Runnerland

by John Burns

Peter s just a normal teenager living a normal life until his father suddenly dies and his world is turned upside down. Already teetering on the brink of despair, Peter goes over the edge when he... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1551929570
• ISBN13: 9781551929576
• Release Date: May 2007
• Publisher: Raincoast Books
• Length: 218 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.0" x 7.8"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

Runnerland by John Burns

Peter's life has been going pretty well- he's got his family, friends, and school. Then, one day, he gets called into the principal's office where he learns that his dad died earlier that morning after he'd gone off to school. A few days later, while looking through his dad's desk drawers, he comes across an envelope that will change Peter's life forever, sending him on an unforgettable adventure, one that may end up keeping him from home... I had a similar reaction to this book like I did with X In Flight. I went in thinking it would be about one thing, and being a tad disappointed while still being compelled to read the story. The book summary mentioned Peter discovering a truth that was hidden from him for too long, and that kind of language gave me a completely different idea to what actually happened. Despite this misinterpretation, like X In Flight, I still enjoyed the book a lot. Told very compellingly with vivid details and a stark realism, this is one book I found absolutely hard to put down until the very end. It's very suspenseful throughout and the plot twists come out of nowhere and keep the pages turning.

Courtesy of Teens Read Too

Statistics on teenage runaways are frightening. Knowing that teens are living homeless in big cities and surviving by their wits is terrifying. John Burns takes readers into the world of the teenage runaway. It is a frightening place, where survival can depend on becoming part of a group and having to trust some very scary individuals with your life. Peter Weir's life takes a sharp turn downhill when his mother shows up at school to announce that his father just died of a heart attack. His attempts to pull his life back together are feeble. Just moving on doesn't work well for Peter. After a meeting with his father's attorney to discuss his estate, Peter finds he has a thousand dollars in cash at his immediate disposal. The future seems clear - take it and run. He boards a bus and heads for someplace far from his absent father. Traveling alone isn't as easy as Peter thought. Roughed up by several bullies, he loses all but two hundred dollars of his money. His remaining funds dwindle quickly. Peter is relieved to meet several other homeless teens who introduce him to Dekman. Survival seems easier as he joins their group and panhandles for Dekman in exchange for a place to sleep and food to eat. The dark side of Dekman begins to surface, making Peter uncomfortable but still dependent for survival. His artistic talent could possibly offer him a chance to break free of the group, but he fears Dekman's threats too much to take the chance. Afraid of Dekman, yet also afraid to call home for help, Peter's subconscious takes over. He realizes that he is able to create his own special world inside his mind. This world he calls Runnerland, and it gives him a place to escape the stress and danger of his current situation -- but it also seems to make the unstable Dekman jealous. Peter's story is a realistic one. The deserted buildings that become his home, the creative methods he devises to beg and earn his living, and the fragile and scary trust he must have in the leader, Dekman, all come together to illustrate the dark and dangerous life of the homeless. This well-written story will make readers consider just how many of these teens are out there today, living on the edge of survival. Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"

A Great Read

I really enjoyed this book. It's a convincing story of a young teenager, Peter, who receives the bombshell news that he's adopted upon the death of his father. Hurt, confused, and despondent, he runs away from home to find his own way and make sense of everything. Peter's impulsive and somewhat naïve character comes across as completely authentic. Author John Burns has really captured those early teenage years and all the confusion and desperation (and exploration) they contain. There are also many very nice touches illustrating that no-man's land between childhood and being a grown-up. Once on the streets, Peter is forced to deal with the hard realities of survival. Not all that successful getting by on his own, he falls in with a group of street kids and their Fagin-like leader. As life becomes more harsh, Peter begins to periodically retreat into a fantasy world which he calls Runnerland. It starts out as an idyllic place, but as Peter's day-to-day life becomes more difficult the landscape becomes more ominous. Fantasy and reality begin to close in on each other until Peter is forced to face down all his demons, both real and imagined. While aimed at young adults, it's a great read for anyone above the age of twelve. The book reads true without being overly sentimental, and it treats the subject matter with the respect and gravity it deserves. The themes explored cross generational boundaries, and almost everyone will recognize Peter's search for his place in the world.