Van Draanen, Wendelin. Runaway. Laurel Leaf (2008). ISBN-10: 0440421098

Plot Summary

Twelve-year-old Holly is a runaway. After her mother dies of a drug overdose, Holly is forced to live in several foster homes. Following several awful and uncomfortable foster home experiences, Holly decides that living on the streets is her best option. When a teacher gives Holly a journal where she is to write down her thoughts and poetry (as an assignment), she angrily reacts. Eventually, she does write in the journal, on many days more than once, and she begins to change, believing in many ways that the journal is her only friend.

Critical Evaluation

This book is brilliantly written in 1st person journal entries. Holly’s experiences as a young runaway are realistic and thought provoking. Her tireless efforts to remain free of foster care are amazingly commendable. As a child living on the streets, Holly is forced to endure more than anyone can imagine. Through Holly, Van Draanen takes readers through a variety of emotions…anger, pain, happiness, sorrow, disgust, and even relief.

Reader's Annotation

It is easy to become truly engulfed in Holly’s struggle for survival. What a page-turner!

About the Author

Wendelin Van Draanen was born in Chicago, Illinois, on January 6, 1968. Growing up, she learned to read at a very young age, and her father often read to her and her brothers during story time. As a child, she spent a great deal of time “chasing down adventure” and living life as a tomboy. Van Draanen did not, however, experience the joy of writing until she was an adult. An early attempt at writing proved to be a therapeutic experience for Van Draanen, so she eventually tried her hand at writing for adults. But, over time, she discovered a great passion for writing children’s books. Some of these books include Flipped, the Sammy Keyes series, and How I Survived Being a Girl.

Genre

Realistic Fiction

Curriculum Ties

Language Arts, Health, Social Science

Booktalking Ideas

"It's a cold, hard, cruel fact that my mother loved heroin more than she loved me." These are the words of Holly, a 12-year old runaway. When her mother dies of a drug overdose, Holly is forced to live in a variety of foster homes. After several awful and uncomfortable foster home experiences, Holly decides that living on the streets is her best option. Travel with Holly as she struggles to survive physically on the streets and emotionally through her journal writing. This book will not disappoint!

Reading Level/Interest Age

Young Adult, Grades 6-8

Reason for Book Selection

There are many students who face some of the same issues that Holly faces in this book. While running away is not really ever a solution, students can “live” through Holly as they find ways to deal with some of life’s most unbearable obstacles.