{"product_id":"the-running-dream-isbn-9780375866289","title":"The Running Dream","description":"\u003cb\u003eWhen Jessica is told she’ll never run again, she puts herself back together—and learns to dream bigger than ever before. The acclaimed author of \u003ci\u003eFlipped\u003c\/i\u003e delivers a powerful and healing story.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Jessica thinks her life is over when she loses a leg in a car accident. She’s not comforted by the news that she’ll be able to walk with the help of a prosthetic leg. Who cares about walking when you live to run?\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e As she struggles to cope, Jessica feels that she’s both in the spotlight and invisible. People who don’t know what to say act like she’s not there. Jessica’s embarrassed to realize that she’s done the same to a girl with CP named Rosa. A girl who is going to tutor her through all the math she’s missed. A girl who sees right into the heart of her.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e With the support of family, friends, a coach, and her track teammates, Jessica may actually be able to run again. But that’s not enough for her now. She doesn’t just want to cross finish lines herself—she wants to take Rosa with her.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “Inspirational. The pace of Van Draanen’s prose matches Jessica’s at her swiftest. Readers will zoom through the book just as Jessica blazes around the track. A lively and lovely story.” —\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\"I read T\u003ci\u003ehe Running Dream\u003c\/i\u003e on my way to the World Championships. I nearly missed my flight for reading it and inhaled it before I touched down. It's a truly touching story that feels very real.\"--Katrin Green, Paralympic Gold Medalist\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"This heart-touching story is a helpful reminder that we must appreciate each day and each blessing. When I go around \"Rigor Mortis Bend\" and think of Jessica, my legs do not feel nearly as tired anymore.\"--Jordan Hasay, four-time USA Track \u0026amp; Field Jr. Women's Champion\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Van Draanen's extensive research into both running and amputees pays dividends--readers will truly feel what's it like to walk (or run) a mile (or 10) in Jessica's shoes.\"--\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Inspirational. The pace of Van Draanen's prose matches Jessica's at her swiftest. Readers will zoom through the book just as Jessica blazes around the track. A lively and lovely story.\"--\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Van Draanen delivers an abundance of interesting medical detail and emotional authenticity in this accessible and inspirational novel.\"--\u003ci\u003eThe Horn Book Magazine\u003c\/i\u003eWhen Wendelin Van Draanen ran her first marathon, she was struck by the people with physical handicaps who were also running and was inspired to write this book about overcoming adversity with courage and grace and strength.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e She is the author of many beloved and award-winning books. For middle graders, she’s written \u003ci\u003eSwear to Howdy\u003c\/i\u003e and the Sammy Keyes mystery series. For teens and tweens, there’s \u003ci\u003eFlipped, The Running Dream, Confessions of a Serial Kisser,\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eRunaway.\u003c\/i\u003e And for younger readers, check out the Shredderman quartet and the Gecko and Sticky series. Wendelin Van Draanen lives in Central California with her husband and two sons. Find her on the Web at WendelinVanDraanen.com or on Twitter at @WendelinVanD.Chapter 1\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e My life is over.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Behind the morphine dreams is the nightmare of reality.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e A reality I can't face.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I cry myself back to sleep wishing, pleading, praying that I'll wake up from this, but the same nightmare always awaits me.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Shhh,\" my mother whispers. \"It'll be okay.\" But her eyes are swollen and red, and I know she doesn't believe what she's saying.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e My father--now that's a different story. He doesn't even try to lie to me. What's the use? He knows what this means.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e My hopes, my dreams, my life . . . it's over.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The only one who seems unfazed is Dr. Wells. \"Hello there, Jessica!\" he says. I don't know if it's day or night. The second day or the first. \"How are you feeling?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I just stare at him. What am I supposed to say, \"Fine\"?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He inspects my chart. \"So let's have a look, shall we?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He pulls the covers off my lap, and I find myself face to face with the truth.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e My right leg has no foot.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e No ankle.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e No shin.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e It's just my thigh, my knee, and a stump wrapped in a mountain of gauze.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e My eyes flood with tears as Dr. Wells removes the bandages and inspects his handiwork. I turn away, only to see my mother fighting back tears of her own. \"It'll be okay,\" she tells me, holding tight to my hand. \"We'll get through this.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Dr. Wells is maddeningly cheerful. \"This looks excellent, Jessica. Nice vascular flow, good color . . . you're already healing beautifully.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I glance at the monstrosity below my knee.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e It's red and bulging at the end. Fat staples run around my stump like a big ugly zipper, and the skin is stained dirty yellow.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"How's the pain?\" he asks. \"Are you managing okay?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I wipe away my tears and nod, because the pain in my leg is nothing compared to the one in my heart.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e None of their meds will make that one go away.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He goes on, cheerfully. \"I'll order a shrinker sock to control the swelling. Your residual limb will be very tender for a while, and applying the shrinker sock may be uncomfortable at first, but it's important to get you into one. Reducing the swelling and shaping your limb is the first step in your rehabilitation.\" A nurse appears to re-bandage me as he makes notes in my chart and says, \"A prosthetist will be in later today to apply it.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Tears continue to run down my face.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I don't seem to have the strength to hold them back.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Dr. Wells softens. \"The surgery went beautifully, Jessica.\" He says this like he's trying to soothe away reality. \"And considering everything, you're actually very lucky. You're alive, and you still have your knee, which makes a huge difference in your future mobility. BK amputees have it much easier than AK amputees.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"BK? AK?\" my mom asks.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I'm sorry,\" he says, turning to my mother. \"Below knee. Above knee. In the world of prosthetic legs it's a critical difference.\" He prepares to leave. \"There will obviously be an adjustment period, but Jessica is young and fit, and I have full confidence that she will return to a completely normal life.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e My mother nods, but she seems dazed. Like she's wishing my father was there to help her absorb what's being said.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Dr. Wells flashes a final smile at me. \"Focus on the positive, Jessica. We'll have you up and walking again in short order.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e This from the man who sawed off my leg.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He whooshes from the room leaving a dark, heavy cloud of the unspoken behind.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e My mother smiles and coos reassuringly, but she knows what I'm thinking.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e What does it matter?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I'll never run again.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 2\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I am a runner.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e That's what I do.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e That's who I am.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Running is all I know, or want, or care about.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e It was a race around the soccer field in third grade that swept me into a real love of running.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Breathing the sweet smell of spring grass.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Sailing over dots of blooming clover.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Beating all the boys.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e After that, I couldn't stop. I ran everywhere. Raced everyone. I loved the wind across my cheeks, through my hair.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Running aired out my soul.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e It made me feel alive.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e And now?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I'm stuck in this bed, knowing I'll never run again.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 3\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The prosthetist is stocky and bald, and he tells me to call him Hank. He tries to talk to me about a fake leg, but I make him stop.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I just can't listen to this.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He gets the nurse to put a new bandage on my leg. One that's thinner. With less gauze.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I'm cold.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The room's cold.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Everything feels cold.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I want to cover up, but Hank is getting ready to put on the shrinker sock. It's like a long, toeless tube sock. He pulls it through a short length of wide PVC pipe, then folds the top part of the sock back over the pipe. I don't understand what he's going to do with it, and I don't care.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Until he slips the pipe over my stump.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Oh!\" I gasp as pressure and pain shoot up my leg.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I'm sorry,\" Hank says, transferring the sock from the pipe onto my leg as he pulls the pipe off. \"We're almost done.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Half the tube sock is now dangling from my stump. Hank slides a small ring up the dangling end, then stretches out the rest of the sock and doubles it up over the ring and over my stump.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e There's pressure. Throbbing. But Hank assures me it'll feel better soon. \"The area is swollen,\" he tells me. \"Pooling with blood. The shrinker sock will help reduce the swelling and speed your recovery. Once the wound is healed and the volume of your leg is reduced, we can fit you with a preparatory prosthesis.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"How long will that take?\" my mother asks. Her voice starts out shaky, but she tries to steady it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Hank whips out a soft tape measure and circles the end of my stump. \"That's hard to say.\"","brand":"Ember","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46302234345701,"sku":"NP9780375866289","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780375866289.jpg?v=1767741304","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/the-running-dream-isbn-9780375866289","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}