Liam is on the phone with his best mate Jacksie. Both boys are super excited because they;ve jsut gotten their registration in the mail for the Great North Race. Their numbers are 2594 and 2593. They decide to meet up to get some training in this afternoon. But, Mom has other plans for Liam. Seems old Harry Miller needs some help in clearing out all the things from his home. He's living alone and he just had a bad fall. It's been arranged for him to move into a place where he will receive care.
When Liam shows up, albeit recalcitrantly, Harry Miller sees his tee shirt advertising the Great North Run and he tells Liam he and his friends had ran thirteen miles from Newcastle to South Shields back in 1938. They had no idea how long the race would be. They just started to run and couldn't wait to see the sea when they got to the end.
Harry shares the story of that day in between nodding off as Liam and his mother sort through Harry's things. They begin to get a picture of Harry and his life. Harry wakes up and recounts the great adventure of his life.
This is a touching story about Harry and his mates being willing to run, to give it a try, even though they couldn't always see the end. It's about a race but it's also about life and how sometimes you run, sometimes you stop and rest and sometimes you get help from friends along the way. The joy that Harry feels as he tells the story reflects the happiness he has felt all his life. "That's reet, lad! Run! There's a wolf at your tail! Run for your lovely life!"
You might need your tissue box handy as the end rolls around.
64 pages 978-0763689759 Ages 6-9
Recommended by: Barb Langridge, abookandahug.com
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""That's reet, lad! Run! There's a wolf at your tail! Run for your lovely life!" A joyful, uplifting story of times gone by, from the internationally acclaimed author of Skellig. A joyful, uplifting story of times gone by from the internationally acclaimed author of Skellig, illustrated in full colour by the award-winning illustrator of A Walk in London. Liam just wants to go out running with his mates - it's not long till the Junior Great North Run, and there's training to be done. But Mam needs him today, to help old Harry clear out his house. Harry knows a thing or two about running. When he was a lad, he says, he ran all the way from Newcastle to South Shields. "But Harry," says Mam, "that's thirteen miles!" Harry grins. "Different times," he says. This is the story of that day: of sweltering heat, clattering boots, briny sea air and the heavenly taste of ice cream; the day when Harry and his pals ran and ran and ran through the blazing sunlight all the way to the sea."--from the publisher
