copies.
*You don't have to write an essay, just explain how well you fit the criteria. For example, "I checked JJ out of my library, but I don't own it. I won an ARC of Wedding Crasher once from Wendelin's blog" (just winning something from Wendelin's blog tells me you're a fan) or "I haven't gotten to read JJ yet! I'm a huge fan of SK, but I didn't know Wendelin had a blog or Twitter account. I'm going to check them out now." I reserve the right not to publish anything offensive or obscene. Also, I will not publish anything that I feel contains personally identifying information in it (such as e-mail addresses), for your protection (that's why I ask for you to submit two separate comments, so others can see the entries, but your privacy will be protected).
Monday, October 29, 2012
Running to Your Dreams: Wendelin Van Draanen's The Running Dream
I approached The Running Dream with some trepidation. I have read
several other "recovery from a physical injury" books, but this one
struck close to home: as a high school track athlete, I injured my knee
and have since gone through two surgeries, numerous reinjuries, physical
therapy, and chronic patellar tendinitis. Even though it had been
years since I'd been able to run long distances, I still missed it, and I
was scared to reopen old wounds and desires.
Yet I felt compelled to read it, having read several of Wendelin van Draanen's other works, knowing that she is a former track athlete (and current marathoner) herself, and knowing how much research goes into her books. I'm so thankful I did.
My fears were correct; The Running Dream made me re-experience many emotions: the sudden loss of being a member of a team, the grief over not being able to do your favorite activity any longer, the worry that people will only see your scars instead of your formerly "hot legs," the frustration of not being able to do things that once were second nature to you, the stress of missing school and having to catch up, the concern over the effect of your rehab on the time and finances of your family...
But it also made me remember other experiences: new friendships with people you otherwise might never have met, the gratitude for friends who stand by you and help you laugh, the patience that you can only develop through trials, the realization of what really matters to you, the joy in simple movement you rediscover as your body heals, the reminder that recovery (like all things worth doing in life) is done "step-by-step-by-step-by-step."
It's easy for "recovery from injury" books to get bogged down in the specific details of the particular injury/illness the person is recovering from, or to focus too much on the "stages of grief" and the protagonist's inner struggles. The Running Dream falls into neither trap. It is obviously well-researched and gives enough detail to help the reader imagine what it's like to suddenly not have one of your feet.
In one particularly vivid scene, the protagonist, Jessica, takes a shower for the first time after losing her leg, and is frustrated over how long it takes her to get up the stairs and how difficult it is to get into the tub. But then while bathing, she conducts a thought experiment on how difficult it would be to lose a hand instead. This scene stands out because it is one of the few that really focuses so much on Jessica's difficulties; in other scenes, they're there in the background, but the other concerns of her life are increasingly the focus as she adapts to her disability.
The Running Dream starts off in Jessica's hospital room, where she's alone with her thoughts. These scenes are mercifully short, giving the reader a glimpse into the despair and sorrow that comes with losing a limb, without wallowing in it. This enables the reader to fill in the details from their own imagination, while the story moves on to explore broader themes of friendship, teamwork, the power of a community, seeing people for who they are on the inside instead of what they are physically, and the importance of staying the course when facing joys and pitfalls in pursuing a goal.
One of Wendelin van Draanen's strongest writing traits is her interesting, memorable, realistic, dynamic characters. The Running Dream is no exception. The characters are all loveable yet flawed -- which somehow just makes them more loveable. Jessica is talented, strong, dedicated, caring, and team-oriented, but she's also insecure, bad at math, and occasionally grumpy and self-centered (understandably so, given what she's gone through, and yet she realizes that she must turn her focus outward again as she copes with her disability). Her best friend, Fiona, is enthusiastic, organized, loving, and energetic, but she sometimes is overbearing and speaks before she thinks. Jessica's new friend, Rosa, is a philosophical "math genius" who is sometimes content to let life happen to her (or just pass her by). The Running Dream suggests that perhaps Facebook was correct that "friend" is a verb -- an active, continuous verb. Jessica realizes how tenuous friendships can become if you don't work to maintain them, especially when the things you have in common slip away.
The romance in The Running Dream is a mere side-story to reinforce the theme that character is more important than the outer package (even when the outer package is attractive). It's refreshing to see a healthy teen romance that becomes an important part of Jessica's life without consuming her other interests and responsibilities. However, the romance is just a side-story, and so much of it is left to the reader's imagination.
The main arc of the story is focused on Jessica re-establishing her personal identity, realizing that she's still the same person, and regaining her ability to run. Throughout the book, little bubbles of hope rise to the surface, building to a triumphant finale. The book is grounded in reality; there's no promise that a prosthesis will suddenly make everything completely better. Success requires hard work and dedication. But with hard work, dedication, and the support of friends and family, you can be happy working towards your goals, because happiness is in the journey, not just at the destination.
The Running Dream is truly one of the most uplifting, inspirational, hopeful, triumphant books I've ever read. When I finished reading it, I got up and ran. Just 50 steps, but I ran. And the next day, I ran two sets of 50 steps. I've continued to build my mileage, slowly, through run-walking. I've faced setbacks, even a period of not being able to run at all for 4 months. But throughout the difficulties, I remember the lessons I learned from The Running Dream: how every goal must be tackled step by step, to focus on the bigger picture (realizing that even with setbacks, if you keep moving forward, you'll still end up farther along than if you'd just given up), how setbacks build character and strengthen resolve, the importance of doing what I love because I love it, not to compare myself to my past self.
I can say with certainty that I would not be running today if I hadn't read "The Running Dream." I have loved running since before I can even remember (I used to escape and run laps around church as a toddler). I have tried countless other times to start running again, but it was only after reading The Running Dream that I was able to be gentle enough with myself, to give myself permission to build literally step by step, and to be patient and not give up in the face of setbacks. This book has changed my life. I still think about it and look to it for inspiration at least once a week, even though it's been over a year since I last read it. I've read it more than once, and it helped me find perspective and strengthen my resolve in the face of other difficulties besides running.
They say you can't put hope in a box, but as long as you can fit The Running Dream in a box, you can. I recommend it to anyone struggling with any kind of setback, from 12 to 112. It is a book with layers, one that will continue to inspire on each reading (and even between readings). It just might change your life, as it did mine.
Note: The Running Dream is deceptively short and uses simple vocabulary, but it is by no means simple itself. I have worked with middle and high schoolers who struggled with reading, and many of the books for "reluctant readers" I've read with them were "babyish" (their word, not mine). I think The Running Dream would be excellent for this demographic; it is accessible but thought-provoking.
Yet I felt compelled to read it, having read several of Wendelin van Draanen's other works, knowing that she is a former track athlete (and current marathoner) herself, and knowing how much research goes into her books. I'm so thankful I did.
My fears were correct; The Running Dream made me re-experience many emotions: the sudden loss of being a member of a team, the grief over not being able to do your favorite activity any longer, the worry that people will only see your scars instead of your formerly "hot legs," the frustration of not being able to do things that once were second nature to you, the stress of missing school and having to catch up, the concern over the effect of your rehab on the time and finances of your family...
But it also made me remember other experiences: new friendships with people you otherwise might never have met, the gratitude for friends who stand by you and help you laugh, the patience that you can only develop through trials, the realization of what really matters to you, the joy in simple movement you rediscover as your body heals, the reminder that recovery (like all things worth doing in life) is done "step-by-step-by-step-by-step."
It's easy for "recovery from injury" books to get bogged down in the specific details of the particular injury/illness the person is recovering from, or to focus too much on the "stages of grief" and the protagonist's inner struggles. The Running Dream falls into neither trap. It is obviously well-researched and gives enough detail to help the reader imagine what it's like to suddenly not have one of your feet.
In one particularly vivid scene, the protagonist, Jessica, takes a shower for the first time after losing her leg, and is frustrated over how long it takes her to get up the stairs and how difficult it is to get into the tub. But then while bathing, she conducts a thought experiment on how difficult it would be to lose a hand instead. This scene stands out because it is one of the few that really focuses so much on Jessica's difficulties; in other scenes, they're there in the background, but the other concerns of her life are increasingly the focus as she adapts to her disability.
The Running Dream starts off in Jessica's hospital room, where she's alone with her thoughts. These scenes are mercifully short, giving the reader a glimpse into the despair and sorrow that comes with losing a limb, without wallowing in it. This enables the reader to fill in the details from their own imagination, while the story moves on to explore broader themes of friendship, teamwork, the power of a community, seeing people for who they are on the inside instead of what they are physically, and the importance of staying the course when facing joys and pitfalls in pursuing a goal.
One of Wendelin van Draanen's strongest writing traits is her interesting, memorable, realistic, dynamic characters. The Running Dream is no exception. The characters are all loveable yet flawed -- which somehow just makes them more loveable. Jessica is talented, strong, dedicated, caring, and team-oriented, but she's also insecure, bad at math, and occasionally grumpy and self-centered (understandably so, given what she's gone through, and yet she realizes that she must turn her focus outward again as she copes with her disability). Her best friend, Fiona, is enthusiastic, organized, loving, and energetic, but she sometimes is overbearing and speaks before she thinks. Jessica's new friend, Rosa, is a philosophical "math genius" who is sometimes content to let life happen to her (or just pass her by). The Running Dream suggests that perhaps Facebook was correct that "friend" is a verb -- an active, continuous verb. Jessica realizes how tenuous friendships can become if you don't work to maintain them, especially when the things you have in common slip away.
The romance in The Running Dream is a mere side-story to reinforce the theme that character is more important than the outer package (even when the outer package is attractive). It's refreshing to see a healthy teen romance that becomes an important part of Jessica's life without consuming her other interests and responsibilities. However, the romance is just a side-story, and so much of it is left to the reader's imagination.
The main arc of the story is focused on Jessica re-establishing her personal identity, realizing that she's still the same person, and regaining her ability to run. Throughout the book, little bubbles of hope rise to the surface, building to a triumphant finale. The book is grounded in reality; there's no promise that a prosthesis will suddenly make everything completely better. Success requires hard work and dedication. But with hard work, dedication, and the support of friends and family, you can be happy working towards your goals, because happiness is in the journey, not just at the destination.
The Running Dream is truly one of the most uplifting, inspirational, hopeful, triumphant books I've ever read. When I finished reading it, I got up and ran. Just 50 steps, but I ran. And the next day, I ran two sets of 50 steps. I've continued to build my mileage, slowly, through run-walking. I've faced setbacks, even a period of not being able to run at all for 4 months. But throughout the difficulties, I remember the lessons I learned from The Running Dream: how every goal must be tackled step by step, to focus on the bigger picture (realizing that even with setbacks, if you keep moving forward, you'll still end up farther along than if you'd just given up), how setbacks build character and strengthen resolve, the importance of doing what I love because I love it, not to compare myself to my past self.
I can say with certainty that I would not be running today if I hadn't read "The Running Dream." I have loved running since before I can even remember (I used to escape and run laps around church as a toddler). I have tried countless other times to start running again, but it was only after reading The Running Dream that I was able to be gentle enough with myself, to give myself permission to build literally step by step, and to be patient and not give up in the face of setbacks. This book has changed my life. I still think about it and look to it for inspiration at least once a week, even though it's been over a year since I last read it. I've read it more than once, and it helped me find perspective and strengthen my resolve in the face of other difficulties besides running.
They say you can't put hope in a box, but as long as you can fit The Running Dream in a box, you can. I recommend it to anyone struggling with any kind of setback, from 12 to 112. It is a book with layers, one that will continue to inspire on each reading (and even between readings). It just might change your life, as it did mine.
Note: The Running Dream is deceptively short and uses simple vocabulary, but it is by no means simple itself. I have worked with middle and high schoolers who struggled with reading, and many of the books for "reluctant readers" I've read with them were "babyish" (their word, not mine). I think The Running Dream would be excellent for this demographic; it is accessible but thought-provoking.
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