What do you think?
Rate this book
The Girl Who Ran Away #5
Against the World
Before April 12th, Ava Garcia knew exactly who she was: daughter, girlfriend, best friend, high school junior.
Then her boyfriend died. Her best friend died. And Ava found out she could run at two hundred miles an hour — a secret that's made her both more and less alone than she's ever been.
When a tanker truck explodes on the highway outside Sunvail, Arizona, Ava is first on scene — and first to realize it's no accident. Someone is hunting people with powers. There's a list. There's money behind it. And there's no sign it's finished growing.
With her allies scattered and her trust running thin, Ava is going to have to figure out who's really on her side before the list runs out of names — and hers is still on it.
Because when the whole world feels like it's closing in, there are only two ways this goes: run and hide forever — or stop being the girl the world is against, and become the girl who's against the world.
Then her boyfriend died. Her best friend died. And Ava found out she could run at two hundred miles an hour — a secret that's made her both more and less alone than she's ever been.
When a tanker truck explodes on the highway outside Sunvail, Arizona, Ava is first on scene — and first to realize it's no accident. Someone is hunting people with powers. There's a list. There's money behind it. And there's no sign it's finished growing.
With her allies scattered and her trust running thin, Ava is going to have to figure out who's really on her side before the list runs out of names — and hers is still on it.
Because when the whole world feels like it's closing in, there are only two ways this goes: run and hide forever — or stop being the girl the world is against, and become the girl who's against the world.
313 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 2, 2026
About the author
Robert J. Crane
166 books1,194 followersRobert J. Crane was born and raised on Florida's Space Coast before moving to the upper midwest in search of cooler climates and more palatable beer. He graduated from the University of Central Florida with a degree in English Creative Writing. He worked for a year as a substitute teacher and worked in the financial services field for seven years while writing in his spare time.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 30, 2026
I feel like Robert J. Crane and his Girl in the Box series (and now this The Girl Who Ran Away series) are criminally under-rated. If you like The Dresden Files and/or October Daye you should be reading these series. That said...
The latest entry in The Girl Who Ran Away series was gripping. RJC writes short chapters that keep the reader hooked. I ALWAYS stay up too late when I am reading one of his books.
This one was intense. A lot of information was revealed to both Ava and the reader in this story. I don't want to say much more because I don't want to give anything away, but RJC did a great job of keeping me hooked and keeping me guessing right up until the end. And yet everything all made sense and in hindsight I should have guessed it.
I am just waiting with baited breath for book 6. I have wanted to know more about Ava's mom for quite some time now and I think we will finally get some answers about her in the next book. Mainly I just wonder if she is someone we have already met in The Girl in the Box series.
The latest entry in The Girl Who Ran Away series was gripping. RJC writes short chapters that keep the reader hooked. I ALWAYS stay up too late when I am reading one of his books.
This one was intense. A lot of information was revealed to both Ava and the reader in this story. I don't want to say much more because I don't want to give anything away, but RJC did a great job of keeping me hooked and keeping me guessing right up until the end. And yet everything all made sense and in hindsight I should have guessed it.
I am just waiting with baited breath for book 6. I have wanted to know more about Ava's mom for quite some time now and I think we will finally get some answers about her in the next book. Mainly I just wonder if she is someone we have already met in The Girl in the Box series.
August 3, 2026
Okay, Me. Crane, now we’re cooking with Ava. Please don’t torture us with long waits for the next book. Reading this series is notably different for me than reading Girl in the Box. I hated you through many of the early books until I got far enough in to appreciate the many layers. Caused all sorts of me re-examining my own traumas. When your books come out, I drop everything and immediately read them. Therefore, I need you to write/release them faster!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2026
A slow jog, but not for long.
Another good read. More to come from this young lady, figuring out what had happened, what was happening, and what could happen. Old friends, new friends, restored friends, all fighting an unknown enemy.
Another good read. More to come from this young lady, figuring out what had happened, what was happening, and what could happen. Old friends, new friends, restored friends, all fighting an unknown enemy.
August 4, 2026
The best in the series yet. Didn't want to put it down. So much information and backstory in this book. I cannot wait for the next one!
Does not disappoint. Robert Crane at his best.
Does not disappoint. Robert Crane at his best.
August 12, 2026
Fast pace (pun intended)
A greaat, fun read. Was sad the book had to end. It's going to be a long wait for the next release.
A greaat, fun read. Was sad the book had to end. It's going to be a long wait for the next release.
August 19, 2026
The amazing saga goes on
Totally fooled me! Didn’t see the plot twists until the end. Ava is a great character just like Sienna. Would love to see 60+ books in this series, too!
Totally fooled me! Didn’t see the plot twists until the end. Ava is a great character just like Sienna. Would love to see 60+ books in this series, too!
August 27, 2026
Sienna light
This just seems like the same stuff we we through with Sienna only this girl is nice seems like you have not put much heart into this book
This just seems like the same stuff we we through with Sienna only this girl is nice seems like you have not put much heart into this book
September 1, 2026
The writing is getting repetitive and frankly it is getting boring. I'm not sure I'll be reading the next book. Maybe if there is nothing else to do I might start the book, but if it does the same thing I'll scratch it off my list.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews