Ready to Run.

Sylvia Pantaleo is an assistant professor of education specializing in
children’s literature at Queen’s University and the co-author of
Learning with Literature in the Canadian Elementary Classroom.

As an enthusiastic coach of the cross-country team, Mr. Jackson has his Grade 8 students participate in a running program during physical education. Although initially hesitant about her commitment to running, feisty Remy O’Sullivan decides to join the cross-country team. A secondary subplot involves the events and subsequent conflicts surrounding the boyfriend of one of Remy’s best friends.

As the stories unfold Alison reveals to Remy that she met “Dustin” in an online chat room. Alison easily accepts the few details provided by Dustin about his identity, but Remy is cautiously skeptical about his authenticity. Although she promises to keep the information about Alison’s relationship with Dustin secret, Remy’s questioning attitude persists. Remy discovers further information that confirms her suspicions about Dustin, and when she discovers that Alison is going to meet the online imposter at the mall, Remy’s running skills prove to be instrumental in assisting her friend.

The direct and easy prose style of the book is engaging. Scudamore presents the problem of Internet prowlers in a straightforward manner. Although the extent of Alison’s naivety about the dangers of online relationships may seem far-fetched, unfortunately real life incidents of youth interacting with and subsequently meeting Internet prowlers and/or pedophiles have been documented. Recommended.