A review by lindseysheataylor
The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen

5.0

The summer school teacher that I am working with, picked this book out as a classroom read for middle schoolers, and all I can say is this will definitely be in my classroom library/ and I might even read it to my future students one day. It’s got everything they could possibly love from realistic teenage attitudes, to love interests, and to friendships, and includes everything a teacher loves from getting students to take on a new perspective, to getting them to understand how to work through hardships, and helping them gain a love for reading with this fast paced book! The ending of this book really hit home for me because I have a disabled brother who I have advocated for during his entire life. Six year old me explained his disability and made sure he was included when playing with others and that has never stopped. I love how this book explains Cerebral Palsy and heavily emphasizes that Rosa has strengths and weaknesses just like everyone else.