Deuker, Carl. Runner.DEUKER, Carl. Runner. Houghton Mifflin Houghton Mifflin Company is a leading educational publisher in the United States. The company's headquarters is located in Boston's Back Bay. It publishes textbooks, instructional technology materials, assessments, reference works, and fiction and non-fiction for both young readers . 224p. c2005. 0-618-54298-1. $16.00. JS Chance lives on a sailboat in Seattle's harbor, but it isn't exactly a "floating mansion." It's as beaten-up and beaten-down as his alcoholic father, who can't seem to hold a job. Chance's mother left long ago, and he worries each month about whether his father will manage to pay the bills. So when a man from the marina approaches Chance and offers him money to pick up and deliver mysterious packages on his daily run. Chance doesn't ask many questions, though he's pretty sure drugs are involved. At school, he's a "ghost-walker," just waiting to graduate and enlist en·list v. en·list·ed, en·list·ing, en·lists v.tr. 1. To engage (persons or a person) for service in the armed forces. 2. To engage the support or cooperation of. v. in the army to get away, but a new friend named Melissa gets through to him. Her curiosity about his runs, however, nearly gets her in danger, and when Chance discovers that it's not just drugs he's helping to smuggle smug·gle v. smug·gled, smug·gling, smug·gles v.tr. 1. To import or export without paying lawful customs charges or duties. 2. To bring in or take out illicitly or by stealth. matters come to a head, with tragic consequences. Deuker. the author of Night Hoops and other YA novels, crafts a suspenseful sus·pense n. 1. The condition of being physically suspended. 2. a. The state or quality of being undecided, uncertain, or doubtful. b. and involving story that tackles timely issues of terrorism, patriotism Patriotism See also Chauvinism, Loyalty. America, Captain comic-strip character known as the “protector of the American way.” [Comics: Horn, 155–156] American elm traditional symbol of American patriotism. , poverty, and privilege. Chance's dilemmas will quickly draw in readers and keep them turning the pages. Paula Rohrlick, KLIATT J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers. S--Recommended for senior high school students. |
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