This tense, fast-paced tale of delinquency, rivalry and
teamwork will amaze and amuse young adults everywhere.
FREERUNNER is the story of Patrick, also called Tricky, in
Ottawa. He gets into trouble at the mall. Yes, that kind of
trouble. While trying to escape from security guards and
police, he shows a talent for running and crossing
obstacles. So -- inevitably he is caught -- the cop,
Constable Jack, offers him a chance. If he learns to run
parkour, he stays free.
Parkour is the term for running over city obstacles,
vaulting, hopping, rolling, without getting hurt. You've
probably seen it on TV in stunts, and 'epic fails' in silly
clips. Get it right and suddenly the young lad is an
athlete. Training has its downsides -- a well-off lad Jayden
who's been doing it longer and resents the intruder. But
parkour definitely has a good side, in the form of smart,
skilled girl gymnast and runner, Parker.
Kids will read this book and be inspired. The author David
Trifunov has been an award-winning journalist, and has
written two other books of sport and challenge for young
adult readers, called Ice Time and Snow Soccer. While
FREERUNNER is novella length, it focuses on Tricky and his
newfound sport and classmates rather than diverge into
other areas. Have fun.
Fourteen-year-old Patrick and his mother leave their small
town for Ottawa, where Patrick quickly becomes frustrated at
his new-kid status. Out of boredom, he steals a pair of
headphones from the Rideau Centre, and tries to run, climb
and jump his way out of trouble when he is caught. To his
surprise, the police officer, Constable Jack, is willing to
get the charges dropped — on one condition: Patrick has to
train with him in parkour, or freerunning, for twelve weeks.
Since he's behind his teammates, Patrick trains extra hard
and finds that he has a talent for parkour — and that,
maybe, he belongs in the city. He also finds a crush,
Parker, who has a background in gymnastics, and a rival,
Jayden, who has a bad attitude. Both boys become determined
to outdo one another and win Parker's heart. When the
tension between them reaches new heights, Constable Jack
surprises Patrick again: He won't punish the boys, and
they'll settle the score in a competition. But they aren't
just fighting for the prize for best individual — there's
also the prize for best club at stake. That means Patrick
and Jayden will have to learn to work together.
Freerunner is David Trifunov's latest story exploring
jealousy, status and self-esteem on and off the play area.
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