Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Run with Me {Review}


From a young age, Jamaican-American sprinter Sanya Richards Ross has been chasing the clock.  Starting at the tender age of 7 years, Richards Ross felt at home on the track.  With a supportive family behind her, she quickly moved up the ranks, finally becoming No 1 in the world and on the road to the Olympics.  Through it all, her gaze never wavered from the one who gave her this gift.  And throughout this memoir she continually turns her story back to the Lord.

Based on the 4P's of her training and preparation (push, pace, position, and poise), Sanya Richards Ross tells her story of young racer, immigrant, record breaker, and finally Olympian.  From the heartbreak of Jamaican boos to the triumph of a victory lap, her story honestly tells of both the highs and lows of track and field.  Purposely written to an 8-12 year old audience, Run with Me is a story meant to inspire a generation to pursue big dreams without loosing their faith.

Having two kiddos within the 8-12 year old range, I was excited to review this book.  I was even more pleasantly surprised to see how much focus there was on following the Lord.  Every step of the way, Richards Ross brings us back to how the Lord gave her speed and she wanted to use it to glorify him.  She shares about her own self-doubts and hard work that put her on the path to the world stage, and how she ultimately made peace with God's love outside track and field.

A few days ago, I put this book in my 9 year old daughter's hands.  Typically she loves historical fiction, but she's a dancer and I thought she'd appreciate the focus on training and sacrifice.  Needless to say, she's actually enjoying it and especially likes the focus on growing with the Lord.  It's exciting for me as a mom to see good books out there, encouraging our kids to work hard, go for their dreams, but still find their identity in the Lord.  This is one such book.  Highly recommend it for the preteen, early teen years.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

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