Lone Runner

Lone Runner starts when Michaela goes to summer camp for two weeks. She feels alone until three of the popular girls ask her to join their team to run cross-country. Michaela has been a successful sprinter, but she has never tried a longer distance. Unfortunately, she starts too quickly and is unable to finish. She feels that she has let down the other girls. When she returns to school, she tries out for the cross-country team and comes out as the fourth team member on the five member team. Michaela’s best friend and supporter leaves for a new school which leaves Michaela on her own as she begins Grade 8. She decides that she will work hard to be a good team member. Michaela is afraid that she will let her team down. She comes up with four goals that she will work towards. The captain of her team, Belinda, who is also in her grade, helps her with training and reaching her goals, as well as becoming her friend, and together they help the team of Grade 8 girls become stronger and find success.

Lone Runner is an excellent story about friendship, determination, reaching goals, team work and the sport of cross-country. The practices and races are well-detailed. The plot is fast paced. There are 21 chapters with titles that lead the reader through the plot. The book takes place in Ontario but mentions one of the team coming from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and provides some local colour. This title is part of the “Sports Stories” series with a reading level of 2.8 which makes this an excellent choice for reluctant readers. Lone Runner would also be an excellent read-aloud choice. There would be many opportunities for discussion around the themes of friendship, realistic situations and sports. It is very suitable for the intended age group.