Fast Finish

Deborah Dowson is a Canaadian children’s librarian in North Wales,
Pennsylvania.

Noah Meyers is thrilled when he finds out that he has the chance to join
the fastest track club in Durham Region. He loves to run and has often
dreamed of competing. As Noah begins to train with the sprinters, he
becomes discouraged by his lack of progress. Feeling more confident
running in distance races and more comfortable with the
distance-training coach, he switches over to distance running. After
training hard for a year, Noah feels ready to seriously compete. It is
then that he learns that the challenge in sport involves more than the
physical training. It also demands psychological readiness, and Noah has
some personal emotional issues to overcome before he can fulfil his
dream.

This book is ideal for young running enthusiasts who are interested in
training and racing. Using detailed descriptions of actual events in
real locations (such as the provincial finals at the Oshawa Civic
Fields), the author successfully depicts authentic experiences.
Moreover, Fast Finish has merit beyond the scope of a sports story. Both
Noah and his brother are having difficulty trying to come to terms with
their anger and grief at the loss of their father to cancer. The family
situation, which lends a serious tone to the story, is balanced in the
end by the positive and hopeful racing outcome.

William Swan’s writing is first rate, and this preteen novel is a
fine addition to the commendable Sports Stories series. Highly
recommended.