Leo’s running from her past. Finlay’s running into trouble. Together, they stumble into a crazy new world of secrets, lies, and Chinese food. But someone is on Leo’s trail . . . Eccentric, unforgettable characters and genuine, heart-pounding suspense make for a stunning combination as celebrated author Julia Donaldson expands her talents in her first novel for young adults.
- ISBN: 9780805090543
- Author: Donaldson, Julia
- Published: 2009 , Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
- Themes: empathy, Family, freedom, Friendship, Identity, immigration and emigration, suspense
- Descriptors: England (UK), Realistic Fiction, Young Adult (ages 14-18)
- No. of pages: 224
Julia Donaldson’s, Running on the Cracks, is a well-written, fast-paced, young-adult book that centers upon the hurdles faced by runaway Leonora “Leo” Watts-Chan as she searches for safety and the Chinese grandparents she has never met. Recently orphaned, Leo runs away from the home of her uncle whose strange and bizarre attentions to her are creepy and fear-inspiring.
Leo plans and executes an escape to Glasgow where she hides out on the streets until she is taken in by kind, but emotionally unstable Mary. Prior to meeting Mary and her group of equally “eccentric” friends, Leo encounters a paperboy, Finley Grant, who recognizes her from newspaper accounts of her disappearance and notifies authorities of her whereabouts.
While the police are searching for Leo, Uncle John is tracking her down as she frantically looks for her grandparents. Finley is also searching for Leo and he manages to take a picture of her before she grabs his camera and runs away to Mary’s flat.
The memorable characters and the subsequent events of this story make it a suspenseful and enjoyable read.