Running Wide Open

by Lisa Nowak

Overview

Cody Everett has a temper as hot as the inside of a combustion chamber, and it's landed him at his uncle's trailer, a last-chance home before military school. But how can he take the guy seriously when he calls himself Race, eats Twinkies for breakfast, and pals around with rednecks who drive in circles every Saturday night?

The last thing Cody expects is for Race to become the friend and mentor he's been looking for all his life. But just as he begins to settle in and get a handle on his supercharged temper, a crisis sends his life spinning out of control. Everything he's come to care about is threatened, and he's forced to choose between falling back on his old, familiar anger or stepping up to prove his loyalty to the only person he's ever dared trust.

Named one of BookBub's "6 Seriously Awesome YA Books Even Adults Can Get Into" and praised by teachers as perfect for reluctant readers, Running Wide Open is a feel-good story you'll remember long after you finish the last page. Great for fans of Chris Crutcher, Laurie Halse Anderson, and John Green.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781937167004
Publisher:	Webfoot Publishing
Publication date:	06/13/2011
Series:	Full Throttle , #1
Pages:	332
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.74(d)
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

In addition to being a YA author, Lisa Nowak is a retired amateur stock car racer, an accomplished cat whisperer, and a professional smartass. She writes coming-of-age books about kids in hard luck situations who learn to appreciate their own value after finding mentors who love them for who they are. She enjoys dark chocolate and stout beer and constantly works toward employing wu wei in her life, all the while realizing that the struggle itself is an oxymoron.Lisa has no spare time, but if she did she'd use it to tend to her expansive perennial garden, watch medical dramas, take long walks after dark, and teach her cats to play poker. For those of you who might be wondering, she is not, and has never been, a diaper-wearing astronaut. She lives in Milwaukie, Oregon, with her husband, several feline companions, and two giant sequoias.

Editorial Reviews

"Nowak capably depicts a realistic, likable teenager with typical teenager flaws.... An endearing story about a teenager, his mentor, and what a difference true, unselfish love can make." Kirkus Reviews

"The roar of engines practically explodes off the page in this compelling, heart-thumping debut. Cody Everett is a straight-shooter with attitude, smarts, and whip-cracking wit; he doesn't pull any punches, and neither does author Lisa Nowak. The collision of Cody and the world of stock car racing makes for a great story, one of the best I've read in a long time. Running Wide Open is a book not to be missed." Christine Fletcher, author of Tallulah Falls and Ten Cents a Dance

"Running Wide Open is on it's way to becoming a new classic coming of age story, residing in the company of other great stories such as S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders and That Was Then And This Is Now." Indie Writers Review

"I thoroughly enjoy Lisa Nowak's books and have especially enjoyed using her Full Throttle series in working with my students. The characters are all so believable and definitely relatable to adolescents. I find that the lessons they learn are valuable and at times similar to things my students are dealing with. In one student's case, I was able to draw from situations in the books to use as comparisons and possible solutions. It was great to not have to 'lecture.'" Linda Ryan, School Counselor, Londonderry H.S.

"With characters that are as real as the dialogue is authentic, Running Wide Open is by turns both heartbreaking and hopeful. Readers will race to the finish of this powerful coming-of-age novel." Casey McCormick, author of the popular YA blog, Literary Rambles, co-founder of WriteOnCon, and creator of the Agent Spotlight series.

"Cody wasn't merely a character but a living, breathing boy with a complex personality and deep wounds. And as the story progresses I saw that his struggles gave him strength and purpose and a sense of self-worth that was truly inspirational. This story is a journey worth taking. Highly recommend." Cheri Lasota, author of Artemis Rising and the Paradisi Chronicals

"The racing environment is depicted wonderfully and its atmosphere of sportsmanship and camaraderie is inspiring. It's a great backdrop for this admirably complex drama and ought to make this a YA favorite to be read multiple times." Peter H, LL Book Review

From the Publisher

2015-09-11
A coming-of-age story about a teenager who, despite a rough start, starts to find himself thanks to stock car racing and an uncle who actually cares. Nowak's (Redline, 2013, etc.) novel centers on Cody, a sensitive, artistic 15-year-old kid from Portland, Oregon, whose mild rebellious streak has left his distant and uncompassionate parents extremely unenthused. At the start of the novel, Cody, who secretly wants to be a writer, gets caught by the police spraying graffiti at the zoo. Cody's father gives him two options: go to military school to get his act straight, or go live with his "black sheep" uncle Race, who lives a few hours away in Eugene. Cody chooses to move in with his uncle, and when he arrives, he is less than pleased with his new living situation—the "bedroom" of a trailer. While Cody and Race get off to a rocky start (e.g., Race catches Cody drinking some of his beers, then stealing a street sign), Cody grows to like his uncle when he introduces Cody to his passion—fixing and racing stock cars. The troubled teenager's life begins to rapidly improve, with new interests in things like cars and karate as well as new friends such as Race's mentor, Kasey. Then something unexpected happens: his uncle gets into a bad wreck on the racetrack, suffering a traumatic brain injury that lands him in the hospital. His future uncertain, Cody is left wondering if he'll be forced to return to live with his folks or grandmother or if he can find a way to stay in the new environment that has been making him happy. Nowak capably depicts a realistic, likable teenager with typical teenager flaws. Cody is moody and rebellious, disobeying his parents and uncle; yet he's also sweet and bright with a great sense of humor—and a great T-shirt collection. One reads: "I have animal magnetism. When I go outside squirrels stick to me." Nowak also paints a vivid, thrilling portrait of the stock car racing world, which will surely be enjoyed by racing enthusiasts. An endearing story about a teenager, his mentor, and what a difference true, unselfish love can make.

Kirkus Reviews