‘This is such a considerate book. AJ is caring for his family as best he can, but an 11-year-old can only do so much.’ – Waterstones Customer
AJ’s grandfather has always been the one to hold his strange family together, so when he passes away things start to untie at the ends. AJ is concerned about his parents but they don’t really seem to notice. In order to deal with his heartache and to keep his unease at bay, AJ does what he and his grandfather did best: running.
AJ is a boy who loves to run. Swept away on the belief that anyone can attain their dream after watching the Olympics, all he wants to do is run on the hallowed track where he saw his hero Usain Bolt win gold.
All around the Olympic Park, aiming for the cross country trials, running to escape, AJ only seems to be going ever closer to disaster. AJ himself is delightful – sometimes moody, but a flawlessly understood young teenager just doing what he can to keep things together.
A touching but unusual story, although AJ’s position is out of the ordinary, a lot of the topics addressed will be familiar to many young readers. Running On Empty is a exceptional book about false beginnings and emotional adventures, with faith as the definitive finishing line.
Available online and in book stores
