On the Run

by Jack Weyland

Young Nathan, an elder in the Mormon Church, is aided in his escape from murderous drug runners by a beautiful Lakota Sioux girl who teaches him about her people as he shares the gospel with her

Genres: Lds Fiction, Young Adult, Lds, Fiction, Religion, Christian Fiction, Romance

182 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1995

About the author

Jack Weyland is the best-selling author of young-adult fiction for the Latter-day Saint market. In fact, the modern genre of Latter-day Saint-themed popular fiction is one he is largely responsible for creating with his overwhelmingly popular novel Charly. His interest in fiction began with a correspondence course in creative writing taken during a summer at BYU where he was doing research work. Since then he has published more than two dozen books, and over fifty of his short stories have been published by the LDS Church magazine The New Era.

Born in Butte, Montana, Jack received a B.S. degree in physics from Montana State University and a Ph.D. in physics from BYU. Currently he teaches physics at BYU-Idaho. He formerly taught physics at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Jack and his wife, Sheryl, are the parents of five children and have four grandchildren. His hobbies include racquetball and singing.

Reviews

[Cali · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read On The Run by Jack Weyland for my English class.
The story revolves around LDS missionary Elder Nathan Williams, who after boarding the plane to return home to his family, ends up working for a secret agent in an FBI drug investigation and is forced to hide out and remain on the run in Seattle with a Lakota Sioux girl, Jessica Red Willow, whom he meets on the plane and she offers to help him. He sees the experience as his extended mission; one last chance to share the gospel. Throughout their traveling across the United States, the two of them learn a lot; Nathan reads the Book of Mormon and teaches Jessica about the gospel, and she teaches him about her people and culture. Near the end, Nathan honors Jessica's choice and baptizes her into the Church. After about a month, a signal is sent to them declaring safety; Nathan returns home to his farm in Idaho and Jessica to her tribe in South Dakota. They speak of getting married, but after seeing complications that prevent this, they both meet partners and are content.
One of the themes in this story is perseverance; even though all Nathan wants is to return home to his family, he is patient and ends up having one more baptism to end his mission. Another theme in the story is learning; both Nathan and Jessica learn a lot throughout their journey on the run. Jessica learns about the gospel and the Church and Nathan learns to appreciate the Indian culture and accept its differences to his.
I really enjoyed this book-the author painted a good picture in his descriptions; this made the story and settings easy to visualize. I enjoyed the storyline and had knowledge about the topic because I'm also Mormon. I think anyone who likes adventure or religious topics would really enjoy this book; if you're not a fan of that, I wouldn't recommend this book to you.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The family got this one for Christmas. I was so excited to read one of his new books. But I ended up thinking the book quite weird. And I didn't agree with some of the things in the book. It went against my grain. Perhaps this was good, because it pretty much ended my Weyland fascination. It had provided its good, but I didn't need any more damage. I would soon embark on years of repairing that wreckage.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read with a little excitement. It's about Nathan who, as he gets on board the plane to fly home from his mission, gets entrapped by an FBI agent who has evidence that the head of the FBI in Seattle is into drug smuggling. A girl Nathan sits by on the plane helps him escape to her reservation in South Dakota. He finds out how Indians are treated by the white people. They also fall in love.

Wasn't my favorite Weyland novel.

[Cass · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nathan Williams is on the plane to Salt Lake City returning from his mission in Seattle when an FBI undercover agent gives him a computer disk and asks him to take it to a US senator, if anything happens to the agent. Well, it does and the drug ring runners are after Nathan. With the help of a fellow passenger, Jessica RedWillow, he escapes to an Indian reservation in South Dakota and doesn't make it home for quite a while. A fast fun read.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The real excitement of the book is the fact that Elder Nathan Williams is on his way home from his mission when he gets caught up with Gibbs, an FBI agent. Not only is he not going to meet with his stake president to get released, but Jessica Red Willow becomes his lifeline to staying alive until he can go home. How is he going to keep her at arm's length?

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite Jack weyland book. I didn't really fall in love with the characters and wouldn't have made the choses they made. Having said that it was a quick light read that still held my attention.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

it is so good it was the first book that I had ever completely finshed it was the one that got me hooked on reading. it is about a boy that is coming home from his mission and get enteind in a crime and meets a girl named jessica and they go on the run.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

A friend gave me this to read as something quick and light... it is going quickly, but I'm also remembering why I haven't read any of Jack Weyland's stuff in a loooooooong time!! :)

Update: Yeah... just didn't like this one. Quick, easy read, but not anything amazing. It was okay.

[Jen]

Story of a missionary on the way home who finds an adventure before he makes it home.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I remember LOVING this book when I first read it. I didn't hate it or get too bored this time through, but it was more of a read it because it was there and not because I was enjoying it read.

[Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it is fun to have the main character in the story be about a guy just getting off his mission instead of the usually teen age girl that he usually writes about. I love the plot of this one.

[lexi · Rating 1 out of 5]

i hated the ending. the whole book was about them and then they didnt even end up together so stupid.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! When I first started reading it I never wanted to put it down. I love how the book ends and especially how it starts! I wish it could have been longer though:(

[Dorian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another typical Jack Weyland book with an FBI and American Indian twist.

[Jessi Epley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good. Would be interested in reading more books from this author.

[Leslie Lamb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the book from the beginning. I didn't think that a returned missionary story would suddenly turn into an "on the run" story (even though that's the title.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story - one of Jack's better ones!

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick fun read

[Kara Wilcox · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good book that kept me wondering and guessing.

[Lani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indian (interracial couples, missionary work)

[Patricia]

re-read to see if I was ready to give it away. I kept it.