Run Like a Girl

by Amaka Egbe

Dera Edwards knows her life is over when she's shipped off to live with her estranged father in the middle of White Suburbia. To make matters worse, Dera learns that her new school doesn’t have a girls’ track team, shattering her dreams of getting a track scholarship and, one day, competing in the Olympics.

Not one to give up easily, Dera joins the boys’ team instead. But while she has the school administration’s blessing, her new teammates and classmates are less than welcoming. Between that and her frustratingly distant father, Dera is positive her junior year is ruined.

Just as she starts to accept her status as an outsider, Dera’s approached by her classmate Rosalyn, who wants to feature Dera’s story in her blog. Eager to change the narrative and spend more time with Rosalyn's gorgeous cousin Gael—also known as one of the few teammates who will talk to her—Dera agrees.

But when she goes viral and gains attention across the state, Dera’s new notoriety opens the door for trolls both online and at school. Paired with her deteriorating relationship with her father, she soon finds everything to be too much. Will Dera be able to keep outrunning her problems, or will her dream be the very thing that derails her?

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Sports, Romance, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Coming Of Age

384 pages, Hardcover

First published May 20, 2025

Reviews

[Gina Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun - it's about Dera, who is spending the school year with the dad she's never known. She was great at track at her old school, but when she gets to her new school, they only have a boys' team. She ain't letting that shit stop her, tho, and she finesses her way into training with the boys.

The boys are such shits about it. Like, she gets like, actually assaulted at one point. So like, there's definitely hurdles (pun intended) to her doing something as simple as being in track.

Yeah, it was good and fine, and I'd totally recommend it to teenagers. There's a little school drama, a little parental drama, a little boy drama... I liked the Nigerian rep, too.

[Thea · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Run Like A Girl" handelt von Dera, die große Ziele für ihre Laufkarriere hat, nach einem Umzug aber dem Jungsteam beitreten muss, um zu trainieren und an Wettkämpfen teilzunehmen, da es an ihrer neuen Schule kein Mädchenteam mehr gibt. Als zusätzliche Herausforderung muss sie sich ihrem nigerianischen Vater, der schon seit ihrer Kindheit keine allzu präsente Rolle in ihrem Leben spielt, wieder annähern.

Der Stil war sehr angenehm und das Buch ließ sich sehr gut und sehr schnell lesen. Da hatte ich sehr viel Spaß dran. Mich hat an der einen oder anderen Stelle allerdings ein wenig die Sprache gestört. Ja, Jugendsprache und so, aber so Dinge wie "lowkey" hätte ich persönlich ins Deutsche übersetzt schöner gefunden, weil es sonst auch recht schnell veraltet und nicht mehr zeitgemäß wirken kann.
Dera ist keine super sympathische Hauptfigur, weil ich ihr Verhalten an einigen Stellen sehr egoistisch und teilweise gemein fand, das gehört allerdings auch zu ihrem Lernprozess, den sie im Laufe des Buches durchmacht, von daher passt das. Die Nebenfiguren werden kurz und treffend charakterisiert. Lediglich ihre Freund*innen von ihrer alten Schule bleiben größtenteils sehr flach, manche haben nicht mal Namen ("die Zwillinge"), das fand ich etwas seltsam.


Rezensionsexemplar via Netgalley

[Deirdre Megan Byrd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for the ALC. This book follows a young girl being sent to live with her estranged father and the struggles that comes with up rooting your life, being a teen, navigating difficulties. Well done.

[Danielle Nichole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Girl moved because her mom is couch surfing, but has the audacity to hold a huge grudge against the dad that gives her a place to live. (Lol too be fair, she's got a good reason to have Daddy Issues, though, but it's this whole book not giving him a chance to make up for his past mistakes).

There's so much drama and cultural issues with her being a black girl at a mostly rich white school, and then the dynamics of wanting to run track at a school with no girls team.

Read by A'resse Emokpae. #booksin25

[Anita White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once I read that the book takes place in Dallas suburbs I was sold. I will say that I enjoyed following Dera journey of moving in with her estranged father to joining the boys track team. Then to see Dera and the little drama that seems to follow her 😬. I definitely would recommend this book for teens that are dealing with parent separation.

[Nic Ojo (bujos_n_books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

An I am girl, hear me roar story. The MC has such heart. I will definitely be reading more from this author.




IG: @bujos_n_books

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 4 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

When Chidera's mother tells her that she is going to have to move from Sunridge to live with her father in West Harmony, a posh suburb of Dallas, Dera is not happy. She knows that things are tough for her mother, and that she has to focus on her schoolwork, but she hasn't lived with her father since she was five and her father left. Knowing there's nothing to be done, she makes the move, and hopes that she can get onto the new school's track team so that she can be spotted byt recruiters for colleges. When she falls while running in the neighborhood, she meets Liam, who bandaged her knees and tells her there IS no girls' team, but he's the captain of the boys' track team. Starting school is a festival of microaggressions, not only from the white staff who can't get her name right, but also from one of the few Black girls, Arnell, who dismisses her down market clothing and box braids. Dera talks to a guidance counselor about running track, citing Title IX, and luckily, Coach Holder is understanding. Dera can train with the boys, and run in their meets for times. This doesn't go over quite as well with some of the boys on the team, who make inappropriate and dismissive comments. Gael, however, is very supportive... and a little cute. His cousin, Roz, wants to interview Dera for her blog, and information gets out about the girl who wants to be on the boys' team. Some people make unflattering comments, even opining that Dera might be trans, but there's generally some support. JJ, however, is angry that Dera beat him in a race, and rips off one of her braids after a meet. Her father calls the school, and the coach tells the team they have to do better. Things are rocky at home as well, since Dera's father, a doctor, is dating a woman with a Nigerian background like his own. Dera's mother is from the US South, so Dera knows little about her father's culture. Joyce is really nice, and introduces Dera to different foods, and is also in her corner about the braid incident. Dera manages to do well when put in as a sub on a boys' 4x4 race, but runs into some problems when a picture of her and Gael in what looks like a compromising position at a party gets spread around. Will Dera be able to find her place in the school and make peace with her family?
Strengths: This was an excellent upper grade novel that involves sports, racial identity, romance, and friend drama. The characters were all very well developed. Dera was particularly well rendered, and my heart broke for her as she had to put up with all sorts of horrible treatment and still said that things were "just fine" and that the treatment "didn't matter". It was also good to see that there were people, like the coach and Joyce, who were much nicer than I would have expected them to be. The addition of Nigerian culture was excellent, and the details about the father's estrangement were interesting to find out. I loved Gael and Liam, and they were super supportive. Dera's best friend from Sunridge, Moot, makes an appearance frequently when her calls her. I'm not sure how many high schools can't field girls' track teams, but the sports details were good as well.
Weaknesses: I wasn't quite ready for the viral pictures of Gael and Dera, and all of the drama that that created. They weren't doing anything inappropriate, but the fallout could have been bad. Since this is a young adult book, I should have known that there would be a little more drama than I was expecting. This is a little longer (384 pages) than a middle grade title, but I think a lot of my 8th graders will really enjoy this one.
What I really think: This is a great choice for readers who like books about running, like Van Draanen's The Running Dream, or books like Riguad's Simone Breaks All the Rules that address the differences between children and adults who have difference cultural backgrounds. I really enjoyed this one, and was glad that it was set in a high school but didn't have any more mature language or situations. I will definitely purchase a copy.

[Nicole Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Amaka Egbe’s “Run Like a Girl” is a powerful young adult sports book that also explores identity, family dynamics, and resilience. This is a compelling coming-of-age story many readers, especially those interested in sports, will relate to and enjoy. At its heart is Chidera “Dera” Okafor, a talented runner whose life is upended when she is forced to move in with her estranged father in a wealthy, predominantly white suburb of Dallas. Used to the support of her mother and a strong track team back home, Dera finds herself in an unfamiliar world where the school doesn’t even have a girls’ track team—and where her very presence challenges deep-seated biases about race and gender in sports.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its unflinching look at sexism and racism. Dera faces microaggressions from both white classmates and some Black students who don’t see her as “fitting in.” The hostility on the boys’ track team is shocking—ranging from dismissive comments to outright bullying, including a disturbing moment when her braids are cut off. These moments highlight the real struggles female athletes, particularly women of color, continue to face in male-dominated spaces. Yet, Dera’s determination never wavers. Supported by her growing found family, including her loyal teammates Liam and Gael, and her best friend from home, Moot, she proves that she belongs on the track just as much as anyone else.
Beyond sports, “Run Like a Girl” dives deeply into family relationships. Dera’s father is emotionally distant, overprotective, and at times unintentionally sexist. He struggles to connect with a daughter he barely knows, and Dera wrestles with resentment over his absence from her life. However, the book doesn’t paint him as a villain—his Nigerian heritage and personal struggles add depth to his character, and his girlfriend Joyce becomes a surprising source of support for Dera. The slow rebuilding of their relationship is one of the most touching aspects of the book.
The romance between Dera and Gael is well-developed, feeling natural rather than forced. Their dynamic is built on mutual respect and support, making it an enjoyable subplot that enhances rather than overshadows the main themes. Similarly, Dera’s friendship with Roselyn is another highlight—Dera’s realization of her own shortcomings as a friend and her growth throughout the book make her an incredibly relatable protagonist.
While the book is packed with important themes, it never feels overwhelming. Egbe balances heavier topics with moments of joy, triumph, and camaraderie. The track scenes are vivid and exhilarating, making this an excellent read for young athletes. The ending is particularly satisfying—Dera not only achieves success on the track but also finds emotional growth, reconciliation with her father, and a supportive community that believes in her.
Overall, “Run Like a Girl” is an inspiring and thought-provoking novel, perfect for younger YA readers and sports lovers. Dera’s story is one that deserves to be heard—because girls can, and always will, run.

[Melissa Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Run Like a Girl is a wonderful book about ambition, perseverance and friendship. Some people may not agree with me about the friendship part, but I believe the outcome of this book would be completely different if Dera didn’t make friends with such understanding and forgiving people. She was genuinely horrific to Rosalyn near end but thankfully, Rosalyn was a mature (and potentially the best) character. 

What surprised me most about Rosalyn’s character is that it’s never mentioned how having her aunt and uncle deported made her feel. We hear how it affects Gael as they are his parents, but it’s her family too but that doesn't get mentioned. Sorry, that’s a slight spoiler but also not really as it doesn’t directly impact the story.

It was actually a little refreshing to read a book about someone not feeling guilt for not being connected or even interested in their heritage. So often these types of books include some sort of cultural guilt, but Dera was set on not being interested in her Nigerian heritage. I’m not saying it’s a good thing to feel this way, but not having this be a point of contention in the plot was refreshing. 

It was heavily implied that Dera’s new school is extremely white compared to her old one, but what confused me was how this wasn’t really represented in the characters. Dera’s close circle, and the track team, were actually really diverse. I don’t think you find out Liam’s ethnicity beyond ‘asian’, at least not that I can remember. But his family were very much the stereotype of being doctors, something that is pointed out by Liam when he says his dad is ‘the caricature of every Strict Asian Parent stereotype’. This is a stereotype I wish we could move past for asian characters but as cultural differences weren’t a huge part of this book, beyond Dera’s hair, I suppose I can let it slide.

The whole situation with Dera’s hair was horrific. As someone that has also had someone cut their hair at school, it’s horrible. My situation was nowhere near as bad as Dera’s as hers felt like a racial attack but I can understand how traumatising it can be.

One part of Run Like a Girl that I really loved was Dera liking her dad’s girlfriend. She never has a negative thought against her even though she ‘replaced’ her mom. This is another part of this book that felt super refreshing. I’ve read books about adults that hold a grudge against their parent’s new partner, so having a teenager not feel this way shows a great level of maturity. Plus Jocelyn was great. She was always on Dera’s side and helped her understand her father more. 

It seems like I have a lot to complain about for Run Like a Girl but that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it. What’s actually happened is it took me a long time to get through and I was reading such short segments at a time that I didn’t really give myself the chance to form thoughts or opinions on what’s going on. I found the book to be entertaining and when I did get a chance to read a huge chunk of it at the end, I loved what I was reading. The characters felt so real and you really root for everything to go well for Dera once she gets her act together.

[YSBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy in school and confident in her pursuit of Olympic track glory, Dera Edwards’s whole world crumbles when her divorced mom tells her that financial hardship means she’ll be spending the rest of junior year with her estranged and wealthy Nigerian dad. Even worse, upon arriving at her mostly white suburban high school, she finds out they don’t have a girl’s track team. Determined to hold on to her dreams, Dera decides to train with the boy’s team, although she’ll compete at meets with girls from other schools. Cut off from her mom and struggling to connect with her uncommunicative father, Dera confronts sexist and racist pushback, although she also finds an ally and a separate love interest on her new team. A connection with a fellow student who just happens to be a budding social media genius amplifies Dera’s profile but also opens her up to criticism and widens the gulf between her and friends and family. Dera’s self-absorption makes her a formidable athlete, but it’s also her fatal flaw; over and over, we see her so fixated on her own slights and goals that she fails to connect meaningfully with others, a not-uncommon teen trait, but one that has real consequences here. The push-pull of Deera’s emotions around her evolving relationship with her father were the best part of this book for me and will likely resonate strongly with young readers who have their own distant, divorced, or immigrant dads. The book also brims with authentic details about being a sporty girl, such as training to the point of exhaustion, looking good while competing, handling your period, and experiencing the joys of running. Most characters in the book are Black, with Dera’s crush Gael and his social media guru-cousin Rosalyn identifying as Afro-Latine. The book’s terrific cover art will make this an easy one to pitch in readers’ advisory chats. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This compelling story follows Dera, a teenager uprooted from the only life she’s ever known with her mother to move in with her estranged father—hours away from everything familiar. As she struggles to adjust to a new environment, Dera faces the emotional weight of cultural displacement, identity confusion, and unresolved family tensions. Fitting in at her new school is anything but easy, especially when she's the only girl on an all-boys track team. While a few teammates welcome her, others make her feel unwelcome, adding to her sense of isolation.
Amidst the challenges, Dera finds an unexpected connection with a classmate who lives on the margins and wants to feature her story on a blog. The goal is to inspire others who feel out of place, but once the story goes viral, it brings both encouragement and unintended consequences.
One of the standout strengths of this book is the relationships—both old and new. Dera’s loyal friends from her previous life offer emotional support from afar, while surprising moments of kindness from new peers help her find her footing. As she navigates life at a new school and adjusts to the pressures of competitive sports, Dera also begins to piece together the complex history between her parents, which adds depth to her evolving understanding of family.
The emotional themes are handled with care and authenticity, making this a thoughtful, heartfelt read. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys character-driven stories about resilience, identity, and the power of connection.
Thank you HarperCollins for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[coala · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mut kennt kein Geschlecht

Die 16-jährige Dera steht plötzlich vor einem kompletten Neuanfang: neue Stadt, neue Schule und ein Vater, der jahrelang kaum eine Rolle in ihrem Leben gespielt hat. Als wäre das nicht genug, gibt es an der neuen Highschool kein Leichtathletik-Team für Mädchen. Ein herber Rückschlag für jemanden, der von Olympia träumt. Doch Dera gibt nicht auf. Sie kämpft sich in das Jungen-Team, trotzt Vorurteilen, Anfeindungen und offenem Mobbing und muss sich gleichzeitig mit familiären Spannungen und ersten Gefühlen auseinandersetzen.

Dera ist eine Protagonistin, die sofort hängen bleibt. Ihr Durchhaltevermögen, ihr Trotz und ihre Entschlossenheit wirken glaubwürdig und inspirierend. Sie rebelliert, stolpert, steht wieder auf, und genau das macht sie so nahbar. Besonders stark ist der Umgang mit dem Thema Mobbing, das sich wie ein roter Faden durch die Geschichte zieht. Statt belehrend zu wirken, zeigt der Roman, wie verletzend Ausgrenzung sein kann und wie wichtig es ist, nicht zu schweigen. Der sportliche Aspekt verleiht der Handlung Tempo, während die Konflikte mit dem Vater und die leise Romanze mit Gael für emotionale Tiefe sorgen. Gael bildet mit seiner ruhigen Art einen schönen Gegenpol zu Deras kämpferischem Wesen. Der Schreibstil ist dabei einfach, modern und passend auf ein jüngeres Publikum zugeschnitten. Kleinere Wiederholungen fallen auf, stören den Lesefluss aber kaum. Insgesamt wirkt die Geschichte authentisch, aktuell und motivierend.

Run Like A Girl ist ein ermutigender Jugendroman über Mut, Selbstbehauptung und den Willen, sich nicht kleinmachen zu lassen. Die Geschichte von Dera zeigt eindrucksvoll, dass Träume kein Geschlecht kennen und Rückschläge kein Ende bedeuten müssen. Emotional, relevant und besonders für junge Leser eine starke, inspirierende Lektüre.

[Nana T · Rating 5 out of 5]

houston mentioned!!!!

okay so. i may be a *bit* biased because, well, the author of this book is a close friend of my sister, but regardless! this book was soooooooooooooo good omigosh like. i blitzed through it in less than a week—every single time this book was in my hands i would progres by ¼ in what felt like mere seconds. it was *that* good. the writing was so easily digestible (always a pro) and so many fun characters! wish i could meet liam and rosalyn irl send them my way dera 🙏🏿🙏🏿

speaking of dera, oh man. so many painfully relatable moments with her West African Dad, i almost thought this story was about me lmaoooo (and the office scene had me DEAD that's something my dad would do 100%) i adore how difficult and uncomfortable it was for dera to grow in her relationships and as a person; give me more imperfect girls!!!

another note, the way dera spoke about other girls was SUCH a breathe of fresh air. no unnecessary slut-shaming or "im not like other girls" bs because dera can look good asf *and* dust her competition and we love to see it. nature is healing

i have nothing but positive things to say about this book; the drama, the tension, the development, the relationships—just amazing. 200/10!

[Tian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an ok/cute fun read. It was a nice palette cleanser for me and I enjoyed the girl-power!

My main issues are:
- does this dad even pay child support?! the whole premise hinges on the mom not being able to afford rent. Where is the child support, especially when he's been absent from her life?? It was hard to buy the 'no really he is a good guy' when he seemed to be pretty well to do but wasn't extending any of that to his daughter!
Also, the line about family counseling at the end made me snort. Who is paying for that? Mr. Financial deadbeat dad?

spoiler:
- Dera was a bit self-centered!! I actually didn't notice it until the fight happened and it was called out, so what really bothered me about this was that she didn't really course correct after it was pointed out to her?? It was still me me me. Which to some extent I get as the book is about her so you don't want to derail too much...but there definitely could've been more questions on Dera's part about Liam's life, and I, as the reader, would've been interested!!

-I liked that excerpts from the blog were included...but i didn't find the writing all that inspiring. It actually made it a bit less believable that this is what was going viral- sorry, I said it!!

[Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Dera has a dream of making the Olympic track team. Then her life changes when her mom, who is struggling financially, tells her that she’s going to live with her dad. Her dad is a wealthy, distant, Nigerian father.

When Dera gets to school to start her senior year, she finds out that the mostly white suburban school doesn’t have a girls’ track team. So, she decides to train with the boys’ team and will complete at track meets with girls. But not everyone is happy with her situation. There’s a whole lot of racist and sexist actions going on in her direction.

Thankfully, Dera meets another student who is a budding social media content creator, which elevates her profile but also opens her up for more criticism. However, she’s so focused on her dream that she doesn’t really connect with anyone.

This was a great BIPOC Young Adult novel with several great themes, like perseverance, personal identity, dealing with racism and sexism, as well as being true to oneself. A lot of great lessons in this book!

[Livi ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up!

I loved this. It was super cute and had such good messages to share. I really loved our awesome cast of characters, Dera was such a spunky, fiesty girl! Her relationship was Gael was so cute.
This reminded me of being in high school and the things that I enjoyed doing. I loved my extra curriculars, and I know how important one can be to you, such as track was to Dera. She had a dream to join the Olympic team and she worked her ass off for it!

I love the messages about class, race, stereotypes, teenage relationships, and parental relationships. Dera faced so many challenges being one of the only Black students at a mostly white school, and it was hard not to want to fight a bunch of spoiled rich white kids for her!!! I love how she fought back in some of the best ways possible, and never stopped running for the boys team, even when she got bullied a ton.

I loved how she got to heal some of her relationship with her father, and we saw a slight mend in her parents' relationship too. This is a book I wish I had when I was younger, and I think that Amaka Egbe did an incredible job writing such heartfelt characters.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dera’s parents have been estranged for almost her whole life, and she’s been living with her mom without any contact from her dad. In a strange twist of fate, her mom makes her go live with her dad for her junior year. She finds out that her dad is super wealthy (while her mom can barely pay rent) and she will be going to an almost all white upper class high school without a girls track team. Track is Dera’s claim to fame, which she is counting on for a college scholarship. Throughout the book, she faces challenges of racism, sexism, and emotional abuse, ultimately fighting the whole way.
I really enjoyed the strong female character in this book and the fact that this was a track book. A few details could have been flushed out more, and the ending really seemed to rush the resolution between family members. Ultimately this was a fantastic read! Highly recommended for high school readers.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dera wurde im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes ins kalte Wasser geworfen. Erst muss sie zu ihrem Vater ziehen, mit dem sie quasi gar kein Verhältnis hat. Danach auch noch herausfinden, dass es auf ihrer neuen Schule keine Mädchen Leichtathletikgruppe existiert, dass es da mehr als nur n paar Probleme aufkreuzen ist natürlich sonnen klar. Egbe schrieb diese Geschichte von Dera aber so inspiriert und Mut machend, dass ich mir einfach nur wünsche das mehrere junge Menschen vor allem FLINTA sie lesen. Denn dieses sich doch nicht unterkriegen lassen und vielleicht dabei noch gesehen fühlen, kann einem soviel Mut geben. Das einzige Problem, was ich beim Hören die ganze Zeit hatte, war, dass mir Dera n büschen zu ich bezogen war. Also du hast einfach gefühlt gar keine wirklichen tiefen infos von den anderen Charakter*innen erfahren, was ich n büschen schade finde. Ach uns das ich vielleicht doch bald n Stück zu alt für Highschool Romance bin. Upsiiii 3,5/5⭐️

[Blessing Okwuofu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Run Like a Girl by Amaka Egbe is a young adult fiction. I knew I would enjoy the book immediately I read the description on Netgalley and I wasn't disappointed. I breezed through the book in a short while. Born to a Nigerian father and a black American mother, Chidera (Dera) was happy with her life, especially her status on the track team, despite her father's absence. When she suddenly has to go live with her estranged father in the middle of White Suburbia, and attend a school with no girls' track team, her dream of getting into college and the Olympics is threatened, but she is determined to overcome the hurdles - being different, bullying, dating issues, dad issues, etc. This was both an interesting and inspiring read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from HarperCollins Children's Books | HarperCollins through Netgalley. All opinions expressed are mine

[Chris G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dera’s a track star, so moving across the state to live with estranged Dad is especially problematic since she needs to demonstrate consistent improvement to obtain a track scholarship. Even worse, the new school has no girl’s team, is higher SES with a lower percentage of kids of color, and isn’t especially welcoming to a Nigerian-American girl. She’s allowed to practice with the boys team; captain Liam and crush Gael are great but the rest of the team is slow to warm up to her, and home life with Dad is consistently disappointing. Dera’s struggles to find her place include coming to terms with her own self-focus as well as with her Nigerian heritage and her family secrets. Especially fun for track fans, EARC from Edelweiss.

[Anjali]

I think I have to officially accept that, with a few rare exceptions, I am just not that into YA fiction anymore, and I should probably stop trying to read it other than my few trusted authors. This YA novel was well written with an interesting main character, and I think I was hoping the sports theme (main character Dera is a runner) would give me The Running Dream vibes, but this novel is all about Dera, her complicated family situation, and her romance. The running was just a vehicle for everything else and not as much of the plot as I expected and hoped. And I just don't have patience any more for the extreme solipsism and navel-gazing of teenaged characters - not at all the fault of this book, and I probably would have really enjoyed it 20-40 years ago.

[Jeni Enjaian · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I really liked how Egbe wove in the running content, especially when it came to the main character's change in school and participation on the track team. As a runner and a public school teacher, this inclusion felt realistic. As the story progressed, however, the running aspect became more of a plot progression device pushed more and more to the background as the family drama and potential romantic relationship moved to the front. While not necessarily a bad thing, the execution of this shift made running seem like something the main character always succeeded at with ease. Basically, the portrayal lost its nuance. Apart from that, I think that Egbe did an excellent job exploring the other issues that the main character faced.

[Emma Erdt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ich habe dieses Buch geliebt! Es hat mir einfach absolut gezeigt wie stark Mädchen doch sein können und es immer wieder dumm ist sie zu unterschätzen. Aber ich mochte es auch wie real Dera einfach war. Sie hat immer versucht stark zu bleiben, hat nicht um Hilfe gebeten da sie selbst mit ihren Problemen klar kommen wollte. Aber natürlich wird dann am Ende gezeigt wie gut es dann ist sich doch irgendwie Hilfe zu holen. Die Romanze fand ich auch ganz cute, auch wenn es meiner Meinung nach einfach nicht mein Favorit ist wenn man halt auf so eine Weise zusammen kommt, da bin ich doch eher der Fantasy Romance Typ. Das ganze Familiendrama fand ich ebenfalls richtig interessant! Insgesamt also ein sehr gutes Buch.

[Rachel McCurtain · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great YA book with a believable FMC/POC, who was an athlete first. Such a fun book for teens to read. While there were some aspects of the situation that were a little contrived (she had to move with her dad, a doctor, and no mention of child support), the strained relationship between father and daughter was very real. The focus on her running and her goal of making it to college and beyond was a great focus instead of the boy...which was there. I wish more would have been made of the racism the FMC experienced and the fight she had against it. But overall, a good YA book with a great message.

[amarachireads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much, it was just such a cute ya contemporary romance and was heartwarming. As a Nigerian i loved that the fmc js half Nigerian even if the relationship is strained. We have the fmc that that unwittingly goes to live wifh her rich Nigerian dad. She has to start this new school where she finds out that it doesn’t have a females track team. The fmcs passion is running and she wants to make the Olympics one day. She ends up joining the guys track team and has to face all that.

I loved seeing how the family dynamics played into Chideras and her life trying to fit in. I liked seeing her her make friends and the cute romance and friendship. Overall this was a great read, thanks to Epic Reads for the arc.

[Gemini · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Well Done

I really enjoyed this book. It didn’t dumb down any issues just because it’s a YA book. I felt so bad for Dera to be thrust into a new environment that wasn’t welcoming. Home and school were both challenging. I was so frustrated with Dera’s dad. He was really difficult. The mean kids at school made me want to protect Dera. Even Gael got on my nerves. I wanted him to give her a syrupy sweet love story. He was almost as difficult as Dera’s father. I loved the way Dera dominated on the track. None of the drama interfered with her dreams of being a track star. This storyline felt very realistic. I could vividly picture it all playing out.

[Tunrayo Lumpkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Amaka, the writer that you are!!!!! I absolutely LOVED this book. I mean this book had me kicking my feet in the air and squealing. My parents are Nigerian and I’m first gen in this country, so I was raised with a mixture of both cultures. I also was an athlete all through grade school and into college with aspirations to play professionally and in the Olympics. Everything about this wonderful book was just so incredibly relatable. I even teared up a few times! I stumbled across this book because someone I went to law school with had been posting about it and I saw the book at Kindred and I just knew I had to read it. I can’t wait to read what this author writes next!!!!

[Isabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, I actually loved this! I expected just another cliché High School romance, but this book really surprised me. All the side characters were actually relevant and did not just disappear after one scene. It was so interesting to read about Dera's experiences with racism, misogyny, prejudice, and how she handled it. My favourite character was probably Liam, because he was just so sweet. I was so happy that he got his happy end, too! Dera and Gael were kinda awkward, but I liked that, because they are teenagers and that's how teenagers are. I'd definitely recommend this book to those who want to read a YA novel that talks about important topics, with a sprinkle if romance at the side.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dera's story was engaging. Amaka Egbe did a great job making the reader feel invested in Dera and her struggles and triumphs. I found myself cheering her on in her exciting, positive moments, and cringing when things didn't go as well as she had planned. Great read! I can't wait for my own daughter to read it!

[Brooke Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

🎧(audiobook)
So cute.
Dera is forced to join a boys high school track team when she moves in with her dad and the school does not have a girls team.
What unfolds next is her journal through, family, friends, and high school drama.
The book touches on bullying, self awareness and acceptance.
Well written. I would recommend to my 7th and grade students, as well as my high school readers.