Running on Empty

February 1, 2018

Gr 6 Up-The "Orca Sports" series returns with two new action-packed titles. Leon feels bleak about himself and his future after getting injured in a track accident in Running on Empty. When he meets Casey, she inspires him to start running again, though he learns she has some serious personal issues of her own. In Plunge, Cade discovers his passion for competing in triathlon tournaments after a chance encounter with his neighbor. After always being dismissed by his father for not playing football, he must use his ability to swim, bike, and run to help his family after they get into a devastating car crash. Vivid depictions of each sport are sprinkled throughout the stories, and characters deal with personal issues such as strained parental relationships, struggling with school, and encountering abuse. While these books are written at a third grade reading level, they are on the longer end of hi-lo fiction. VERDICT Sports fans will be drawn to these books by their subject matter. The fully developed characters and story lines pack a punch.

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.