Enchanted Runner

by Kimberley Griffiths Little

Kendall believes in magic. He can feel it when he runs. And since his mother’s death a year ago, the urge has become too big to explain. During her illness, Kendall ran to save her. Now he runs to retrieve the memory of her face. Sometimes, too, he imagines himself running like the warriors in Mom’s stories, Acoma Runners returning to his mother’s native pueblo tribe, to the cliffs of Acoma . . . Sky City . . . a place she promised they would visit together when he turned twelve. As Kendall prepares for a summer-long adventure spent criss-crossing the states in his dad’s semi, a letter arrives from his mother’s grandfather, beckoning him to Acoma. He feels cheated, until it occurs to him that his mom might somehow be there, in Sky City. He’s twelve, after all, and his mother always kept her promises. Drawn into his great-grandfather’s world of secrets and sacred ceremony, Kendall discovers that the magic he feels when he runs is a proud legacy, one linked to way of life as ancient and mysterious as the earth itself. In the process of trying to recover his mother, Kendall reclaims his worldly and spiritual heritage, in a moving story of one boy’s search for identity and belonging. About the Kimberley Griffiths Little lives in a solar adobe house along the Rio Grande with her husband, a robotics engineer, and their three sons. Taking walks in the towering cottonwood groves along the riverbanks gives her inspiration for her book ideas. The author’s favorite places are the library and her home, writing at the computer. She reads several books a week, is an excellent pianist, enjoys going to the movies, and bakes the best brownies ever. Please visit Kimberley at her web www.kimberleygriffithslittle.com (Check out her Author Visits Page on her web site.) www.kimberleygriffithslittle.blogspot... Write to Kimberley at kglittle@msn.com

171 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 15, 1999

About the author

Kimberley Griffiths Little was born in San Francisco, but now lives in New Mexico with her husband and their three sons.

For such award-winning middle grade novels as When the Butterflies Came, The Last Snake Runner, The Healing Spell, and Circle of Secrets, her writing has been praised as "fast-paced and dramatic," with "characters painted in memorable detail" and "beautifully realized settings."

Kimberley adores anything old and musty with a secret story to tell and makes way too many cookies while writing.

She's stayed in the haunted tower room at Borthwick Castle in Scotland; sailed on the Seine in Paris; ridden a camel in Petra, Jordan; shopped the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul; and spent the night in an old Communist hotel in Bulgaria.

Her amazing, filmed-on-location book trailers are right here on Goodreads. https://www.goodreads.com/videos/list...

Awards: Southwest Book Award, Whitney Award for Best Youth Novel, Bank Street College Best Books of 2011 & 2014, Crystal Kite Finalist, and New Mexico Book Award Finalist.

Reviews

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book even though it is intended for grade school children. It kept my attention about Kendall's experience with his mother's Indian people & his grandfather whom he has never met.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this author’s YA novels and I also believe that Acoma is magical. The story of a boy not yet knowing his place in the world and finding acceptance and encouragement on his path requires at least a few tissues.

[julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I seem to be reading a lot of young-adult books these days. This one is about a 12-year-old boy who discovers his Native American heritage. I connected to his character (though I am not a runner), and enjoyed learning some things about the Native Americans.

I would say that in the beginning the author wasn't very clear about where this was taking place, although we can assume it was in New Mexico. That kind of threw me, although I knew it was the Southwest.

I enjoyed this coming-of-age story.

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very engaging & interesting story about a boy discovering his heritage. I like the imagery and the "magic" that pulls him to run.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautiful story with lovable characters, captivating scenery, & magical elements. I'm looking forward to reading the follow-up book.