Dash -: Life Between the Numbers

by Greg Armamentos, Amy Swanston (Illustrations), Michael T. Swanston (Illustrations)

Thirteen-year-old Dexter loves to run. Whether along the roads or on the forest trails, he loves to push his speed to the limit. To him, running provides the freedom to dream. Already the fastest kid in his school, he has his sights set higher. He wants to be famous. He dreams of being legendary. But running also provides the freedom to not think at all. Because sometimes thinking leads to memories. And there are some memories of Mom and Grandpa that Dexter would rather forget. When he runs straight into a debilitating illness he has to wonder - will he ever be fast again? Will he ever be somebody?

Genres: Realistic Fiction

184 pages, Paperback

First published August 14, 2013

Reviews

[L Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dash – Life Between the Numbers is a gem. It’s the story of a thirteen year old boy, Dexter (Dash), who dreams of winning races and making a name for himself when he suddenly finds himself facing a different kind of challenge – one that forces him to evaluate his choices, relationships and dreams. Dash takes you along on his journey of determination, bravery, forgiveness and love and invites you to keep his lessons in your heart long after you’ve finished turning the pages of his story.

Ingeniously crafted and told through the voice of a relatable teen, this is a story for everyone; a story for early adolescents, tweens, teens, moms, dads, sisters, brothers, grandparents, friends, coaches, teammates and anyone who has ever set goals and had to reevaluate them. The characters are exceptionally developed and make you examine your own dreams and reflect on what it means to leave a mark on this world.

With this book and the lessons within it, the author certainly has left his mark. This book is well worth the read – and even more valuable as a springboard for conversation with the ones you love. Buy a few copies and share them – this book is the kind of literary magic you want to be a part of. I can’t wait to see what the author does next!

[Anne Morel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although it's written for middle schoolers, this story is meant to be read by all of us. I don't know a single person who has not been somehow affected by cancer and these wonderful characters reveal the many faces of cancer. The patients, the caregivers, the family and friends; all are a part of dealing with the disease and all are given a face and a voice in this book. The tough, driven character of Dash is developed smoothly in an easy to follow writing style. You almost feel like your sitting in the room with him and talking him through the maddening, then heartwarming side of cancer. When something so sad reveals such goodness in people, a good cry can leave you feeling content. Definitely worth the read!

[Greg Armamentos · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the great credos for authors is "write the book you want to read." While it is impossible for me to be objective about this novel, I will say that I was completely enthralled with the story when I was writing it. As the characters grew and their tale unfolded, I found myself laughing, then crying, while trying to record their words and actions. Dash has a wonderful story to share; a story that on many levels resonantes with all of us - the struggle to define ourselves. Often, we begin to see our character, that best version of ourselves, through the lives of those who walk along side of us. And Dash has a core of loving family and friends walking with him through his journey.

[Greg Armamentos · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the great credos for authors is "write the book you want to read." While it is impossible for me to be objective about this novel, I will say that I was completely enthralled with the story when I was writing it. As the characters grew and their tale unfolded, I found myself laughing, then crying, while trying to record their words and actions. Dash has a wonderful story to share; a story that on many levels resonantes with all of us - the struggle to define ourselves. Often, we begin to see our character, that best version of ourselves, through the lives of those who walk along side of us. And Dash has a core of loving family and friends walking with him through his journey.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahhmazing! This is a book that spoke directly to my heart-laughed and cried. I could relate to Dash's journey after dealing with my own personal cancer challenge. Some of my favorite quotes that I connected with were: "Use the time for people you love, not things to get or do." "A life is not important except for the impact it has on others." At times, the story moved a little too fast, and I wished there were more details to savor the "big moments". Overall, it was a phenomenal story reminding me to experience life with my whole heart. I can't wait to share it with friends, family and students. Well done!!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dash is a highly motivated and fantastic runner who must come to terms with his diagnosis. We as a reader, follow Dash, his family, and his friends along this difficult road. It is the rare book that allows the reader to feel every emotion from giggling out loud to uncontrollable tears. Dash-Life Between the Numbers really sent me down a serious path of self reflection and I am a better person for it.

A truly wonderful book that is hopefully one of many from this author. So grateful that I spent time this summer with Dash.

[Mary Klepper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the character development throughout the book. For me, a book has the be engaging from the first page, and the author managed to do that and keep me engaged throughout the book. You will need a box of kleenex for this one, but such a good read. I have a feeling the characters of Dash, Joey, Paige, and Kara will stay with me for a while. This book leaves you believing the world is a better place because of characters like this!

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book with an even better message. I hope Sarah and I can get through it!

[Tish · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a cancer survivor who has walked alongside family members with cancer while also directing a program for cancer survivors, this book is especially meaningful for me. I have seen children learn compassion from confronting heartbreaking circumstances in real life when a friend, sibling or parent is diagnosed. But I find children have been most prepared for hard times when they've loved characters in books, loved them so much they cry when the hard times come for the person (or animal) whose story is being told.

I love Dash, love his teenage mind which holds grudges, achingly grieves for what he has lost,feels jealousy and is self-deprecating. The author is spot-on in making him realistic but still a sympathetic character, one we grieve for at the end. His parents are perfectly imperfect people, like most of us. We are shown in Mom's story how risky it is to assume we know what is actually going on in another person's mind. People, even moms, are rarely as inherently evil as a teen-age mind may assume!

The way God sends friends in to save us from our selfish ways is lovingly written by Mr. Armamentos. So many lessons for children and adults in how to love others and rescue them from themselves and their loneliness. I plan to share Dash with the families I serve and hope teachers will use his story in their classrooms. Every child is going to face a loss from cancer in a lifetime. Dash is great preparation for a compassionate response.

[Holly Mueller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greg is a recent Twitter friend, and he sent me his book to circulate around my room to gather student input. I had to read it first, of course, and I am so glad I did. This is a poignant book about thirteen-year-old Dash, a boy who loves running more than anything, and his journey with cancer. A lot is going on in this young adult story. Dash's relationship with his sister, father, grandfather, best friend, school friends, and absent mother are strained. He puts his ambitions of being the best as top priority, and it is difficult for him to see that his mother isn't the only one who has hurt people. When he finds out he has cancer, he must reconcile his competitive nature, find forgiveness, and learn to put love as his top priority instead of winning. I was amazed to see The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane as a catalyst to get Dash to that place. It's one of my all-time favorite children's book, and I loved seeing it play a central role. Another connection I had was the importance of Theodore Roosevelt's speech, "The Man in the Arena." It's my husband's favorite, and we have it framed in our office. It has so many profound messages. I also thought the device of starting each chapter with a definition of dash was clever. Thank you, Greg, for writing and sharing this beautiful story.

[Ed Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel connecting with a character in a novel is key to enjoying a book. I found I had four things in common with Dash, the protagonist. We both share a love for running, baseball, reading, and we both also have a parent that was a teacher. Like Dash and his grandfather, as a child I had the conversation about players playing baseball the right way as my Dad and I cheered on the White Sox together. Because of these similarities I became invested in Dash's character.
When Dash is diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma I hoped and rooted for him to beat this horrible disease. I also was able to relate to Dash's family who looked on helplessly as the disease ravaged Dash's body. My mom is a cancer survivor. I was blessed that my Mom made a full recovery, yet other than offer love and support, at the time I felt that there was not much I could do to help. I don't know if there is any worse feeling in the world than to watch someone you care about suffer and be able to do so little to help them.
This book is a tear jerker. It reminded me of Wendelin Van Draanen's The Running Dream, which also features a high school teen facing a long road to recovery after the team bus is struck by a tow truck. The message of Dash is positive and timeless and it is definitely worth the read!

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a moving story about forgiveness told through the voice of a lovable young teenage boy. Dexter, aka Dash, is driven by his determination to be a world record holding runner before tragedy strikes his life. This is a genuine and relatable quick read. Yes, it is a story for preteens and young adults, but I fully enjoyed it and highly recommend reading it. Additionally, as a teacher, I know this is a fantastic book that students will actually enjoy while learning applicable necessary life lessons.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 5th grade, twin daughters and I read this book together, and we all LOVED it! My daughters related to the main character, Dash, and couldn't wait to keep reading at the end of each day. This endearing story is both heartwarming and inspirational. We have added it to our gift-giving list this Christmas season. We can't wait to share this wonderfully written story with our family and friends!

[Jennifer Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was written by a colleague of mine and I thought it might be strange to read it as I know the author and his family. From the beginning, I was drawn in by the characters. By the end, I felt as they could have been my own family members. This was a heartbreaking, yet smooth and enjoyable read from start to finish. My advice: don't read it in a public place as I was bawling through the last couple of chapters. A great read!

[Mary Whiteside · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful story of love, forgiveness and gratitude. The main character, Dash, takes the reader through the journey of self discovery as he battles cancer. It is a sweet, gentle story that will warm your heart and remind you to be thankful for the things and people in your life that you already have.

[Jeanne Grelck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dash was the well written story of a young boy's challenges, training as an athlete to run a race, to the race of his life. Though written for middle schoolers, Dash-Life Between the Numbers makes us all take a look. at our priorities and what is really important. The author brings the characters to life as you follow the relationship between Dash, Joey, and their new friend Paige.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this aloud to my class. A heart rendering tale that brought us to tears and made us laugh out loud. The book is chock full of life lessons. We loved it!

[Shivani · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was phenomenal! Our teacher read it to us as a class read-aloud in 5th grade. It is a great book that shows the effects of cancer from the point of view of the patient. Absolutely awesome. It will make you cry and laugh at the same time. Definitely a book older children/tweens would enjoy.

[Mara · Rating 2 out of 5]

My copy of Dash - Life Between the Numbers was given to me by the Author. I was not obligated to write a positive review. This is my full and honest opinion.

Cover Blurb: Yes or No? For the type of book this is, the cover design fits it very well. It does nothing for me specifically, but it'll catch the right audience's attention.

Characters: Dash - otherwise known as Dexter - was an all right protagonist. I didn't dislike him, nor did I especially care about him. He just didn't leave a lasting impression on me either way. This may be due to the fact that I simply don't get into stories like this one, so I failed to connect with Dash. Readers who enjoy inspirational reads may find themselves much more apt to caring about Dash. My feelings for the other characters was pretty lukewarm as well. They were faces with names, but I didn't feel any emotion towards any of them, except Paige. And it wasn't a good emotion. I honestly don't know why, but Paige annoyed me. I think maybe the Author tried too hard to make her optimistic and lovable and - even worse - too inspirational. Instead, rather than leaving me with the warming thought of, "I want to be like her" in my heart, I felt this zing of irritation up my spine every time she appeared in the story. Somehow, I don't think that that's how the Reader is supposed to react to Paige.

The Romance: There isn't any!

Plot: Dash loves to run; it's his absolute passion, and one that he shares with his dad, along with baseball. Dash would like to eventually become famous; make his name synonymous with some great achievement. But when he's diagnosed with cancer, Dash's running days draw to a rapid close, and all the dreams he once had are gone. Cancer is a battle that Dash doesn't think he can fight, let alone win. As it progresses, he suddenly finds that he has time to think about things that he would rather forget: his grandfather's death, and how his mom walked out on their family. But when your days are numbered, is it better to live them out with regret and disappointment, or to make up for lost time and be thankful for what you do have? I realize that some Readers out there enjoy inspirational reads like this. They make you weepy while sending a positive message about what's really important in life. These kinds of books just leave me horribly depressed. I don't get positive messages out of them; I get a message that says goals and ambitions are pointless, so don't even bother, because life will disrupt them. And because our lives are built on goals and ambitions, it's not inspiring to read a story that tells me that I'm basically wasting my life - and also sends the message that goals and ambitions are bad. I'm not saying that that is what Dash - Life Between the Numbers is saying, but that is the message I got, and it isn't true. Goals and ambitions and dreams are all very good things provided you don't forget about the people you care for. Dash - Life Between the Numbers jumps into Dash's struggle with cancer pretty quickly, so it doesn't waste any time. So the majority of this book - all of it, in fact - just saddened me.

Believability: Not complaints in this area.

Writing Style: First person . . . and I'm actually not sure what tense it was officially in. The narration jumped between past and present a lot, and it wasn't always flashbacks. The style itself was so-so. There was a lot of emotion in the narration, and very few typos. The biggest crux in the writing was the dialogue. The Author seems to be allergic to the word "said." He would never say who was speaking; there was just a bunch of dialogue with no "so-and-so said" or "so-and-so replied." The dialogue itself also tried too hard to be inspirational, and instead came across as rather corny.

Content: None.

Conclusion: The deciding factor for Dash is whether or not his cancer is terminal. It is. Dash's days are numbered. So, knowing that the protagonist is going to die of an illness in the end, my spirits became more and more depressed as the book went on and Dash's death grew ever nearer. My personal opinion of Dash - Life Between the Numbers is this: I, personally, did not like it all that much, because it left me depressed. But Readers who like such inspirational reads will find this one a short, enjoyable book.

Recommended Audience: Girl-and-guy read, thirteen-and-up, fans of inspirational reads like The Fault in Our Stars.

[Joy Kirr]

I read this because my class received a free copy from the author, who is local, and a boon to my PLN on Twitter. I noticed half-way through that this book hadn’t been edited the best, and that affected the rest of my reading. I used a pen to fix the punctuation errors and add a couple omitted words. I realized then that the author published this book himself - Kudos! Although this book didn’t grab my attention, it’s a lot better than anything I could ever write. If you’d like a book about a young man finding out what life is all about through his bout with cancer, this one has many words of wisdom.

[Tracy Onze · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is definitely a great story here and there were emotional moments as I read. I think it could use a lot more character development and some plot extensions. It's a good first novel though and I applaud the author.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this on recommendation from a friend. Cute story, but I really only finished it because I hate to quit on a book. Quite a few typos in my kindle version and that was a bit distracting.