| ________________
CM . . .
. Volume X Number 3 . . . . October 3, 2003 
 |
Mud Run. (Sports Stories, No. 60).
Bill
Swan.
Toronto, ON: James Lorimer, 2003.
102 pp., pbk. & cl., $8.95 (pbk.), $14.95 (cl.).
ISBN 1-55028-786-9 (pbk.), ISBN 1-55028-787-7 (cl.).
Grades
4-8 / Ages 9-13.
Review
by Luella Sumner.
****
/4 |
excerpt:
The runners who
met after school on Monday looked tired. A few drops of rain, like
the drift from a lawn sprinkler, dampened their cheeks.
"Let's hurry up," said Ryan. "Let's go before it
rains."
"Yeah, come on, Ms. Wellesley," said Kathryn. "I
have to muck out stalls tonight."
"Just wait up, everybody," said Gavin. "Mrs. Wellesley
will be here soon."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," said Ryan. "I can't wait any
longer. Anyone else coming? We'll do one lap and burn it."
"But she said......."
"Do you think I care what she says?" snapped Ryan. "We
ran well before she decided to be a coach. We don't need her."
"Want me to go in the staff room and get her?" asked Gavin.
"You better not, Gavy," said Ashley. "You'll get
in lots of trouble."
"I do want to get going," said Hannah. "But I'll
wait."
"It's, like, going to pour," said Ashley, adjusting her
green hair band."I'll get my hair all messed up and everything.
Besides," she added, "I have to meet my boyfriend, Karl."
"Let's do it then," said Ryan. "Who's coming?"
He started to move, a tentative shuffle at first. Baz and Ashley
followed, and then two or three of the younger runners.
Matt stood and watched. Already Baz and Ryan were running hard,
with Ashley close behind. Matt wanted to run with them, to run until
his lungs burned to show he could beat them. He was about to follow
them when Tony Tuchuk straightened up from the flower bed.
This story
has everything ... a hero, Matt, a grade 8 student who is struggling
to find his place in a new school; a villain, Ryan, who is vain, rude,
rough, mean and overbearing; pretty girls for the boys to show off
for; a downtrodden victim, Gavin, who is younger and smaller and being
picked on; compassionate teachers, a friendly old caretaker, family
strife, a mean older sister ... the list goes on and on. The story
is interesting and true to life. Matt's parents have moved the family
to a new city, and Matt, having missed the registration for his beloved
hockey, must content himself with the running club. He is a good runner,
but he finds himself up against Ryan, who resents the newcomer, resents
the new coach, and resents any changes that threaten his supremacy
in the club. Matt must come to terms with his own wish to win, he
must learn to do what is best for the team, and he must stand up to
Ryan. In the meantime, at home, life is not running smoothly. Both
his parents are fully absorbed in their jobs, and his older sister
is totally focused on getting into a good university. Nobody has the
time to listen to Matt, and he feels very alone. As the days pass,
the coach irons out the problems with the team. Matt's family resolves
their difficulties, and the running club finishes the season with
a dramatic and exciting race. Since Matt is the hero, he naturally
comes through the fray successfully, and the villain is taken down
a peg and sees the error of his ways. Altogether, a very satisfying
read.
Bill
Swan, who lives in Courtice, Ontario, has worked as an editor and
newspaper columnist. His first novel, Fast
Finish, was also highly recommended by CM. Magazine.
Highly
Recommended.
Luella
Sumner, a retired public librarian, lives in ON.
To comment
on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.
Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal
use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any
other reproduction is prohibited without permission.
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