Each year those who decide the featured book for Iola Reads make excellent decisions.
This year’s, “The Running Dream,” is no exception.
Though she specializes in children’s and young-adult fiction, Wendelin Van Draanen created a tale that appeals to all generations. The story follows Jessica, a high school runner and crackerjack in the 400 meters, who loses a leg in a school bus accident on the way home from a track meet, and her recovery.
Jessica’s story is compelling. Twists and turns involving others make it all the more captivating, including emotional interludes that will have you putting the book aside to wipe away tears — I did.
The novel is a relatively quick read and is written in a style that demands reading one more page — and many more.
Iola Reads has been around for several years and each year’s selection — I’ve read them all — is as good as the last, often a little better.
My fervent recommendation is to stop by Iola Public Library or Iola Pharmacy and pick up a copy of “The Running Dream,” free for the taking with expectation of return to give someone else opportunity.
Reading the book is just a portion of what Iola Reads means to occur for those who involve themselves in the annual project. Three walk nights are at the Recreational Community Building in Riverside Park, the first this Monday evening. Kyle Seufert, who lives in Humboldt and is an Iola High grad, will talk about living with a prosthesis at the library Feb. 2; Seufert lost a leg in a traffic accident 24 years ago. Van Draanen will speak here on Feb. 26.
Those activities will put a very real face on the problems Jessica, and Seufert, faced in adjusting to life with an artificial leg. Time was loss of a limb led to life-long devastation, and undoubtedly shortened many lives when surgery and treatment were crude compared to today’s high-tech procedures and appliances.
Iola Reads is a cooperative effort of Iola Public Library, USD 257 and the Bowlus Fine Arts Center. The program is one we all should applaud, with the best of ways participation.
Iola Reads scores gold again
