Runaway

"Runaway" tells the powerful story of Holly, a twelve-year-old girl who escapes her fifth foster home, embarking on a cross-country journey of survival. Told through her candid journal entries, the book delves into the harsh realities of homelessness, scamming for food, and sleeping in parks. More profoundly, it explores Holly's emotional journey as she comes to terms with her mother's heroin addiction and eventual death. Despite the difficult subject matter, the narrative is described as remarkably uplifting, highlighting Holly's stubborn hope and resilience in finding her place in the world and within herself. This book is suitable for mature middle-grade readers, roughly ages 9-13, who can handle themes of loss, addiction, and independence.

"It's a cold, hard, cruel fact that my mother loved heroin more than she loved me."Holly is in her fifth foster home in two years and she's had enough. She's run away before and always been caught quickly. But she's older and wiser now--she's twelve--and this time she gets away clean.Through tough and tender and angry and funny journal entries, Holly spills out her story. We travel with her across the country--hopping trains, scamming food, sleeping in parks or homeless encampments. And we also travel with her across the gaping holes in her heart--as she finally comes to terms with her mother's addiction and death. Runaway is a remarkably uplifting portrait of a girl still young and stubborn and naive enough to hold out hope for finding a better place in the world, and within herself, to be.From the Hardcover edition.