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Running on the Cracks
Leo’s running from her past. Finlay’s running into trouble. Together, they stumble into a crazy new world of secrets, lies, and Chinese food.
But someone is on Leo’s trail . . . Eccentric, unforgettable characters and genuine, heart-pounding suspense make for a stunning combination as celebrated author Julia Donaldson expands her talents in her first novel for young adults.
But someone is on Leo’s trail . . . Eccentric, unforgettable characters and genuine, heart-pounding suspense make for a stunning combination as celebrated author Julia Donaldson expands her talents in her first novel for young adults.
218 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
13 people are currently reading
273 people want to read
About the author
Julia Donaldson
1,230 books1,908 followersGrowing up
I grew up in a tall Victorian London house with my parents, grandmother, aunt, uncle, younger sister Mary and cat Geoffrey (who was really a prince in disguise. Mary and I would argue about which of us would marry him).
Mary and I were always creating imaginary characters and mimicking real ones, and I used to write shows and choreograph ballets for us. A wind-up gramophone wafted out Chopin waltzes.
I studied Drama and French at Bristol University, where I met Malcolm, a guitar-playing medic to whom I’m now married.
Busking and books
Before Malcolm and I had our three sons we used to go busking together and I would write special songs for each country; the best one was in Italian about pasta.
The busking led to a career in singing and songwriting, mainly for children’s television. I became an expert at writing to order on such subjects as guinea pigs, window-cleaning and horrible smells. “We want a song about throwing crumpled-up wrapping paper into the bin” was a typical request from the BBC.
I also continued to write “grown-up” songs and perform them in folk clubs and on the radio, and have recently released two CDs of these songs.
One of my television songs, A SQUASH AND A SQUEEZE, was made into a book in 1993, with illustrations by the wonderful Axel Scheffler. It was great to hold the book in my hand without it vanishing in the air the way the songs did. This prompted me to unearth some plays I’d written for a school reading group, and since then I’ve had 20 plays published. Most children love acting and it’s a tremendous way to improve their reading.
My real breakthrough was THE GRUFFALO, again illustrated by Axel. We work separately - he’s in London and I’m in Glasgow - but he sends me letters with lovely funny pictures on the envelopes.
I really enjoy writing verse, even though it can be fiendishly difficult. I used to memorise poems as a child and it means a lot to me when parents tell me their child can recite one of my books.
Funnily enough, I find it harder to write not in verse, though I feel I am now getting the hang of it! My novel THE GIANTS AND THE JONESES is going to be made into a film by the same team who made the Harry Potter movies, and I have written three books of stories about the anarchic PRINCESS MIRROR-BELLE who appears from the mirror and disrupts the life of an otherwise ordinary eight-year-old. I have just finished writing a novel for teenagers.
When I’m not writing I am often performing, at book festivals and in theatres. I really enjoy getting the children in the audience to help me act out the stories and sing the songs. When Malcolm can take time off from the hospital he and his guitar come too. and it feels as if we’ve come full circle - back to busking.
I grew up in a tall Victorian London house with my parents, grandmother, aunt, uncle, younger sister Mary and cat Geoffrey (who was really a prince in disguise. Mary and I would argue about which of us would marry him).
Mary and I were always creating imaginary characters and mimicking real ones, and I used to write shows and choreograph ballets for us. A wind-up gramophone wafted out Chopin waltzes.
I studied Drama and French at Bristol University, where I met Malcolm, a guitar-playing medic to whom I’m now married.
Busking and books
Before Malcolm and I had our three sons we used to go busking together and I would write special songs for each country; the best one was in Italian about pasta.
The busking led to a career in singing and songwriting, mainly for children’s television. I became an expert at writing to order on such subjects as guinea pigs, window-cleaning and horrible smells. “We want a song about throwing crumpled-up wrapping paper into the bin” was a typical request from the BBC.
I also continued to write “grown-up” songs and perform them in folk clubs and on the radio, and have recently released two CDs of these songs.
One of my television songs, A SQUASH AND A SQUEEZE, was made into a book in 1993, with illustrations by the wonderful Axel Scheffler. It was great to hold the book in my hand without it vanishing in the air the way the songs did. This prompted me to unearth some plays I’d written for a school reading group, and since then I’ve had 20 plays published. Most children love acting and it’s a tremendous way to improve their reading.
My real breakthrough was THE GRUFFALO, again illustrated by Axel. We work separately - he’s in London and I’m in Glasgow - but he sends me letters with lovely funny pictures on the envelopes.
I really enjoy writing verse, even though it can be fiendishly difficult. I used to memorise poems as a child and it means a lot to me when parents tell me their child can recite one of my books.
Funnily enough, I find it harder to write not in verse, though I feel I am now getting the hang of it! My novel THE GIANTS AND THE JONESES is going to be made into a film by the same team who made the Harry Potter movies, and I have written three books of stories about the anarchic PRINCESS MIRROR-BELLE who appears from the mirror and disrupts the life of an otherwise ordinary eight-year-old. I have just finished writing a novel for teenagers.
When I’m not writing I am often performing, at book festivals and in theatres. I really enjoy getting the children in the audience to help me act out the stories and sing the songs. When Malcolm can take time off from the hospital he and his guitar come too. and it feels as if we’ve come full circle - back to busking.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
August 20, 2009
Leonora's parents, gifted musicians, died in a plane crash and Leo, their only child, is sent to live with her Aunt Sarah and Uncle John and their two girls, Flo and Caitlin. Sarah and Leo's mother were never close sisters, and the cousins are mean to Leo. But it is Uncle John and his creepy bedside manner that has Leo fleeing Bristol on the day she was meant to start school for the first time, after years of home schooling.
She has one chance left, one hope to run towards: her father's parents. All she knows about them is that they had a Chinese restaurant in Glasgow, and that they never spoke to or saw her dad again after he met Leo's mother. With a surname like Chan, however, and no other clues to go on, Leo knows it won't be easy to find them. And with her picture appearing in the paper and the Big Issue, she has to keep her head down.
A friendly woman called Mary takes her in, as she takes in many strays, and a local boy, Finlay, helps Leo track down her grandparents. But as Mary stops taking her pills and gets more and more unstable, and with Uncle John close on Leo's heels, it's only a matter of time before her hopeful new existence unravels.
This is an engaging story, simply told and well written. It would appeal more to the age group it's marketed at than adult lovers of YA: it was a bit too simple for me, a bit lacking in depth. The characters existed only in the vaguest of ways prior to the beginning of the narrative - we get only glimpses of Leo's parents, for instance, and know very little about them or Leo herself, for that matter. Same with all the other characters, with perhaps the exception of Kim, a relative Leo discovers with Finlay's help, who gets to tell the story of how she came to live in Glasgow from China.
The characters' personalities come through in more subtle ways, but it still had the feeling of existing in a bit of a bubble. When you are genuinely interested and want to know more, this can be disappointing.
The reference to "running on the cracks" is mentioned briefly, or rather implied, and if I understand it correctly it refers to an old story Leo's dad told her of a dragon hiding in the cracks - a metaphor for Uncle John, I assume, but it's a rather haphazard connection. To be honest, I was never really clear about the title.
I did like learning a little bit about the Scottish Aberlour Child Care Trust, which helps runaway children and teens without forcing them back to the life they were escaping from. It came up at the very end but it sounds like a good system to have.
She has one chance left, one hope to run towards: her father's parents. All she knows about them is that they had a Chinese restaurant in Glasgow, and that they never spoke to or saw her dad again after he met Leo's mother. With a surname like Chan, however, and no other clues to go on, Leo knows it won't be easy to find them. And with her picture appearing in the paper and the Big Issue, she has to keep her head down.
A friendly woman called Mary takes her in, as she takes in many strays, and a local boy, Finlay, helps Leo track down her grandparents. But as Mary stops taking her pills and gets more and more unstable, and with Uncle John close on Leo's heels, it's only a matter of time before her hopeful new existence unravels.
This is an engaging story, simply told and well written. It would appeal more to the age group it's marketed at than adult lovers of YA: it was a bit too simple for me, a bit lacking in depth. The characters existed only in the vaguest of ways prior to the beginning of the narrative - we get only glimpses of Leo's parents, for instance, and know very little about them or Leo herself, for that matter. Same with all the other characters, with perhaps the exception of Kim, a relative Leo discovers with Finlay's help, who gets to tell the story of how she came to live in Glasgow from China.
The characters' personalities come through in more subtle ways, but it still had the feeling of existing in a bit of a bubble. When you are genuinely interested and want to know more, this can be disappointing.
The reference to "running on the cracks" is mentioned briefly, or rather implied, and if I understand it correctly it refers to an old story Leo's dad told her of a dragon hiding in the cracks - a metaphor for Uncle John, I assume, but it's a rather haphazard connection. To be honest, I was never really clear about the title.
I did like learning a little bit about the Scottish Aberlour Child Care Trust, which helps runaway children and teens without forcing them back to the life they were escaping from. It came up at the very end but it sounds like a good system to have.
December 15, 2009
Full review here: http://thebookpixie.blogspot.com/2009...
I must say that this book really surprised me. When I got the email from Holt InGroup, I recognized the book, from where I can't remember, and it sounded good so I requested it. However, I didn't really have any expectataions for it. Especially considering Julia Donaldson wrote only children's books before this. So I was, of course, astonished by the immediate attachment I developed with this book.
Running on the Cracks was quirky and suspenseful but also heartfelt and touching. I definitely have to agree with the back of the book when it refers to the characters as eccentric and unforgettable. I just absolutely loved them. Leo was an intelligent and realistic character who was easy to relate to. Finlay was funny in a sweet innocent kind of way and a terrific friend to Leo. Then there is Mary, whom you can't help but have a soft spot for.
This book was very well written and I felt pulled in from the very first page. I loved the alternating perspectives and found it interesting how Julia wrote Leo in first person and Finlay in third person. The funny thing is that I didn't even notice this until I was well into the book.
The ending was excellent. I had an idea of how things would probably end but Julia still had one more surprise for me.
Running on the Cracks is a very unique and memorable book. A gripping plot, intriguing characters, and well crafted writing make this book a stunning debut YA novel from Julia Donaldson. This is definitely a favorite and I hope to see more YA books from her in the future. I would recommend this to anyone and everyone. So if you haven't read it, I highly suggest that you do.
I must say that this book really surprised me. When I got the email from Holt InGroup, I recognized the book, from where I can't remember, and it sounded good so I requested it. However, I didn't really have any expectataions for it. Especially considering Julia Donaldson wrote only children's books before this. So I was, of course, astonished by the immediate attachment I developed with this book.
Running on the Cracks was quirky and suspenseful but also heartfelt and touching. I definitely have to agree with the back of the book when it refers to the characters as eccentric and unforgettable. I just absolutely loved them. Leo was an intelligent and realistic character who was easy to relate to. Finlay was funny in a sweet innocent kind of way and a terrific friend to Leo. Then there is Mary, whom you can't help but have a soft spot for.
This book was very well written and I felt pulled in from the very first page. I loved the alternating perspectives and found it interesting how Julia wrote Leo in first person and Finlay in third person. The funny thing is that I didn't even notice this until I was well into the book.
The ending was excellent. I had an idea of how things would probably end but Julia still had one more surprise for me.
Running on the Cracks is a very unique and memorable book. A gripping plot, intriguing characters, and well crafted writing make this book a stunning debut YA novel from Julia Donaldson. This is definitely a favorite and I hope to see more YA books from her in the future. I would recommend this to anyone and everyone. So if you haven't read it, I highly suggest that you do.
May 25, 2011
I've seen at least one other person say that this book would appeal more to actual young adult readers of YA than adult readers of YA. I liked it well enough to finish it, but I did find my attention wandering a bit. There is some suspense in the story, provided entirely by the intensely creepy Uncle John. But there's just so much else going on that it's easy to forget about him for dozens of pages at a time. And in a fairly short (around 200 pages) book that's meant to be suspenseful, that's not really a good thing. It just seems like there's a lot going on here: there's the main plotline of Leo running away from her aunt and uncle's house because of her creepmonster uncle, and that's the good part. But there's also a secondary plot, and entire secondary cast of characters, about dealing with someone with a degenerating mental illness. I feel like that was a seperate book, and it didn't need to be in here. Like I said, it's a short book. I get the feeling that Mary was introduced solely to get Leo safely off the streets, without her having to deal with some of the more traumatic aspects of being a homeless teenager. But that's solved in another way later on anyways, so there was no real need of her or her subplot. There's also a subplot about Leo's dual heritage (she's half Chinese) and her attempts to connect with the Chinese side of her family. Difficult, because her Chinese grandparents had disowned her father when he took up with her mother. Like the mental illness subplot, this probably wasn't really necessary, but I actually liked it being in the book. It filled out Leo's character for me and made her more real. I just feel like more time should have been spent building the suspense surrounding Uncle Creep and less on Mary.
April 15, 2022
Oh my god!! Such an interesting, thought provoking book. Fact pace with some life lesson. Finlay was the best charecter. Go pick this book up and read.
October 3, 2009
Rating: 3-ish/5
My Summary: Leo is scared. She’s not quite sure what to think of her kooky uncle anymore, and she doesn’t want to take chances. What if he does something to her… Leo runs away. She goes in search of her grandparents, her only living relatives. She accidently gets her photo in the newspaper, and had to hide. She meets a boy named Finlay, who seems to be the one who’s going to put an end to her new freedom… at first anyway. But then Finlay becomes a friend to Leo, and he becomes her key to staying away from her uncle. Leo will do anything to keep from being found and being sent back there. She ends up staying with a crazy lady who is hospitable enough, but refuses to take her medication and whose friends aren’t much better. Then she realizes that her Uncle is on her tail. How will she stay away?
What I thought: Running on the Cracks was an enjoyable read. When I first saw the cover, I imagined an action filled YA novel with a lot of suspense. Although there was suspense, it wasn’t anything that got your blood racing. I thoroughly enjoyed this book when I sat down to read it, but I had to be in the right mood to do it.
The Writing: The format of writing was different than I’d read before, but it was very engaging. It switched viewpoints, had pieces of the story in written-story form (meaning a whole chapter was just a letter or a newspaper article or an e-mail), had whole sections where it was just dialogue (those were my favorite sections—mostly it was when characters were on the phone, and they were all very funny) and even had a few chapters from the “crazy” person’s perspective (it’s always interesting being inside the head of a madman…). Also, the writer has written the book in an accent, meaning that some of the words are spelled wrong so that you can hear it pronounced with an accent in your head—quite engaging and welcoming. The writing was good, but as it was foreign it was a little odd (i.e. “lead” instead of “leash” etc), but not in a bad way.
The Characters: The characters were pretty relatable. I felt scared for Leo when she was running from her Uncle, and sorry for Finlay when we was stressed about lying to his mom. The characters were really cool, well developed, and some of them were kooky. I really liked Leo and Finlay. They had such cool names! I loved the “President”, but the “Godfather” was my favorite. He was just so… weirdly cool… (I don’t know, maybe that’s because I’m a little insane myself). Not too much, I rather enjoyed it actually. It’s always fun to read something a little different.
The Plot: The plot was pretty believable, and I know that (sadly) there are true stories like this all the time. I don’t know how the police are over in Scotland but I doubt very seriously that Leo would have gotten away with hiding from the American police for as long as she did from the Scottish police (but that’s my opinion as a police and spy novel writer). Although there was suggestion of the Uncle trying to sexually abuse women in the book, it never actually happened, and it was very age appropriate.
My Recommendation: I would recommend it to a friend ages 11-15, maybe even a little younger, but not older than that. Again, I enjoyed it when I sat down to read it, but it wasn’t quite my personal attention level (I’m 18). All in all, I enjoyed this book a lot.
Thank you to Henry Holt In Group for supplying my review copy of this book!
For more reviews and giveaways,, please visit haleymathiot.blogspot.com
~Haleyknitz
PS- don’t forget—enter my giveaway for LOCKDOWN before October 20!
My Summary: Leo is scared. She’s not quite sure what to think of her kooky uncle anymore, and she doesn’t want to take chances. What if he does something to her… Leo runs away. She goes in search of her grandparents, her only living relatives. She accidently gets her photo in the newspaper, and had to hide. She meets a boy named Finlay, who seems to be the one who’s going to put an end to her new freedom… at first anyway. But then Finlay becomes a friend to Leo, and he becomes her key to staying away from her uncle. Leo will do anything to keep from being found and being sent back there. She ends up staying with a crazy lady who is hospitable enough, but refuses to take her medication and whose friends aren’t much better. Then she realizes that her Uncle is on her tail. How will she stay away?
What I thought: Running on the Cracks was an enjoyable read. When I first saw the cover, I imagined an action filled YA novel with a lot of suspense. Although there was suspense, it wasn’t anything that got your blood racing. I thoroughly enjoyed this book when I sat down to read it, but I had to be in the right mood to do it.
The Writing: The format of writing was different than I’d read before, but it was very engaging. It switched viewpoints, had pieces of the story in written-story form (meaning a whole chapter was just a letter or a newspaper article or an e-mail), had whole sections where it was just dialogue (those were my favorite sections—mostly it was when characters were on the phone, and they were all very funny) and even had a few chapters from the “crazy” person’s perspective (it’s always interesting being inside the head of a madman…). Also, the writer has written the book in an accent, meaning that some of the words are spelled wrong so that you can hear it pronounced with an accent in your head—quite engaging and welcoming. The writing was good, but as it was foreign it was a little odd (i.e. “lead” instead of “leash” etc), but not in a bad way.
The Characters: The characters were pretty relatable. I felt scared for Leo when she was running from her Uncle, and sorry for Finlay when we was stressed about lying to his mom. The characters were really cool, well developed, and some of them were kooky. I really liked Leo and Finlay. They had such cool names! I loved the “President”, but the “Godfather” was my favorite. He was just so… weirdly cool… (I don’t know, maybe that’s because I’m a little insane myself). Not too much, I rather enjoyed it actually. It’s always fun to read something a little different.
The Plot: The plot was pretty believable, and I know that (sadly) there are true stories like this all the time. I don’t know how the police are over in Scotland but I doubt very seriously that Leo would have gotten away with hiding from the American police for as long as she did from the Scottish police (but that’s my opinion as a police and spy novel writer). Although there was suggestion of the Uncle trying to sexually abuse women in the book, it never actually happened, and it was very age appropriate.
My Recommendation: I would recommend it to a friend ages 11-15, maybe even a little younger, but not older than that. Again, I enjoyed it when I sat down to read it, but it wasn’t quite my personal attention level (I’m 18). All in all, I enjoyed this book a lot.
Thank you to Henry Holt In Group for supplying my review copy of this book!
For more reviews and giveaways,, please visit haleymathiot.blogspot.com
~Haleyknitz
PS- don’t forget—enter my giveaway for LOCKDOWN before October 20!
October 10, 2011
When I was a kid, I always thought that running away would be a really glamorous and exciting thing to do so I have a strange attraction to runaway stories that still lingers into my adult years. Of course, the truth is, it’s not glamorous and exciting at all. It’s incredibly dangerous and as such is an extremely desperate act, especially when performed by a child, and Julia Donaldson has really excelled in capturing the dark side of running away while painting wonderful silver linings onto Leo’s plight. It’s hard to imagine someone who writes brilliant picture books could turn her hand to something much more threatening but clearly Julia’s story toolbox is well stocked.
From the first instant I met her, I fell in love with Leo. She’s one of those heroines who takes action at every turn and is courageous in the true sense that she knows there are things that are more important than fear. She’s a real survivor and that is what I really love in a lead character. I think it’s probably best to describe the other characters in this book as “a motley crew”. Julia Donaldson has written a rainbow of characters that you know you would find if you took a slice out of society in any large city. It’s almost as if her research consisted of going and sitting in a park one day and copying down every character she found walking by.
It’s not just great characters that make this book, however, there’s a real intelligence in the writing. A teen or older reader would probably recognise quite soon that underneath all the colours of the characters and the bright spots of hope, something very sinister is lurking. Uncle John is not just any old bad guy, he is the worst kind of predator and his short chapters dotted throughout the book are a real anchor to the story. If you were feeling uplifted at the end of the preceding chapter it won’t last long as you feel even your internal organs repelling against this man and the worst kind of dread runs down your spine. A bad guy rarely truly gives me the creeps – mostly because I love a good baddy! – but here is one that had my toes curling in revulsion. Mary makes for another sinister element in this story. Although she starts the story well and takes Leo in, she becomes increasingly unbalanced and spirals into an unpredictable and unstable character that threatens Leo’s safety and success.
I think what really makes this story is that it is so realistic – nothing is hard to believe and it has its foundation in a shocking truth that haunts too many children and teens today. That’s what I think young adult books should be all about: telling the truth, helping growing minds to explore and deal with both the good and bad forces in life. The characters are colourful, the writing clever and there’s a beautiful circularity to the story that goes a long way towards healing the wounds that the plot opens in your mind. A really worthwhile read!
Lyrical Reviews
@LyricalReviews
Goodreads Group: No Dark Romance Allowed
From the first instant I met her, I fell in love with Leo. She’s one of those heroines who takes action at every turn and is courageous in the true sense that she knows there are things that are more important than fear. She’s a real survivor and that is what I really love in a lead character. I think it’s probably best to describe the other characters in this book as “a motley crew”. Julia Donaldson has written a rainbow of characters that you know you would find if you took a slice out of society in any large city. It’s almost as if her research consisted of going and sitting in a park one day and copying down every character she found walking by.
It’s not just great characters that make this book, however, there’s a real intelligence in the writing. A teen or older reader would probably recognise quite soon that underneath all the colours of the characters and the bright spots of hope, something very sinister is lurking. Uncle John is not just any old bad guy, he is the worst kind of predator and his short chapters dotted throughout the book are a real anchor to the story. If you were feeling uplifted at the end of the preceding chapter it won’t last long as you feel even your internal organs repelling against this man and the worst kind of dread runs down your spine. A bad guy rarely truly gives me the creeps – mostly because I love a good baddy! – but here is one that had my toes curling in revulsion. Mary makes for another sinister element in this story. Although she starts the story well and takes Leo in, she becomes increasingly unbalanced and spirals into an unpredictable and unstable character that threatens Leo’s safety and success.
I think what really makes this story is that it is so realistic – nothing is hard to believe and it has its foundation in a shocking truth that haunts too many children and teens today. That’s what I think young adult books should be all about: telling the truth, helping growing minds to explore and deal with both the good and bad forces in life. The characters are colourful, the writing clever and there’s a beautiful circularity to the story that goes a long way towards healing the wounds that the plot opens in your mind. A really worthwhile read!
Lyrical Reviews
@LyricalReviews
Goodreads Group: No Dark Romance Allowed
July 1, 2011
I really like the picture books of Julia Donaldson, so I thought I'd like to try her YA novel. I was not disappointed. Leo (short for Leonora) has been sent to live with her mother's sister in Bristol (England) after her parents (who both played in an orchestra) have been killed in an accident. Her two cousins resent her and her uncle is very creepy. She knows she has some grandparents whom she has never met (due to a family feud)in Glasgow, so one morning, rather than going to school, she instead boards a train for Glasgow and thus her adventures begin. Her father was Chinese and she must search for his parents based on her slender thread of knowledge that they owned a Chinese restaurant in Glasgow and that their name was Chan. When she arrives in Glasgow, with very little money, and finds that there are lots of Chans in the phone book and lots of Chinese restaurants, her prospects for success seem dim. Fortunately, she is befriended by a motley cast of characters. Unfortunately, she has been pursued by her creepy, predatory uncle. The fast-paced plot moves right along, with Leo and gang managing to stay one step ahead of her uncle. This was an engaging read with a satisfying ending.
December 22, 2015
My thoughts: I think this book is simply amazing to read. I would recommend to anyone who wants to know more about landscape in Scotland and Chinese culture maybe (?) My ratings: 8.6/10
**LITTLE SPOILERS** The story's about a Chinese born English girl, Leonora who ran away from her cousin's house to Glasgow, Scotland to find her grandfather. Since she never met her grans before, she have to find them with just a little information about them left for Leo from her dead parents. Later on, she met Finlay and weird old Mary, her new pals ... trying to figure out the location of her grandfather and at the same time, Leo have to keep a distance from her Uncle John- weird, like birds, likes to assault girls, who is trying to find her. She finally found her grandfather with the assist of her new found Chinese cousin in Glasgow, Jacqueline. Leo later found out Uncle John had been arrested for attempting assault of a hitchhiker. Lastly, Leo had live with Jacqueline and Finlay play in his favourite band with his electric guitar that Leo gave him to thank him.
**LITTLE SPOILERS** The story's about a Chinese born English girl, Leonora who ran away from her cousin's house to Glasgow, Scotland to find her grandfather. Since she never met her grans before, she have to find them with just a little information about them left for Leo from her dead parents. Later on, she met Finlay and weird old Mary, her new pals ... trying to figure out the location of her grandfather and at the same time, Leo have to keep a distance from her Uncle John- weird, like birds, likes to assault girls, who is trying to find her. She finally found her grandfather with the assist of her new found Chinese cousin in Glasgow, Jacqueline. Leo later found out Uncle John had been arrested for attempting assault of a hitchhiker. Lastly, Leo had live with Jacqueline and Finlay play in his favourite band with his electric guitar that Leo gave him to thank him.
June 3, 2012
Running on the Cracks was altogether just an okay book. One of the best parts is probably the cover. I think it draws you into the book, and goes very well with the story line. The most compelling part of the book would be the unforgettable characters and cover. The book was a little boring at times, but the characters made things interesting and were very funny. I finally finished the book after reading it for about two weeks (yikes!). It took me so long to finish because I would often get very bored and distracted while reading it. I wish it was a little faster paced and more fun to read. Also the author and the characters are British, so at times I didn’t really know what they were talking about. I don’t know if I would recommend it to a friend because of it being a little uninteresting. The end of the book is really good because it picked up the pace, and wrapped up all the loose ends. Running on the Cracks sounded good in theory, but it just didn't cut it for me.
August 8, 2011
I was intrigued by this YA offering from the Children's Laureate, and have to say I really enjoyed it. Written for the younger end of the teen market, it was peopled by "real" teenagers and a boldly drawn supporting cast who provided an excellent introduction for young readers into the world of mental illness. Bringing in bereavement, cross-cultural issues and a creepy (paedophile) uncle, it doesn't sound like a barrel of laughs but there's actually quite a lot of gentle humour and the writing is quite excellent. One to pick up if you see it and like well written books for the youth market.
August 8, 2010
'Running on the Cracks' is an enthralling and humorous read which I would gladly recommend to those with an adventurous streak. It is set in the Scottish town of Glasgow and the setting, plot and general characters are perfectly believable which is the reason I am rating this book 3/5. I wasn't too keen on some of the characters as they actually make the reader feel quite uncomfortable in parts. But I'm glad to have read it and I don't think it was a waste of my time. Basically, I've read worse.
Read
February 27, 2012I really liked this book. Leo did many stuff in the past, he may have done some bad and some good actions. Finlay is running where no-one wants to run to; trouble! What they both love to eat is Chinese food! They just love the taste and the smell. I actually love Chinese food to too! What Leo doesn't know, is that someone is on his trail and this he will find out very soon. I thing that Julia Donaldson did a splendid job,
October 31, 2012
This is an absorbing book from the writer of 'The Gruffalo'.
It is about an orphan girl (Leo) who goes on the run from her uncle in an attempt to find her grandparents, who she has never met.
The story is told from mainly two perspectives (Leo and, schoolboy, Finlay) who's paths come together to show stories of human kindness.
While reading this book, I came to care about the characters and found it quite engaging. It's a good read for good to high ability year 5 and 6 readers.
It is about an orphan girl (Leo) who goes on the run from her uncle in an attempt to find her grandparents, who she has never met.
The story is told from mainly two perspectives (Leo and, schoolboy, Finlay) who's paths come together to show stories of human kindness.
While reading this book, I came to care about the characters and found it quite engaging. It's a good read for good to high ability year 5 and 6 readers.
February 17, 2014
Ahem. Crap.
Sorry favourite author. YA is not your scene.
Sorry favourite author. YA is not your scene.
January 5, 2020
I only learned very recently that Julia Donaldson had written a YA book; I discovered this when putting together a JD themed window display for my children's bookshop. The synopsis sounded compelling so I decided to give it a go.
3 stars feels like a harsh rating for this book as I did like it. Leo is a runaway. At 15, she was orphaned after her parents were killed in a car crash and she has been living with her mother's family since. Her cousins are mean to her and her uncle is a deeply disturbed individual, unsettling Leo with the very real fear that he could abuse her.
Leo runs away to Glasgow to seek her dad's family, befriending Finlay who recognises her from the papers, and Mary who generous and kindhearted, is deeply unwell and in need of some help.
Many dark themes run through this book, abuse, mental illness, etc. The ending is nicely wrapped up and I like the way in which Julia portrays her characters as not being perfect.
So why only 3 stars? The book is pacy, but I would have liked a little more digging into the characters. A little more depth in the storyline as occasionally, it felt like there was so much going on, the surface was only ever scratched.
On the whole, a good read with a dark plot, reminding us that life isn't always rosy.
3 stars feels like a harsh rating for this book as I did like it. Leo is a runaway. At 15, she was orphaned after her parents were killed in a car crash and she has been living with her mother's family since. Her cousins are mean to her and her uncle is a deeply disturbed individual, unsettling Leo with the very real fear that he could abuse her.
Leo runs away to Glasgow to seek her dad's family, befriending Finlay who recognises her from the papers, and Mary who generous and kindhearted, is deeply unwell and in need of some help.
Many dark themes run through this book, abuse, mental illness, etc. The ending is nicely wrapped up and I like the way in which Julia portrays her characters as not being perfect.
So why only 3 stars? The book is pacy, but I would have liked a little more digging into the characters. A little more depth in the storyline as occasionally, it felt like there was so much going on, the surface was only ever scratched.
On the whole, a good read with a dark plot, reminding us that life isn't always rosy.
September 10, 2021
My feelings about this book fluctuated as I read it... in the early stages I wasn't sure whether I was actually enjoying it, but I persevered and in the end I have decided that I did.
Leo is on the run and has headed from Bristol to Glasgow to find her estranged grandparents. Her parents have been killed in a plane crash and she has been sent to live with her aunt, her unpleasant cousins and her very creepy uncle (hence why she is on the run.)
In Glasgow she is befriended by Finlay and is taken in by the increasingly crazy and disconnected Mary. Between them they try and help Leo find her grandparents - and in doing so they find her very welcoming aunt and cousins. In the meantime her Uncle John has tracked her down - and it is his character that provides some of the more tense scenes in the book.
The characters are relatable in the most part and I enjoyed the Glaswegian vernacular (although some of my students will struggle with this!) The plot keeps moving and I think that people who enjoy fast-paced adventures will enjoy this.
Leo is on the run and has headed from Bristol to Glasgow to find her estranged grandparents. Her parents have been killed in a plane crash and she has been sent to live with her aunt, her unpleasant cousins and her very creepy uncle (hence why she is on the run.)
In Glasgow she is befriended by Finlay and is taken in by the increasingly crazy and disconnected Mary. Between them they try and help Leo find her grandparents - and in doing so they find her very welcoming aunt and cousins. In the meantime her Uncle John has tracked her down - and it is his character that provides some of the more tense scenes in the book.
The characters are relatable in the most part and I enjoyed the Glaswegian vernacular (although some of my students will struggle with this!) The plot keeps moving and I think that people who enjoy fast-paced adventures will enjoy this.
Read
March 10, 2022The story starts with Leo, who is an orphan. She is half Chinese and half English and is on the run from her family on her Mum’s side and in particular her creepy uncle. She is travelling to Glasgow, to try and find family on her Dad’s side.
On her journey she meets Mary who gives her a place to stay and Finlay who helps her to find her family. She does end up meeting her family, but her uncle catches up with her and Mary becomes ill. There is a happy ending.
This is the first teen book by Julia Donaldson, and having loved her children’s books, I wanted to read this. I did really enjoy it and felt it was written well, with a good amount of tension. There was one line, which sent a chill up my spine, and I felt this was very Julia Donaldson.
Would be suitable for Teen / KS3 readers
Topics that it covers:
• Family feuds
• Homelessness
• Mental illnesses
• Uncomfortable situations
• Home schooling
October 17, 2018
This book is about a runaway girl, Leo, who visits Glasgow in search of her long lost grandfather, after her parents die. She originally gets sent to live with her aunt and uncle, but she doesn't get on with her cousins and her uncle becomes a pedophile. Once she reaches Glasgow, she finds a boy called Finlay and a kind but mentally ill woman called Mary, and they work together to try and find her relatives.
I would recommend this book to anyone - it is quite gripping, especially towards the end.
I would recommend this book to anyone - it is quite gripping, especially towards the end.
December 1, 2023
💓 Tbh I feel like everyone almost gave a somewhat similar rating. I mean, it was alright and I can see Julia has put a LOT of time, thought & effort into every single page of this book. She did everything right but for some reason I just didn't enjoy this book as much as others did. I think Julia should stick to writing picture books rather than shifting on to ya/na books (just my opinion)
If you are reading this Julia, don't get me wrong, I do sure love the Gruffalo though 💓
P.s. my mum wrote a children's picture book 'Bella & Bear' it us about horses and you can find it on amazon 💓💓💓
If you are reading this Julia, don't get me wrong, I do sure love the Gruffalo though 💓
P.s. my mum wrote a children's picture book 'Bella & Bear' it us about horses and you can find it on amazon 💓💓💓
September 17, 2021
This was the first children’s thriller book I read. It’s a great book for me as a 12/13 year old (at that time), but after rereading it I felt like the writing was a bit too childish for my liking, but it’s a young adult fiction book so I understand why the writing is like that. It’s fitting for teens who want to start reading mystery/thriller books, but I don’t think adults or older teens might enjoy it as much as kids will.
May 17, 2017
*ebook given through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
This book is funny,touching,heartbreaking,powerfull - all at once! Characters were well written (especially Leo),story was fantastic and memorable,and this book is just page-turner kind of book! If you love a perfect blend of mystery and i'm-gonna-cry-my-eyes-out kind of book,then this is a perfect book for you!
This book is funny,touching,heartbreaking,powerfull - all at once! Characters were well written (especially Leo),story was fantastic and memorable,and this book is just page-turner kind of book! If you love a perfect blend of mystery and i'm-gonna-cry-my-eyes-out kind of book,then this is a perfect book for you!
August 12, 2019
Really well written, the characters are convincing and the topic is really important. Should be a required reading for teenagers and their parents and teachers. It will certainly help to start conversations about teen and society issues such as runaway children and dealing with tragedy. It is also full of suspense and has multiple character perspective, which I really like.
March 11, 2019
This is a good book i enjoyed it very much. I think that it is another one of my favourite books.
July 1, 2020
I didn't finish it. It may be fine for YA who haven't read much, but it isn't particularly polished, or fluid, or captivating. I'll stick to enjoying Julia Donaldson preschool books.
April 14, 2024
god I’ve read this book so many times it’s so good I love it
September 23, 2015
Julia Donaldson is well-known for her picture-books - Room on the Broom, The Gruffalo, etc.
'Running on the Cracks' is her first teen novel, and it's very, very good.
Leonora (Leo for short) is fifteen years old. In the first chapter, she is running away from home. After the death of her musician parents, Leo was sent to live with her aunt and uncle. But her cousins were mean, making fun of Leonora because her mum was a bit of a hippy, and because she's half-Chinese. And her Uncle John frightens her. After something happens with the uncle (nothing physical but definitely wrong and 100% creepy) she decides to run away to Glasgow and try to find her Chinese grandparents who once had a restaurant there.
But the streets of Glasgow are a dangerous place. Even when Leo is befriended by kindly, eccentric elderly Mary, she still isn't safe. Uncle John is looking for her, and Mary's eccentricity soon reveals itself to be something altogether more troubling.
While in Glasgow, Leo meets Finlay, and he provides the other main point of view in the story. Finlay's a bit of a Goth and is impulsive and cheeky, which often gets him in trouble at school and home. He quickly becomes friends with Leo (after a rocky start) and together they try to find her family, keep her safe from the police and her uncle, and work out what to do about an increasingly unstable Mary.
I enjoyed this book a lot. Some of the themes are pretty dark, and Donaldson doesn't shy away from that. Her depiction of Uncle John is particularly well done - at the start of the novel, we're not sure, like Leo, if he's just a bit of a weird guy or whether he's dangerous, but as the novel goes on, it becomes increasingly clear that he is very dangerous, all the more so because there's very little to definitively point to as 'wrong', at first.
Mary's mental unravelling is nicely done too.
Leo and Finlay were both well-drawn, likeable, flawed characters.
I also loved the way the author explores the Chinese-Scottish connection and community, and Leo's being half-Chinese, half-English. The meeting of cultures and how they co-exist is really interesting to read about. I did chuckle when Leo and Finlay are visiting a Chinese family where the children were all raised in Scotland. Finlay doesn't like the green tea, and the younger son of the family offers him Irn Bru instead. As well as being funny, I thought that was a really nice way of showing how both Chinese and Scottish 'traditions' influence the one family.
Dear Julia Donaldson, should you read this, please please write another teen novel!
'Running on the Cracks' is her first teen novel, and it's very, very good.
Leonora (Leo for short) is fifteen years old. In the first chapter, she is running away from home. After the death of her musician parents, Leo was sent to live with her aunt and uncle. But her cousins were mean, making fun of Leonora because her mum was a bit of a hippy, and because she's half-Chinese. And her Uncle John frightens her. After something happens with the uncle (nothing physical but definitely wrong and 100% creepy) she decides to run away to Glasgow and try to find her Chinese grandparents who once had a restaurant there.
But the streets of Glasgow are a dangerous place. Even when Leo is befriended by kindly, eccentric elderly Mary, she still isn't safe. Uncle John is looking for her, and Mary's eccentricity soon reveals itself to be something altogether more troubling.
While in Glasgow, Leo meets Finlay, and he provides the other main point of view in the story. Finlay's a bit of a Goth and is impulsive and cheeky, which often gets him in trouble at school and home. He quickly becomes friends with Leo (after a rocky start) and together they try to find her family, keep her safe from the police and her uncle, and work out what to do about an increasingly unstable Mary.
I enjoyed this book a lot. Some of the themes are pretty dark, and Donaldson doesn't shy away from that. Her depiction of Uncle John is particularly well done - at the start of the novel, we're not sure, like Leo, if he's just a bit of a weird guy or whether he's dangerous, but as the novel goes on, it becomes increasingly clear that he is very dangerous, all the more so because there's very little to definitively point to as 'wrong', at first.
Mary's mental unravelling is nicely done too.
Leo and Finlay were both well-drawn, likeable, flawed characters.
I also loved the way the author explores the Chinese-Scottish connection and community, and Leo's being half-Chinese, half-English. The meeting of cultures and how they co-exist is really interesting to read about. I did chuckle when Leo and Finlay are visiting a Chinese family where the children were all raised in Scotland. Finlay doesn't like the green tea, and the younger son of the family offers him Irn Bru instead. As well as being funny, I thought that was a really nice way of showing how both Chinese and Scottish 'traditions' influence the one family.
Dear Julia Donaldson, should you read this, please please write another teen novel!
October 9, 2012
I thought this book could have had a little more depth to it seeing as the story is actually a pretty big deal in the real world but it was still ok.
The main character Leo has lost both her parents in a tragic plane crash and begin living with her aunt and uncle and their two kids. She runs away when she finds out that her uncle has been watching her as she sleeps.
(The uncle is really creepy and talks to his pet birds about how he never touched the girls...he is a pedophile O.o)
Leo goes in search of her grandparents so she can stay with them and instead she meets other family members and friends that help her alone the way. The story ends on a good note atleast which I liked but the story was still a bit dull to me.
I recommend to people who like middle-grade novels.
Thanks and Happy Reading! :)
The main character Leo has lost both her parents in a tragic plane crash and begin living with her aunt and uncle and their two kids. She runs away when she finds out that her uncle has been watching her as she sleeps.
(The uncle is really creepy and talks to his pet birds about how he never touched the girls...he is a pedophile O.o)
Leo goes in search of her grandparents so she can stay with them and instead she meets other family members and friends that help her alone the way. The story ends on a good note atleast which I liked but the story was still a bit dull to me.
I recommend to people who like middle-grade novels.
Thanks and Happy Reading! :)
September 14, 2016
I think it's fair to assume I'm not the target audience for this book, but it's marketed as YA so I thought it was worth a bash.
Overall I was disappointed, this could be because I was expecting better from a writer of Julia Donaldson's obvious talents, but it may also be because I was expecting a sophisticated novel and instead read something towards the younger end of the YA spectrum.
The story is fine, a standard runway from home tale. I found some of the characters too close to caricatures to be believable but nothing too heinous. just... I was hoping for better.
Overall I was disappointed, this could be because I was expecting better from a writer of Julia Donaldson's obvious talents, but it may also be because I was expecting a sophisticated novel and instead read something towards the younger end of the YA spectrum.
The story is fine, a standard runway from home tale. I found some of the characters too close to caricatures to be believable but nothing too heinous. just... I was hoping for better.
October 5, 2012
Bought for $1.00 at the Dollar Tree, turned out to be a great deal. The plot held my interest to the very end. Mystery type novels, when well written, always make me want to read the last chapter to check up on all my favorite characters when I'm only half way through the book, this was no exception. I thought that this was supposed to be aimed at teenagers, however I find that some of the subject material is a little disturbing.
April 28, 2013
This was a surprisingly good read! Although the story was a little slow and slightly boring at times, some of the characters characters were quite funny and kept me entertained. I thought the plot was very good, and I liked the was we saw events from different points of view. It was also British, so I knew what was going on more than some American books, being british myself! Overall, an okay read.
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