Run by Eric Walters Date of Publication: 2003 ISBN: 0143312189 Number of Pages: 197

REQUIRED READING ABILITY: Average
GENRES: Realism, Historical fiction
THEMES: Family, Coming of Age, Friendship

SUMMARY:
This novel takes place during Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope in 1980. During this time in Canadian history, Terry Fox selflessly began his run across Canada with the hope of inspiring millions to donate money for cancer research. Terry Fox died in 1981, after the cancer spread to his lungs. He made it as far as Thunder Bay, Ontario, after having journeyed from Newfoundland, and became a national hero.

The narrator and main character of the novel is fourteen-year-old Winston MacDonald of Toronto. He is unhappy with just about everything in his life. His parents are divorced and they fight constantly. Winston's father (also named Winston, but
called Mac) has always dedicated more time to his career as a journalist than to his family. Winston's mother is extremely frustrated with her son's behaviour, and is at her wit’s end when he is suspended from school and runs away yet again. She insists that her ex-husband take him for a few days, even though he is on his way to Nova Scotia to cover the story of Terry Fox, a young cancer survivor who is running across Canada to raise money for cancer research.

Winston is disrespectful to everyone, but especially his father. As he spends time with Terry and his friend Doug, however, Winston begins to learn some important life lessons about himself and his relationships. His journey back to his family and school comes from conversations with Terry and Doug, who are sure of their mission and are patient with each other, even when they argue. Such positive attitudes and the fact that they put their words into action inspire Winston. He learns to respect Doug, who has put his life on hold for a year to help his friend accomplish his dream. He also respects Terry, who never makes an issue of himself or his physical pain, but always talks about how he can help others. Winston begins to talk to Mac, who has also been influenced by Terry. Winston promises Terry that he will go back to school, dealing with the challenges life offers.

The climax of the story occurs when Mac decides to write about the conflicts between Doug and Terry, rather than about Terry’s run itself. Winston tries to argue that the real story is Terry's run, and that Mac’s angle could take away from that. He’s afraid Canadians may forget about the meaning behind this mission, and possibly stop their donations. Winston wants to run away again, but after Mac intentionally misses his deadline for the first time since beginning work as a journalist, Winston realizes his father has changed, and that they are finally beginning to understand one another.

WHO WOULD LOVE THIS BOOK? A kid who...

• loves running, track, and/or Terry Fox
• is interested in stories based on true events and real people
• has a family member with cancer
• has a strong sense of commitment and determination
• is from a dysfunctional family
• has an absentee parent
• is a tough cookie, and/or has authority issues
• likes Eric Walters
  

WHAT ELSE?
Walters demonstrates through these characters how all relationships are flawed, but differences are never so great that they should get in the way of commitments. There are several problems in this story: Winston's struggle to create a relationship with his father; Mac's realization that his pride and ego get in the way of his relationships; the physical demands of Terry's run across a huge expansive country; and the journey of friendship that he and Doug Allard are taking together. The author is the only writer to be permitted by Terry Fox’s family and friends to have access to all of Terry’s personal effects, and the Fox Foundation encouraged Eric Walters and supported the work of the book. While the characters of Mac and Winston are fictional, most of the other characters in the book, and the details, are based on fact.


RELATED LINKS:
Terry Fox Foundation Site
Biography from the CBC’s Ten Greatest Canadians Site