Want a winning combination of story elements? How about a retired greyhound, her adopted family, and a chance for a teen to win a racing trophy? Jamie's father is often away on business trips, leaving Jamie and his mother feeling lonely and sad. His father pushes Jamie to try team sports, but while he is away on another trip, Jamie and his mom begin running. It is a way to pass the time and keep them both from being couch potatoes and eating junk food. When they enter a marathon, they discover that they enjoy the motivation of competing and decide to continue with the races.
At the same time that Jamie is dealing with his absentee father, he is also having a major growth spurt and enduring the teasing of his classmates, especially Chan. But one good thing does happen at school, a representative from an adoption group brings Road Whiz to visit the students. Whiz and Jamie bond, and Jamie goes home to convince his mother to adopt the greyhound. Maybe the retired racer can help Jamie train for the competition?
There are many themes to consider as readers make their way through the story - growing up, dealing with teasing, how it feels to have an absent parent (for whatever reason), coping with depression, sports and sportsmanship, pet adoption... just to name the more prominent ones. Author Darcy Pattison keeps the story realistic and balances the various components nicely.
Readers who enjoy sports stories and realistic fiction of school, family, and growing up will want to give this book a try. I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
In my opinion, there's a lot who can relate in the story, Nowadays, our parents is always busy just to give our needs and wants in life, and as kid you will divert your attention rather to appreciate it. In my case I divert through adopting pets. Pets is always with me for many years ago, because my parents are so busy in their life. Please refer to this link: https://wagspetadoption.org/
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