Listen free for 30 days
Listen with offer
-
Running on Empty
- Narrated by: Joe Jameson
- Length: 4 hrs and 56 mins
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
£0.00 for first 30 days
Buy Now for £7.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Summary
AJ’s grandfather has always been the one to keep his unusual family together, so when he dies things start to unravel at the edges. AJ is worried about his parents, but they don’t really seem to notice.
In order to deal with his grief and to keep his anxiety at bay, AJ does what he and his grandfather did best: running. Round and round the Olympic Park, aiming for the cross country trials, running to escape, AJ only seems to be heading ever closer to disaster.
Running on Empty is a beautiful audiobook about false starts and emotional journeys, with hope as the ultimate finishing line. From the author of Little Bits of Sky.
Critic reviews
"Lyrical, moving and realistic." (Nicolette Jones, The Sunday Times)
What listeners say about Running on Empty
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- K. J. Kelly
- 10-08-18
Realistic narrator in a tale of dreams & realities
4.5 stars
A boy with dreams to run, the granddad who encourages him... AJ is talented, but he has things holding him back - both his parents have learning disabilities, there is little money, he can't get inside the local Olympic stadium to train. And then his world falls apart when his beloved granddad dies, leaving both himself and his family without its centre.
With worries about the bills at home, no running trainers to wear at school, the embarrassment but love he feels for his parents, AJ is a boy with more cares than most his age.
I was touched by this story, and by the unusual inclusion of two parents such as AJ's. Their portrayal was very sympathetic and would make an excellent discussion topic. AJ himself is a conflicted but worthy young man, who has both talent and ambition, but requires the mentor and backing to be able to utilise them.
The Audible narrator telling the story gave an appropriately young-sounding voice to AJ, slightly inexperienced and yet mature at the same time. The book worked well as a 'listen', with AJ's voice telling us his story. A very easy-to-follow narration.
Would work well with the age group portrayed here - 11-13 in particular. Could be used in classroom settings for discussions in PSHE and English, and by book groups.
Uplifting and sweetly moving.
With thanks to Nudge Books for providing a sample Audible copy.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Mrs
- 06-08-18
it's an amazing book and the chraters are great!
It's a great book short and sweat but not to short.
I suggest you read this book.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!