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The Fastest Boy in the World
Eleven-year-old Solomon loves to run! The great athletes of the Ethiopian national team are his heroes and he dreams that one day he will be a gold-medal-winning athlete like them, in spite of his ragged shorts and bare feet. When his grandfather announces that he's going to take Solomon to Addis Ababa, Solomon cannot believe his ears. A trip to the capital? It's unfathomable. Solomon's joy is increased when he realizes that the Ethiopian running team will be doing a victory parade through the city that day.
163 pages, Hardcover
First published June 5, 2014
46 people are currently reading
366 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Laird
214 books197 followersLaird was born in New Zealand in 1943, the fourth of five children. Her father was a ship's surgeon; both he and Laird's mother were Scottish. In 1945, Laird and her family returned to Britain and she grew up in South London, where she was educated at Croydon High School.
When she was eighteen, Laird started teaching at a school in Malaysia. She decided to continue her adventurous life, even though she was bitten by a poisonous snake and went down with typhoid.
After attending the university in Bristol, Laird began teaching English in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She and a friend would hire mules and go into remote areas in the holidays.
After a while at Edinburgh University, Laird worked in India for a summer. During travel, she met her future husband, David McDowall, who she said was very kind to her when she was airsick on a plane. The couple were married in 1975 and have two sons, Angus and William.
Laird has also visited Iraq and Lebanon. She claims to dislike snakes, porridge and being cold but enjoys very dark chocolate, Mozart, reading and playing the violin in the Iraq Symphony Orchestra.
She currently lives in Richmond, London with her husband.
When she was eighteen, Laird started teaching at a school in Malaysia. She decided to continue her adventurous life, even though she was bitten by a poisonous snake and went down with typhoid.
After attending the university in Bristol, Laird began teaching English in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She and a friend would hire mules and go into remote areas in the holidays.
After a while at Edinburgh University, Laird worked in India for a summer. During travel, she met her future husband, David McDowall, who she said was very kind to her when she was airsick on a plane. The couple were married in 1975 and have two sons, Angus and William.
Laird has also visited Iraq and Lebanon. She claims to dislike snakes, porridge and being cold but enjoys very dark chocolate, Mozart, reading and playing the violin in the Iraq Symphony Orchestra.
She currently lives in Richmond, London with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
April 28, 2015
This is a beautifully written book from Elizabeth Laird. Don't be fooled into thinking that the easy to understand style means that the book doesn't have depth. This book is suitable for readers from Year 5 upwards. It tells the story of Solomon, an 11 year old Ethiopian boy, who has a passion for running and wants to make the Olympic team one day. His grandfather asks him to walk with him on a journey to the capital Addis Ababa, and whilst there Solomon finds out things about his beloved grandfather that he never knew, and about the history of his country as well. His grandfather falls ill, and Solomon has the opportunity to test his speed - can he run a marathon and outrun the bus home? A compelling and multi-layered read - I loved it.
February 7, 2017
Inspiring story of a country boy in Ethiopia who learns about his family history, his family's legacy, and the strength he has within. I hadn't read one of Laird's books before, but now I'm keen to read others. She has an accessible writing style and I appreciated the story's perspective being mainly from the child's and not the adults'. Great read-aloud for G3 and up or recommendation for your students who appreciate realistic fiction about people in different cultures.
June 3, 2014
A truly uplifting book by an author who really knows the countries that she writes about. The writing style is easy to read and the narrative is straightforward, but there is a magic in the way it comes together to tell the story of a boy who loved to run and the time that this talent changed his life.
I love this author, she really makes you think about the world around you.
March 17, 2024
Prenant et captivant, rapide à lire, on est vite emporté dans cette course effrénée !
March 29, 2015
4.5 stars
A short novel that manages to incorporate running, the Olympics, Ethiopian history, poverty, and a family mystery in less than 200 pages. Which at times means it feels a little rushed, but I still felt it was an exciting story for the age group that isn't too difficult a read for even 7--8 year old new readers.
Solomon lives in a small village in Ethiopia, miles from the nearest big town, with his parents, sisters and grandfather on their farm. He runs every day to school - five miles each way, and dreams about becoming an athlete, like his heroes, currently off winning medals at the Olympics. Out of the blue, his grandfather one day tells him he will take him to the capital the next day, now he is eleven and old enough. They don't have a lot of money and so will walk the twenty miles. After a long journey, and after meeting some rather reluctant family members, Solomon's grandfather is taken ill, after he reveals to Solomon some surprising facts about his own history. In the midst of the Olympic athletes triumphant parade, Solomon must decide how to get home to tell his parents about the illness. The bus home is liable to break down - can he run all that way?
It's a pacy story, a lot happens with no let-up. It all does fit into the short running length and satisfactorily.
It's also an insight into Ethiopian life, both in the villages and the larger towns/cities, which teachers will find useful for lesson plans. The mystery of Grandfather's story is fascinating, and hints at dark times in the past without needing to show us detail. Solomon is an appealing hero, brave and honest and a good, dutiful grandson.
It did feel a little rushed at times, but I did feel the plot elements came together well and that children reading will enjoy the story. It's one for primary-aged children and would make a great class reader with its short chapters, lots of discussion points and a protagonist they will root for.
A short novel that manages to incorporate running, the Olympics, Ethiopian history, poverty, and a family mystery in less than 200 pages. Which at times means it feels a little rushed, but I still felt it was an exciting story for the age group that isn't too difficult a read for even 7--8 year old new readers.
Solomon lives in a small village in Ethiopia, miles from the nearest big town, with his parents, sisters and grandfather on their farm. He runs every day to school - five miles each way, and dreams about becoming an athlete, like his heroes, currently off winning medals at the Olympics. Out of the blue, his grandfather one day tells him he will take him to the capital the next day, now he is eleven and old enough. They don't have a lot of money and so will walk the twenty miles. After a long journey, and after meeting some rather reluctant family members, Solomon's grandfather is taken ill, after he reveals to Solomon some surprising facts about his own history. In the midst of the Olympic athletes triumphant parade, Solomon must decide how to get home to tell his parents about the illness. The bus home is liable to break down - can he run all that way?
It's a pacy story, a lot happens with no let-up. It all does fit into the short running length and satisfactorily.
It's also an insight into Ethiopian life, both in the villages and the larger towns/cities, which teachers will find useful for lesson plans. The mystery of Grandfather's story is fascinating, and hints at dark times in the past without needing to show us detail. Solomon is an appealing hero, brave and honest and a good, dutiful grandson.
It did feel a little rushed at times, but I did feel the plot elements came together well and that children reading will enjoy the story. It's one for primary-aged children and would make a great class reader with its short chapters, lots of discussion points and a protagonist they will root for.
March 23, 2015
I read this book as part of the shortlisted titles for the carnegie medal 2015 which is being reviewed by my book group. The book struck me as different to the others that i have previously read from the carnegie medal, as it seemed much shorter and somehow more child like in it's theme than other novels.
The book's characters were few and far between. The main protagonist is a young Ethiopian boy who lives in a small village with his mother, father, sister and grandfather. His dream is to become a runner. As the book is short and the story revolves around the main character so much, i think that the character of the young boy could have been developed much more.
The story had two main themes, family and sport, however these were contorted with others. Again if one of the themes was solely concentrated on, it would have, in my opinion, made the book much better.
The fact that the author has tried to incorporate so many different themes makes them all less highlighted than they could be.
I think if the theme of sport had been explored more, then this could have been a book that would have been pitched above others because of it's theme.
The book's characters were few and far between. The main protagonist is a young Ethiopian boy who lives in a small village with his mother, father, sister and grandfather. His dream is to become a runner. As the book is short and the story revolves around the main character so much, i think that the character of the young boy could have been developed much more.
The story had two main themes, family and sport, however these were contorted with others. Again if one of the themes was solely concentrated on, it would have, in my opinion, made the book much better.
The fact that the author has tried to incorporate so many different themes makes them all less highlighted than they could be.
I think if the theme of sport had been explored more, then this could have been a book that would have been pitched above others because of it's theme.
January 18, 2016
Well, it's a decent moral tale of a "very good little boy" who does as he is told and who wants to be the best Ethiopian with western liberal values that the can be. And because he does this he ends up where good little boys should end up in Miss Prism fiction. I seem to have lapsed into a patronising tone but have picked this up from the book. I'm all in favour of getting more books about Africa to a young British readership but having the book written in a style that harks back almost to Kipling, by an elderly, middle class white British woman*seems to be a step in the wrong direction.
I'm surprised the book was commissioned and published and even more surprised that it made the 2015 (repeat 2015) shortlist for the Clip Carnegie.
* Elizabeth Laird has impeccable credentials. She understands Ethiopia as well as any elderly white British woman I know of. Kipling also understood India and Africa better than his contemporaries. Times change.
I'm surprised the book was commissioned and published and even more surprised that it made the 2015 (repeat 2015) shortlist for the Clip Carnegie.
* Elizabeth Laird has impeccable credentials. She understands Ethiopia as well as any elderly white British woman I know of. Kipling also understood India and Africa better than his contemporaries. Times change.
July 31, 2016
This book, although short and sweet, delivers the clear saying by Winston Churchill. "Never, never, never give up." It's pretty obvious through the whole book, because once Solomon's grandfather falls sick, he takes it upon himself to get back to his village and get help. When the bus breaks down, he sees this as the perfect opportunity to use his dream of being a runner to help his grandfather.
I also got some great notes while reading the book- mainly about the language and syntax structure the author uses, because even with fairly simple sentences, it gets a really important message across.
Overall, great read, and worthwhile.
I also got some great notes while reading the book- mainly about the language and syntax structure the author uses, because even with fairly simple sentences, it gets a really important message across.
Overall, great read, and worthwhile.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2016
I love this amazing book about a boy named Solomon and he is eleven years old , but loves to run!
When Solomon finds out his grandfather is taking him to his capital city(Addis ababa) Solomon cannot believe his ears. When Solomon gets to his capital city he finds out more about his grandfather and that his grandfather was a hero he is surprised.
When Solomons grandfather collapses it was up to Solomon to get help from his city.
But it is a very long way back to home.It is about 23 miles away!!!
Can Solomon make it?
When Solomon finds out his grandfather is taking him to his capital city(Addis ababa) Solomon cannot believe his ears. When Solomon gets to his capital city he finds out more about his grandfather and that his grandfather was a hero he is surprised.
When Solomons grandfather collapses it was up to Solomon to get help from his city.
But it is a very long way back to home.It is about 23 miles away!!!
Can Solomon make it?
March 29, 2015
Carnegie shortlist 2015 - excellent.
September 14, 2019
In addition to spending time in Za'atari and Azraq Syrian refugee camps, which provided the inspiration for her book 'Welcome to Nowhere', Elizabeth Laird also spent two longer spells in Ethiopia, firstly teaching English in Addis Ababa, then later collecting folk tales from local storytellers in the country. It was these two experiences that inspired 'The Fastest Boy in the World', the story of Solomon and his family who live on a farm in relative poverty five miles outside Kidame. Solomon loves running - indeed his journey to school each day is a 10-mile round trip on foot - but his grandfather holds an amazing secret about his past, when he was a soldier in Haile Selassie's elite bodyguard during the country's vicious civil war which commenced in 1974. Solomon's own life goals and those of his grandfather overlap when his grandfather takes him on a journey (again on foot!) to Addis Ababa to retrieve his own late father's military award, simultaneously running into a street celebration of Ethiopia's most famous athletes returning from Olympic success abroad. The story concludes with success - we learn many years later that Solomon is indeed now an Olympian himself - but also with tragedy in the form of close personal loss and family bereavement. I initially felt the length and opening of this book might make it accessible for LSK2, but as the story darkens with detailed references to real-life civil war, poverty and hardship, and the shockingly graphic death of the story's central, most inspiring character towards the end, I resolved that it would require a mature and resilient class of Year 5 or 6 children to cope with the issues which Laird confronts her readers with. For UK children who may never have known a life without technology, transport and comfort, this could provide a rude awakening of many fundamental challenges children of their age (Solomon is 11 years old) still face on a daily basis around the world today. Alongside geographical and historical links to North African places, climate and important figures, the story could provide PSHE links to both world financial equality and ecology, as well as inspiration for a classroom growth mindset: the hardships the characters face here do not prevent them persevering and ultimately achieving hard-won success, all the sweeter for the endeavour it demanded from them to arrive at it. Teachers would need to know any emotional or family needs of their pupils, as Laird does not shy from realistically portraying loss of all kinds, but might also be able to establish community connections if any pupils have family or experience from that part of the world themselves. Perhaps the most important message of the book is that nothing meaningful is achieved easily; if this story encourages children to rise above challenges, cope with all kinds of personal setbacks and never give up, then it surely has the potential to influence young readers to succeed in their lives and futures ahead.
March 11, 2018
This book is about a young boy called Solomon who loves to run. One day his grandfather takes him to a big city - Addis Ababa. Solomon is super exited because the Ethiopian champions are returning to Addis Ababa at the same time. Then, his grandfather gets sick and the eleven year old Solomon has to run a marathon back home to get help.
My favourite Character is Kebede, another boy who's the same age as Solomon and lives in the city. I like him because he is really nice to Solomon and helped him a lot. The Characters helped me to learn a lot more of the different kinds of lifestyles in Ethiopia.
The story kept me guessing and the part where Solomon and his grandfather entering the city griped me and kept me turning the pages. I think that scene was written particularly well. The author portrayed the city as a crowded and busy area, which is similar to a city in real life. My favourite part of the book is when Solomon sees the Ethiopian champions because I am happy for Solomon achieving his goal of seeing the runners. Some of the scenes are quite funny and they made me laugh. Others were really sad.
Overall, I think this is a great read. I recommend this book to 12+ younger readers (although my teacher really likes it too!)
My favourite Character is Kebede, another boy who's the same age as Solomon and lives in the city. I like him because he is really nice to Solomon and helped him a lot. The Characters helped me to learn a lot more of the different kinds of lifestyles in Ethiopia.
The story kept me guessing and the part where Solomon and his grandfather entering the city griped me and kept me turning the pages. I think that scene was written particularly well. The author portrayed the city as a crowded and busy area, which is similar to a city in real life. My favourite part of the book is when Solomon sees the Ethiopian champions because I am happy for Solomon achieving his goal of seeing the runners. Some of the scenes are quite funny and they made me laugh. Others were really sad.
Overall, I think this is a great read. I recommend this book to 12+ younger readers (although my teacher really likes it too!)
September 4, 2017
The Fastest Boy in the World, Elizabeth Laird, and the genre is life. I really enjoyed this book. I felt excited in most parts. Solomon is a boy that is believes in the things he can do and he doesn't give up and tries hard all the time. Kebede is a wealthy kind boy. He likes helping out but sometimes he gets carried away and wonders off. A boy named Solomon has never left his town and suddenly he goes to a busy city and he wants to see some famous runners. His friend helps him out to see them. His grandpa faints and he has to run all the way home 23 miles to get help. Can he do it?
November 14, 2019
Laird presents interesting themes in this short novel: from discrimination against the poor, and unlikely friendships, to perseverance and overcoming adversity. The ending of the novel was exciting and climatic, however I felt as though the beginning was rather slow. Despite this, it would be a good book to use with KS2 and the perhaps seemingly slower pace of the start of the book can be made more interesting through receptive contexts, predication and drama activities.
July 26, 2022
On the one hand, it's a great slice-of-life story set in Ethiopia, 23 miles outside of Addis Ababa, and it's short, accessible and well written. On the other, I think it's problematic that it's written by a white British Commonwealth author. She lived there for years, she's clearly researched it, but there's also a never ending niggle that makes me wonder if this is a portrait that an 11 year old boy from Kidame would recognize? Is it a good book ? Yes. Is it the book I was looking for? Almost.
September 7, 2022
This was brilliant because a) great story about perseverance and family, with a very appealing, and endearing, protagonist, b) the insights into Ethiopian culture were really interesting, and really constructed a picture that would be accessible and intriguing to children, and c) there are lots of lovely descriptions of what the main character is going through (written in the first-person), that are universally relatable.
August 7, 2017
A good story about family, running, and finding your destiny. Solomon loves to run and when he runs all the way back from Addis Ababa to help his sick grandfather, he discovers what he is really capable of and it helps him achieve his dream of becoming a famous runner, representing his country of Ethiopia.
June 22, 2020
I read this to consider it as a reading spine text. It's very delicately written with a lovely narrative and messages about growth and bravery. I am happy to recommend this as our Year 4 spine novel to accompany the Africa biomes topic as I believe any sensitive themes can be approached easily with effective teaching and guidance.
September 7, 2023
Fast-paced and engaging, The Fastest Boy in the World is a great middle-grade read. The story is plot driven with a full cast of characters and touches on political elements from Ethiopia's history as well as Olympic successes.
July 20, 2024
Solomon must harness his innate ability to run in order to bring his father back to the main city to see his dying grandfather. Learning of grandfather's past and the true meaning of a precious medal. Friendship. Running.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2018
I read this book out loud to a group of year 5 and 6 students. They all really enjoyed it and found it really easy to follow along. Great book!
November 19, 2020
I adore this book because Solomon is the cutest boy
In the entire world😍
In the entire world😍
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2021
A brilliant kids book - perfect for age 8-9!
April 15, 2022
A boy basically ran a marathon.Ok?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2024
This book is for the younger reader. I read it for my ‘work’. It is a great story for the age it is aimed at.
April 22, 2025
Great middle grade reader! What a wonderful insight into life in Ethiopia and into the heart of a future runner.
June 14, 2025
Lovely little story, can't wait to read the next one of Elizabeth's x
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October 30, 2025Not bad, but not as good (in prose, plot, and character) as this author's other books.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews