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Title details for The Fastest Boy in the World by Elizabeth Laird - Wait list

The Fastest Boy in the World

by Elizabeth Laird
Peter Bailey
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Eleven-year-old Solomon loves to run! The great athletes of the Ethiopian national team are his heroes and he dreams that one day he will be a gold-medal-winning athlete like them, in spite of his ragged shorts and bare feet.
When his grandfather announces that he's going to take Solomon to Addis Ababa, Solomon cannot believe his ears. A trip to the capital? It's unfathomable. Solomon's joy is increased when he realizes that the Ethiopian running team will be doing a victory parade through the city that day. Maybe he'll get a glimpse of Haile Gebrselassie or Derartu Tulu?!
But Solomon's grandfather has other plans. As Solomon follows him through the big, overwhelming streets, he learns something he cannot believe. The strict old man is a war hero who once risked his life to save a friend and has been in hiding ever since. When grandfather collapses, Solomon knows that getting help from his village is up to him. It's a twenty-mile run from the city to home, and grandfather's life hangs in the balance. Can the small bare-footed runner with the big heart do it?
Shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal, The Fastest Boy in the World by Elizabeth Laird is the inspiring story of a small Ethiopian runner with a very big heart.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    June 5, 2014

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Read

      • ISBN: 9781447267324
      • File size: 6717 KB

    • EPUB ebook

      • ISBN: 9781447267324
      • File size: 6717 KB

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • School Library Journal

      May 1, 2016

      Gr 3-6-Eleven-year-old Solomon loves to run; he always has. He fantasizes about becoming an Olympic runner and carrying the green, gold, and red flag of his beloved Ethiopia to glory. But his dreams will never come to pass, as he knows his simple life in a round hut in the tiny town of Kidame can never lead to Olympic glory. One day, Grandfather asks Solomon to accompany him on a trip to Addis Ababa, the capital city. Solomon is so excited to go, but it is a day's walk, and he worries about Grandfather being able to make the journey. Along the 23-mile trip, Grandfather falters more than once, but they are able to make it to the big, exciting city. When Grandfather takes Solomon to meet the son of one of his most cherished friends, Solomon discovers a family secret that changes his attitude about his grandfather and his life forever. On this same day, when his grandfather falls very ill, the boy also learns a profound lesson about true friendship and the enduring love of family. Laird writes with an obvious admiration of this often unfavorably depicted country and the proud history of its people. Peppered in the narrative of Solomon is a background story, rich with the history of Ethiopia's struggle for independence from Italy, its rule by Emperor Haile Selassie, and a true respect for the people who fought for its freedoms. VERDICT An excellent introduction to Ethiopian culture as well as a wonderfully written exploration of a boy's love of country and sport.-Carol Connor, Cincinnati Public Schools, OH

      Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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