And Now We Run

And Now We Run by Nicola Penfold is an action-packed page turner, driven by compelling, believable characters in their life-or-death race against time.

The story is superbly set in the awkward early days of secondary school, when friendships are tested, and finding your place in a new setting is not always easy. The story is told mostly from the perspective of two Year 7 students (age  11), Jelly and Lincoln, neither of whom has quite found their place yet and both quietly hoping that this trip away might give them the opportunity to fit in.

Jelly, short for Angelica, is quite anxious having recently fallen out with her best friend from primary school. Lincoln, meanwhile, is a thoughtful individual, who is clearly keen to explore the countryside although the reader is aware that Lincoln's home life is rather unsettled. 

The children are understandable excited to be away from school and keen to be out and about, although torrential rain interrupts their activities until the very last day when the rain stops and the group can get out and enjoy the woodlands and area around the nearby reservoirs.

Penfold's use of descriptive language allows the reader not only to visualise the area the group are exploring but also to empathise with Jelly and understand why she decides to go off on her own. This is the point at which this fabulous story really takes hold of its reader. The extreme weather of the previous few days has made the reservoir dam and the surrounding land unstable and Jelly, Lincoln and the others now find themselves in serious trouble…

Not wishing to give away too many spoilers this really is a gripping read; ideal for a Year 6 class read providing numerous opportunities for questions and discussion. For example, can you justify breaking the law when your own safety is at risk? Or should a parent leave a young child alone if they think it would be dangerous to take them with them?

I really enjoyed this book, it is written in such a clever way that at no point is the reader left with unanswered questions, even though at some points you may start wondering, 'Now why is . . .', as you turn the page the answer is there, beautifully woven into the main storyline. The use of a 'bird's eye view' is also great for providing an overview of what's happening and a link with Lincoln's previous experience.

This is an action-packed tale of survival and a thought-provoking reminder of how even nature and the world around us has its limits. A great read, ideal for any 10-11-year-old readers looking for an adventure this summer.

224 pages / Reviewed by Sam, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 9+