Book Review: On the Run

I loved Hatchet by Gary Paulsen when I read it in elementary school.  The survival aspect fascinated me and I couldn’t stop turning the pages to find out what happened to Brian as he faced the Canadian wilderness.  So when I read the description of On the Run, I expected something similar, but I was in for a surprise and not a bad one at that.

Although the story does have a survival aspect to it, it’s much more of a thriller.  Ben is fascinated by police officers and wants to become a cop when he grows up.  But after a visit from the police to his home, his parents return rushing him and his sister up to a remote cabin hours from their home, leaving everything… on, what his parents keep calling a “vacation.”   But Ben knows something is up.

On the Run by Tristan Bancks is the story of asking questions and finding answers that may not be the answers you want or expected.  It is a story that forces Ben to grow up, make difficult decisions and learn about himself and his family.

I really enjoyed the fast-paced nature of this story.  It was definitely hard to put down!  As for audience, it would work well for a middle grade audience (grades 5 – 8); the main character is 12 years old in the story.  And I would definitely recommend this book to reluctant readers who need something that they can’t put down.

Twitter Booktalk (140 characters): Ben is fascinated by cops, but when his parents start acting suspiciously, he must make a difficult decision. “On the Run” by @tristanbancks

Title: On the Run
Author: Tristan Bancks
Publisher: Margaret Ferguson Books
Publication Date: 2015
Page Number: 227 pgs.