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"Runner" by Carl Deuker

Posted on 5.31.2006 at 11:44a
Review: Exciting read!
TEEN LIBRARIAN'S REVIEW:

Chance is a high-school senior who lives with his alcoholic father on a beat-up, old sailboat moored in the Seattle marina. Chance, who runs every day, is soon recruited by “the fat man” to pick up packages hidden in the rocks along the beach. Although Chance suspects that he's transporting drugs for the fat man, he is in desperate need of cash to pay bills, buy groceries, and save the boat. Chance and his friend Melissa soon realize that Chance has become involved in a terrorist plot ... and that he's actually been picking up packages containing plastic explosives!

This is a timely book -- it includes discussions on the meaning of patriotism, the war in Iraq, and terrorism -- but it's also fast-paced and reads like an action thriller. The climactic scenes of Chance and his dad battling against time to save Seattle are riveting.

What did you think of "Runner"?


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Comments:

(Anonymous) at 2006-11-19 03:22 (UTC) (Link)

Runner

It was a great exciting read full of captivating suspense at the corner of each page
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Kinnelon Public Library Teen Reading Blog
[info]kpl_teen_reads at 2006-11-20 18:47 (UTC) (Link)

Re: Runner

Agreed! :-D

"Runner" is a bit different than some of author Carl Deuker's other books. While it involves a bit of sports action -- Chance is, after all, running along the waterfront throughout much of the book -- most of Deuker's novels, like the excellent "Night Hoops," have sports as their main focus.

Carl Deuker's next book, Gym Candy, will be out this coming spring. You can take a look at his website here.

Thanks for your comment!
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(Anonymous) at 2009-08-16 19:07 (UTC) (Link)

Re: Runner

it wuz a good book but i would have made his dad get shot and stay alive and all that crap but it wuz still a good wat 2 end the book
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(Anonymous) at 2007-04-11 21:30 (UTC) (Link)
It was a good book right down to the last page. I higly rcamend this book for any one interested in a action packed book!
(Reply) (Thread)
Kinnelon Public Library Teen Reading Blog
[info]kpl_teen_reads at 2007-04-12 14:30 (UTC) (Link)
Thanks for your comment. Absolutely, this book was a great mix of action and drama. And it also really made me think afterward about what I'd do if I was faced with a tough decision like that.

Author Carl Deuker has written many sports-oriented books. You can learn more about him and his novels by visiting his website. Just click here.
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(Anonymous) at 2008-03-11 22:40 (UTC) (Link)
This book is an awesome read and I think i would read another book just like this if I had the chance. Carl Deuker is one of my favorite authors, and this is one of his bests.
(Reply) (Thread)
Kinnelon Public Library Teen Reading Blog
[info]kpl_teen_reads at 2008-03-17 14:56 (UTC) (Link)
Absolutely agreed! Although Carl Deuker writes lots of sports-themed books, I particularly liked this one because it read like a thriller (think Alex Rider or the young James Bond series). I'm glad you liked it, and thanks for sharing your comment.
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(Anonymous) at 2008-04-09 00:33 (UTC) (Link)

Great book!

Runner was positively amazing. Carl Deuker made the book so interesting! I was immediately engrossed, right from the start. I finished the book so quickly; it was that good! I highly recommend this book to any teen or adult. My mother read it as well, and thoroughly enjoyed it as much as I did. A great read!
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Kinnelon Public Library Teen Reading Blog
[info]kpl_teen_reads at 2008-04-09 14:26 (UTC) (Link)

Re: Great book!

See, now that's the sign of a good book ... you loved it, and your mom did, too. What I think is really great is that you went ahead and recommended "Runner" to your mom even though it's a teen novel. I know lots of adults who read teen-oriented books for the very reasons you mention -- they're often engrossing, entertaining, and fast paced. Sometimes adults just need a push to give a teen book a try. Good job on your part! Thanks so much for sharing your comment with us!
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(Anonymous) at 2008-05-05 15:00 (UTC) (Link)

The Book, "Runner"

This Is BOok Was Awesome.!
I Really Liked It.
It Gets You Hooked As Soon As You Get Started And Keeps You On Your Toes.
It Also Gave Me An Idea To Run When I'm Mad.
It Really Works.
=]
Thanks For Writing This Book.
(Reply) (Thread)
Kinnelon Public Library Teen Reading Blog
[info]kpl_teen_reads at 2008-05-06 15:31 (UTC) (Link)

Re: The Book, "Runner"

Thanks for your comments! I love the idea of running when you're angry and getting all that stuff out of your system in a healthy way. Thanks again!
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)
(Anonymous) at 2008-06-23 18:20 (UTC) (Link)

my favorite book!

i am not much of a reader, but I loved this book so much. all the action, all the drama, the suspense!! best book ever!

now... please. i am wondering of another book like this that i could read.

i also read the heart of a champion book too and loved it, but don't like sports that much, thats why i really loved this one.

recommend another one like this?
(Reply) (Thread)
Kinnelon Public Library Teen Reading Blog
[info]kpl_teen_reads at 2008-07-02 20:11 (UTC) (Link)

Re: my favorite book!

Thanks for your comment. If you look up in the comments listed above this one, you'll see references to Anthony Horowitz's Alex Rider series and Charlie Higson's Young James Bond series. Those are both good, action-packed choices *and* they don't involve sports. Both involve young spies, which may interest you. You might also like Carl Hiaasen's "Hoot" and "Flush," both of which have young people standing up to big, evil conspiracies and being brave and clever. Finally, maybe either of author DJ MacHale's series, "Pendragon" (time travel) or "Flight 29 Down" (plane crash survivors, like on tv's "Lost"), might be a good choice for adventure and thrills. Happy reading!
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(Anonymous) at 2009-03-01 18:00 (UTC) (Link)
Personally, I expected it to have a more suspenseful ending. It was a good read, but disappointing.
(Reply) (Thread)
Kinnelon Public Library Teen Reading Blog
[info]kpl_teen_reads at 2009-03-17 22:04 (UTC) (Link)
Fair enough. Maybe you thought all that action and suspense should've led to a more climactic ending? One that really rocked you? Eh, it happens. Thanks for sharing your opinion!
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(Anonymous) at 2009-05-05 20:10 (UTC) (Link)

Review of Runner

A great book keeps you on the edge. it really makes you think about what its is like to be so under privleged.I loved this book to anyone who enjoys books that are about real life problems. this book is a treat to your eyes
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Kinnelon Public Library Teen Reading Blog
[info]kpl_teen_reads at 2009-05-22 18:21 (UTC) (Link)

Re: Review of Runner

Thanks for the review! Also, good looking out on noticing the class issue in the book and how financial circumstances can effect someone's actions. Thanks again!
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(Anonymous) at 2009-10-04 17:43 (UTC) (Link)

Runner

Runner was an awesome book. I have now read it twice and done two book reports on it. The ending was ok, but I think that maybe just maybe it would have been better if they had put a fight scene in with Chance's dad and one of the terrorists and not ended him so quickly. It would have been better if he'd lived two because Carl could have used Chance's dad as a minor character if he decided to write another book about Chance and what happened too him while in the army and if he still ran. That is of couse not going to happen because Carl is too limited to sports writing and doesn't often venture out into other genres than sports fiction.
(Reply) (Thread)
Kinnelon Public Library Teen Reading Blog
[info]kpl_teen_reads at 2009-10-29 16:40 (UTC) (Link)

Re: Runner

Excellent ideas! Thanks for sharing your review and comments. And, you never know ... author Carl Deuker, although well known for sports fiction, could branch out into a different genre at some point.
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(Anonymous) at 2009-10-16 02:54 (UTC) (Link)
Amazing. Just amazing.
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Kinnelon Public Library Teen Reading Blog
[info]kpl_teen_reads at 2009-10-29 16:38 (UTC) (Link)
Thanks for the comment. Sometimes a simple review says it all!
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(Anonymous) at 2009-12-14 01:14 (UTC) (Link)
I dont usually read books like these and my teacher asked me to read it for a project, and i thought it was really good. I was fast-paced, but it was good. I kind of have a new look about terrorism because i dont really think about it that much except on 9/11. But now i realize that it could happen again anywhere. It was good.
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