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Overview
Alienated at school and struggling with his parents’ separation, Kit takes his loneliness to the blacktop, where he loses himself in running — until one day, an accident on the road catapults him into what seems to be a parallel universe. Names and places are strange yet oddly familiar, and Kit is torn between newfound popularity in this world and panic at the thought of never returning home. While Kit’s routine centers on training for an important cross-country race against a rival school, the reader is drawn into Kit’s predicament and his growing fascination with an enigmatic teammate, Alrika. She leads Kit to wonder if he is racing not only for his school but also for his life.Alienated at school and troubled by his parents' separation, Kit loses himself in running, until one day an accident on the road catapults him into what seems to be a parallel universe.
Synopsis
Alienated at school and struggling with his parents’ separation, Kit takes his loneliness to the blacktop, where he loses himself in running — until one day, an accident on the road catapults him into what seems to be a parallel universe. Names and places are strange yet oddly familiar, and Kit is torn between newfound popularity in this world and panic at the thought of never returning home. While Kit’s routine centers on training for an important cross-country race against a rival school, the reader is drawn into Kit’s predicament and his growing fascination with an enigmatic teammate, Alrika. She leads Kit to wonder if he is racing not only for his school but also for his life.
VOYA
Devastated by his parents' constant bickering, Kit finds solace in long-distance running. While running, he can escape reality for a time, and he even wins his school's cross country race, astounding the track and field coach. The weekend after the race, Kit again takes to the road to relieve the stress of his parents' fighting, but this run is different. After being forced off the road by a speeding truck and swallowed by a terrifying, ominous cloud, Kit finds himself in a parallel universe, where many things are similar to home, but nothing rings true. In this universe, Kit runs with the school track team that is practicing for a crucial cross-town race. Kit is popular at school, and he lives with his aunt and uncle, who love him unconditionally and keep him safe until his parents can care for him again. As Kit prepares for the race with his team, he comes to understand that many of the problems and challenges he faced at home were of his own making. The book ends as Kit wakes up in the hospital and realizes that the parallel universe is part of the delusional dreams that he has been experiencing since the accident. Nevertheless his trauma has brought his parents together as friends, and Kit has come to realize his value in the world. This short novel will be enjoyed by boys who like sports or surrealistic fiction. Although not great literature, it is easy reading and will hit the mark with some reluctant readers. VOYA CODES: 3Q 3P M J (Readable without serious defects; Will appeal with pushing; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2001, Cricket Books, 128p, $15.95. Ages 11 to 15. Reviewer: Leslie Carter SOURCE: VOYA, February 2002(Vol. 24, No.6)