David Wright (3) (1964–)

In AWAY RUNNING, readers follow Matt and Free over four months while they play American football in an Under-20 league in France. Football is only the premise, though; the real story is about racism, bigotry, and the failures of multiculturalism. As Matt and Free get to know their teammates, teenagers from an impoverished, racialized suburb of Paris, they must choose what kind of men they will be as adults.

This is a hard-hitting novel that asks readers -- even readers who consider show more themselves fair minded and progressive, even readers who have themselves experienced bigotry and hatred -- to recognize their blind spots. The scene in which Matt and Free compare Matt's québécois French to Free's Black Vernacular English is an early example of the much harder lessons awaiting the boys. I was impressed by how deftly the authors handled some frankly ugly topics.

Despite sad, tragic events at the climax of the story, there is hope at the book's conclusion. We see Matt and Free learn and grow, and can imagine their futures. Their experiences could generate lively discussion in a classroom or teen reading club.

I'd recommend AWAY RUNNING for libraries and classrooms as well as personal collections. As questions of inequality, poverty, and exclusion become ever more urgent in Western society, we need strong books and other art forms to encourage us to talk, act, and find solutions. show less

Although this seems like a book about football, it is so much more than that. It touches on many important topics, including racism, injustice, and finding one’s place in the world. This is a fictional story, but it draws on elements from real events in France in 2005. It was eye-opening and heartbreaking to read this story in today’s political climate, as it seems very little has changed in 20 years. We are still dealing with racial tension between citizens, law enforcement, and show more government.
Overall, this was an excellent read that encourages you to challenge your prejudices. It was both captivating and difficult to read as it did not shy away from addressing topics head-on. Better suited towards older readers as some topics are quite heavy. show less

I don't normally read this type of genre but thought I would give it a try and boy was I wrong. I figured it was a sports novel about brotherhood and coming together but it turned something completely unexpected to which made me stop and think and think about how I treat others and if I've been a culprit of anything from this book. It's more than just a bro sports novel but tackles some heavy issues and makes you think afterwards.

This is a review for the advanced reading copy version of Away Running for the Early Reviewers program.

Away Running features two main characters – teenage boys from Canada and the United States. The two play American football in a poor suburb of Paris largely populated by people of North and Sub-Saharan African origins. The characters are semi-autobiographical, as they are clearly based on the two authors’ experiences, lending authenticity to the book.

This is an edgy, exciting book for show more high-school students, which encourages readers to consider thoughtfully issues of racism and stereotyping, especially that experienced by the local teammates of Free and Matt, in a nuanced manner. There is a ton of football action, with which I had some difficulty as I know little about the rules and plays in American football, but I nonetheless enjoyed those scenes. The explosive climax is inspired by a real event as well, though not one that the authors experienced; however, the notes at the end of the book indicate that the authors conducted quite a bit of respectful research.

Some readers may find some of the language in this book challenging, as there is French (especially slang) interspersed here and there, and the African American speech of the character Free (Freeman) might take a little getting used to for someone with little previous exposure.

The overall theme and final chapters were very moving, and the authors skillfully avoided an after-school special feel.

Due to some disturbing violence, it is not recommended for younger children. show less