Walker's Runners

Deborah Dowson is a Canadian children’s librarian living in Powell,
Ohio.

Being overweight makes it hard for Toby to exert himself in sports, and
he is always the last one chosen for any team. Toby’s defiant attitude
about sports carries over to his schoolwork too, so he needs to repeat
Grade 6. The idea of Toby joining Mr. Walker’s new cross-country
running club makes all the kids in his class laugh. However, when his
only friend, Amy, has an asthma attack and Toby is unable to run for
help, he vows to get in shape so that will never happen again. He joins
the running club, and Amy teaches him to eat a healthier diet and helps
him to exercise. As Toby makes small gains in his fitness ability he
starts to gain interest in his schoolwork too. The support of his
teacher and his team helps him gain the confidence he needs to succeed
in reaching his goals.

This story sensitively explores the bias against size from the
perspective of a person who is excluded and ridiculed on the basis of
his weight. Toby is funny, smart, and caring, and his negative attitude
is primarily a defence against the loneliness, humiliation, and boredom
he suffers. A combination of good description, in-depth
characterization, an easygoing style, and a very comfortably paced plot
add to the novel’s success. The reader is reminded that it is not
necessary to be a star athlete to be a winner at sports, and that
participation in sports has far-reaching consequences in life.
Recommended.