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Pip Sullivan series
Run, Pip, Run
A smart but prickly 10-year-old must survive on wits and luck when she goes on the run in modern-day Sydney. Pip Sullivan's 10th birthday was a disaster—and that was only the beginning. With her beloved Sully in hospital and the welfare hot on her heels, Pip needs time, money, and a place to stay. She's determined to stay one step ahead of Senior Constable Molly Dunlop! With help from her friends—including a psychic cat and a canine escape artist—Pip needs to stay out of dreaded foster homes so she can help Sully get better. Run, Pip, Run is a warm-hearted story about a small girl on her own in a big city, but who knows a thing or two about loyalty, bravery, and friendship.
200 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2015
4 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
J.C. Jones
27 books19 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
June 11, 2016
Today We Did
A wonderful tale of courage, loyalty and adventure. I really got into this story, and ended up reading it all in one day. The plot moved along quickly, and I found myself completely immersed in Pip’s plight.
I loved the Australian idioms and slang scattered through the story, and Pip’s explanation of them. We use these terms in everyday speech, but they are not often translated into our literature. It made me feel very connected to the story.
I thought Pip was a particularly realistic character. She had been brought up by a grandfather figure with little money and was exposed to gambling and drinking at a young age. It seemed unusual to me that a ten year old would be studying the racing form, but it makes sense with Pip’s background. She may have been savvy with the horses, but she was typically ten in other ways! Misunderstanding the type of rehab that Sully would need, and not wanting to get her teacher in trouble, as well as managing to pick up a stray dog! She was also indignant when the papers reported her as being only nine, which made me smile. She was resourceful and full of determination, a very strong character. Matilda was also a good character. She could have easily given Pip up when she discovered her living in an empty house in her street, but she kept Pip’s secret and helped her, like a good friend should.
Matilda’s cat was an interesting addition to the cast. She helped Pip when she needed it the most, but otherwise remained rather aloof in typical cat fashion. Her psychic abilities were quite useful to Pip. I wouldn’t mind a cat like this, especially if she could help me locate my lost keys, phone, glasses, book…
Run, Pip, Run is suitable for middle primary through to lower high school students. It is a fantastic and enjoyable story, great for a range of young readers. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
A wonderful tale of courage, loyalty and adventure. I really got into this story, and ended up reading it all in one day. The plot moved along quickly, and I found myself completely immersed in Pip’s plight.
I loved the Australian idioms and slang scattered through the story, and Pip’s explanation of them. We use these terms in everyday speech, but they are not often translated into our literature. It made me feel very connected to the story.
I thought Pip was a particularly realistic character. She had been brought up by a grandfather figure with little money and was exposed to gambling and drinking at a young age. It seemed unusual to me that a ten year old would be studying the racing form, but it makes sense with Pip’s background. She may have been savvy with the horses, but she was typically ten in other ways! Misunderstanding the type of rehab that Sully would need, and not wanting to get her teacher in trouble, as well as managing to pick up a stray dog! She was also indignant when the papers reported her as being only nine, which made me smile. She was resourceful and full of determination, a very strong character. Matilda was also a good character. She could have easily given Pip up when she discovered her living in an empty house in her street, but she kept Pip’s secret and helped her, like a good friend should.
Matilda’s cat was an interesting addition to the cast. She helped Pip when she needed it the most, but otherwise remained rather aloof in typical cat fashion. Her psychic abilities were quite useful to Pip. I wouldn’t mind a cat like this, especially if she could help me locate my lost keys, phone, glasses, book…
Run, Pip, Run is suitable for middle primary through to lower high school students. It is a fantastic and enjoyable story, great for a range of young readers. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
June 27, 2016
Loved this book. What a spunky character! Some heavy themes but they are all addressed in an appropriate but meaningful way. Can't wait to hear what the kids think.
October 28, 2018
A 10 year old girl I teach was reading this so I read a copy too. I rated it 7 out of 10 and she rated it 8 and of 10. A good story but there isn't an adequate conclusion at the end. I don't like the fear mongering the author creates by writing about an adult male driving around preying on young people. More children are hurt by people they know.
October 3, 2019
Yes Pip, sirens aaaaaaaaaaaall the way to Byron Bay!
Btw: my heart hurts
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14/12/17
Last year I borrowed this from the library, but never read it. Today I bought it from the discard sale. It's probably the same copy. Should never have returned it - although that might have cost more than 50c.
Btw: my heart hurts
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14/12/17
Last year I borrowed this from the library, but never read it. Today I bought it from the discard sale. It's probably the same copy. Should never have returned it - although that might have cost more than 50c.
June 1, 2016
Run Pip Run is a good page turning read with worthy issues to think about and discuss with children. Great visual imagery running through the writing too.
July 6, 2016
I really enjoyed this. It was good to read a story of a girl from a disadvantaged background. I know lots of kids who would enjoy relating to the character.
December 20, 2022
A ten-year old lives by her wits on the streets for some days while her only carer - elderly Sully - is in hospital. A strong main character, but I simply was not engaged as much as expected by the story. Having lived as a child in poverty, it did not ring true for me. For one thing, what child wins money so regularly at the races? But I am not the target readership - middle grade readers may love the story of feisty Pip and her struggle to belong. Indeed this book won several awards in its time, so maybe it's just me?
March 5, 2020
Pip’s elderly carer is taken to hospital and Pip knows that the authorities will put her in a home if they find her so she takes to the streets to hide. Not very effectively considering how many people see her but this is not written for adults and for children this would be an entertaining escape.
March 18, 2018
really good the ending was different to other books!!!
June 2, 2018
A real page turner, it all turned out ok in the end for Pip, but she had lots of challenges, along the way. Some pretty grown up themes. Overall a great read.
July 8, 2022
WHO TF IS PIP WHY TF SHE RUNNING
August 6, 2016
While I quite enjoyed this, something just didn't sit right with me. While I am all for suspending disbelief with movies and books, it does need to retain a certain level of reality for me to believe it and this just didn't. An old man and a young girl living together, existing just above the poverty line? - Yep, easy to believe. Young girl having complete working knowledge of horse racing and betting? Yep, can buy that. A small child being able to still move around town and not be picked up by the police? Struggling with that one. A young child at the races, on a school day, in the company of what could be an older brother, not being noticed by anyone who thinks to question it? Seriously stretching the boundaries. A teacher who meets up with a student he knows is in crisis and lets her walk out the door again? That brings me to a screeching halt. No teacher worth their salt would consider that for even a second.
Having said that, there were things I loved about the book. Pip's fierce loyalty to Sully. Matilda being a rich kid, but nice (very rare in kids books). Pip's resourcefulness and tenacity. Wonderful themes of loyalty and not assuming things about people and situations. Run, Pip, Run could provide a gateway into some fantastic discussions and I know kids won't be as nitpicky as I am. A good solid book.
Having said that, there were things I loved about the book. Pip's fierce loyalty to Sully. Matilda being a rich kid, but nice (very rare in kids books). Pip's resourcefulness and tenacity. Wonderful themes of loyalty and not assuming things about people and situations. Run, Pip, Run could provide a gateway into some fantastic discussions and I know kids won't be as nitpicky as I am. A good solid book.
June 26, 2016
I had to keep reminding myself that this is a truly Australian story because at times it felt like one of the old style British city adventures set in poverty and sadness - typical elements of abandonment, orphan insecurity, inappropriate parenting and social services with a special friend in the teacher. I found the story line at times too incredible but that is my adult bias. It was a great read and I would love to know how junior readers relate to it. Read it in one go and didn't lose interest at any point, nor skip any pages. That makes it a rollicking read I reckon. I'm sure there will be a sequel because so many elements were unresolved, which made it a little less satisfying for me but, a great protagonist in Pip, we will learn more.
August 5, 2016
This book has gotten so many great reviews, it's been nominated (and won) a number of awards, and I just didn't like it much at all. Too far fetched (psychic cat, the TEACHER, the whole thing with the guy in the car, the police officers????) and the story never really grabbed me.
I just... it lost me with Pip's teacher. NO WAY would any self-respecting teacher who actually cared about his/her students would ever meet them in secret, then let them continue to live on the street, whilst been hunted by the authorities! Obviously J.C. Jones has never met an actual teacher!
Sorry, but just not a fan of this far-fetched tale at all... I can't even imagine what kind of reader I could give it to!
I just... it lost me with Pip's teacher. NO WAY would any self-respecting teacher who actually cared about his/her students would ever meet them in secret, then let them continue to live on the street, whilst been hunted by the authorities! Obviously J.C. Jones has never met an actual teacher!
Sorry, but just not a fan of this far-fetched tale at all... I can't even imagine what kind of reader I could give it to!
April 20, 2015
Great book for mid-late primary / early secondary readers. Lots of talking points for teachers. Pip is an independent 10 year old girl. When her carer Sully has a stroke and is taken to hospital Pip does everything she can to avoid social services. So much to discuss with kids - what would happen to them in the same situation, looking after yourself, understanding why adults are needed, what is happening to Sully, Gambling, Drinking, Smoking, Strangers offering lifts, Teacher responsibility to authority, legal rights.
I'm making it sound a lot heavier than it is but there is so much going on and it is told in a totally enjoyable way. Highly recommend for teachers.
I'm making it sound a lot heavier than it is but there is so much going on and it is told in a totally enjoyable way. Highly recommend for teachers.
May 1, 2015
Loved this book. Will be a great Y5-6 read aloud too. Pip is 10, living with Sully, who everyone thinks is her grandfather. On the morning of her birthday, Sully has a stroke. Resilient Pip phones for the ambulance, gets him looked after, just as she has been doing for quite a while now. Sully has impressed on her that 'the welfare' can't be trusted so she evades the police and starts looking after herself. She's resourceful, streetwise, and canny - a totally believable character. I liked the ending too, it made sense to me. Looking forward to promoting this next week!
September 3, 2016
It's Pip's 10th birthday when things go wrong and her only carer ends up unconscious on the floor. Pip really doesn't want to "Go with a nutter, not even a good one". And when her kind and caring teacher gets blamed, she ends up homeless and is almost abducted, how will she survive on the streets at such young age? The can't-put-down, nominated book by J.C Jones.
July 9, 2016
There was a lot going on in this book and the cover is dreadful, it certainly does not do the story justice. As a teacher I feel that a few of the events in this book would benefit from discussion once read, stranger danger, child protection, gambling etc. Fast-paced and such a likeable protagonist.
July 20, 2016
This was an enjoyable, page-turner and I really liked the feisty, independent character Pip. I also loved the animal cameos - the clever cat and the lovable dog. And while it covered some heavy terrain - youth homelessness - it never felt heavy or preachy. I was a little bit disappointed by the ending of this book but won't go in for spoilers ;)
November 22, 2015
I bought this book at Dymocks.com.au. It was nominated for the 2015 Speech Pathology Australia awards for 8-14 year olds. It was an enjoyable read for an adult (teacher) due to the quirky lead character. I can't wait for the sequel.
May 27, 2015
Quite worrying at first but pulls you in with a believable feisty, capable main character.
June 25, 2016
When Pip's guardian has a stroke she goes on the run as she doesn't want o go into foster care.
July 5, 2016
A good story, fast paced and well drawn characters. Excellent for primary students
August 8, 2016
Great book paced book to read to a Year 2,3 or 4 class. Shortlisted for Book of the Year: Younger readers.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews