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Runaway by Wendelin Van Draanen is an incredible book. Briefly, it’s about a girl named Holly, who has no parents. Once her mother dies of Heroin overdose in Holly’s arms, social services take her to a happy couple who want to take care of her. Holly, who was only ten, runs away. Every time she runs away from a foster home, she gets caught; but this time, she runs away for good. The book follows Holly through her journey of running away for the last time. She writes in this book about her heart wrenching stories about her, her mother, and sometimes Eddie. That’s only a brief summary, because reading this book is pretty much a must read.

It is an extremely powerful book. It has led me to realize the importance of family. Holly’s father dies in a tractor accident, which was very unexpected. After that, her mom was forced to get a job, earning very little money. Holly and her mom slowly moved to smaller and smaller houses, until they lived in their van. That’s when Holly’s mother meets Eddie; I’m not going to say much about Eddie, because reading about him in the book would be much more powerful.

This book has led me to realize how unexpected life is. Anything could happen to you. That was a main takeaway. The tractor accident, Holly’s mother meeting Eddie, her mom’s death; all are so unexpected. I don’t think I mentioned that Holly’s last foster parents were quite abusive. After she ran away, Holly slept in the streets, alone. It must have been terrifying.

And the last, arguably most important thing this book has taught me, is how to be grateful for everything I have. I complain a lot about what I don’t have. Although I do think I appreciate who I have, I don’t think I appreciate them enough. I also need to learn to be more appreciative of what I have, because that’s not always easy to see. The building I live in, my bed, my room, food, everything. The only way holly can survive is thanks to the soup kitchen and the food she is forced to steal. She nearly freezes at night when it’s cold. Holly and I are the same age, and I know for a fact that I couldn’t live like that. Holly has been living in the streets pretty much since she was 8 or 9, and her mother almost trained her to be homeless.

The story is realistic fiction, so the story itself is not real. However, frighteningly similar stories are real, and people who are only 10 or even younger have to live like that. If you have never thought about that, then I encourage you to read this book even more. I will change your view on how fortunate you are, and maybe even inspire you to do some good. Runaway has taught me what I can do, and how people like this want to be helped. It is the most powerful book I have ever read.

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Anyone who has ever complained. This story will change your view on complaining.

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Start of the book- A foster home where her foster parents treated her terribly and with disrespect.
Once Holly runs away- This is when she hops on various trains and moves a lot from city to city, trying to find the right one for her. Lots of cities, parks, and homeless centers.
Near the sea- Holly's goal is to become a sea gypsy. Finally, after many long train rides and walks, she reaches the sea. This is where she stays until the end of the book.

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-Inspiring
-Reflective

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-Helpless at times
-Brave
-Strong
-Fearful
-Grateful
-Hope

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-Hope
-Optimism
-Perseverance
-Equality
-Courage
-Be grateful for what you do have

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1. It was like seeing a dead person right in front of me – A way to explain why seeing the van was so shocking. As holly was walking, she sees a van pass by. It looked like the van her and her mother used to live in before she died.
2. Neon is my night light– This is part of a poem that holly writes in her journal. I think this line implies that the bright street lights are the closest thing she has to a night light. Holly is only 12 years old, and she sleeps in the streets.
3.  The ocean, yawning– This is part of another poem, called the power of me. I think this line represents the oceans big waves, just like how a person would take a deep breath when you yawn.

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This is the book I chose. I read it recently. I finished it during spring break. This is a diary type of book with one or two poems in it, where a foster child runaway records her journey. Her name is Holly.

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No matter your background you deserve to be equal to others.