Racing the Past

This book surprised me. The cover, the subject, it just didn't grab me. Yet once I started to read this gripping story, I couldn't put it down. The information above gives plenty of info about the plot -- the story of a boy trying to cope with the death of his abusive father, coming from a family with a terrible reputation, and an older bullying classmate. As an elementary school librarian, I can think of several children I work with who could definitely relate to the main character of this book. The language in the book is studded with words that push my personal limits in a book for kids this age. Yet the use is appropriate to the story. Some books you read provide pleasant diversions, some books stay in your memory for a long time -- giving you plenty to think about. This book fits into the latter category. I read the edition printed in 2001 with a yellow cover showing Ricky racing the bus. I like the cover with the photograph of the runner much better -- I think this cover do a much better job at grabbing the attention of student readers.

Racing The Past is about Ricky, 6th grader, trying to so the right thing. One day Ricky gets in trouble for fighting so he makes a deal with the principal. That he wouldn't go to recess if the principal wouldn't tell his mother. Ricky rode the same bus as the kid he fought, so Ricky started to walk home from school. The first day his friend walked the 3 1/2 mile walk. Ricky hated the look the kids gave him as they rode by on the bus. After the look his decided tobeat the bus home.Training and training he was faster and faster. Until he was going to beat the bus. The book shows the strength of a young boy and what he tries to overcome. If you have a dream in life you should read this book.

Racing the PastBy: Sis DeansReviewed by: J.LauPeriod: 6Racing the Past is a book about a kid named Ricky who just lost his father. Ricky gets into a lot of trouble at school and doesn't want to get his mom involved because she is already under a lot of stress. So Ricky makes a deal with the principal that he wouldn't get into anymore fights as long as the principal doesn't call his mom. The deal meant that Ricky had to miss recess and riding the bus to avoid getting into fights with Bugsie, the school bully. Since Ricky had to walk to and from school, he thought that it took too much time and decided to run the 7 miles to and from school and just maybe beat the bus home. Ricky makes notes on how to run faster and finally gets what he wants.I like this book because it shows how you should have endurance when you run and never give up and the book also shows how a family works together after the loss of a close person. Ricky started out walking the 7 miles everyday and then he came up with the idea of beating the bus. So every morning and afternoon Ricky starts out jogging to and from school, working his way up to running the whole thing. Ricky took notes to help him be able to improve his running. While jogging or running Ricky did number problems in his head to pass time. Then one day a high school coach saw him running, "Keep that up and we'll be good friends when you get to high school." The coach supplied him with new shoes and paid for his doctor's bills as long as Ricky would run for him when he got to high school.After Ricky's father died from drinking and driving, Ricky and his little brother, Matt, were happy that their father wasn't around anymore because of all the abuse and trouble their father caused. Ricky's mom was always at work so Ricky had to stay home to watch his little brother and sister. Ricky also helped take care of housework since his mom was a too busy getting bill paid. Matt was still scared of their father, even though he wasn't alive anymore, that Ricky had to go in the house first after school to make sure that their father wasn't around and Matt held a frying pan while sleeping and still wet his bed at night from bad dreams. When the funeral day came Ricky thought that it was time that they all got rid of the bad memories. Then Ricky decided to get rid of his father's plastic window covering. "Come on!" he told him. "Let's tear it all down."My favorite part of the book is when Ricky finally beats the bus home. Ricky came out of the building as soon as the school bell rang and did his stretches. Ricky started running home with confidence and strength. When he got to the 2nd mile all he could think about was winning but then the thoughts of Bugsie made him mad so he sped up. Turning the corner, Ricky crashed into Tom Guimond and hit the ground but got up just as quick remembering the race. When he got to the last 100 yards he could hear the bus coming and gaining, he found the energy to sprint the last 25 yards with ch

This book is an astonishing book for a first novel (for any novel!) It's heartfelt, honest, and well told. I read it in one sitting because I couldn't put it down.