The Runaways

by Kristin Butcher

Nick decides to hit the streets -- he can't bear the thought of sharing his mother with her new husband and the baby on the way. Isn't he enough for her? Thinking his mother no longer cares, Nick takes refuge in an abandoned house, where he meets Luther, a curmudgeonly street person. An unlikely friendship develops between the pair, prompting Nick to study street people for a school project. When his essay ends up on the front page of the local newspaper, both their lives are changed. The Runaways is a coming-to-terms-with-life novel that shows how running away is never the answer.

168 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Karyn Huenemann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how Kristin Butcher's young characters are so honestly drawn. Nick's fear and distress in the opening of this novel are not cause by any life-threatening, dire situation, but by his being upset at his mother and step-father's expectation of a new baby. THAT in itself is earth-shatteringly horrible to some 12 year olds, and Butcher really helps us understand that even the little things, which can be worked out with some adult guidance and a bit of growing up, are really BIG things to young people.

But really, the book is about empathy and understanding. And a GREAT story. I'll let you read it.

[Anotida Kadye]

Book Review
The Runaways by Kristin Butcher
The Runaways is a book that was boring but heartwarming at the same time in its story in that Nick’s mom gets a new boyfriend named Cole and he’s having a baby with Nick's mom and this causes nick to get jealous and infuriated with cole so he runs away and while he's out he finds a homeless guy named Luther who has run away from his past and him and cole convince Luther to return.
Summary: Nicks mom gets a new boyfriend named Cole and they have a baby together Nick feels like his mom doesn't give him enough attention so in a rage he walks out on his family, roaming the streets he meets an old homeless man named Luther who has run away from his past, Later on, cole finds nick and takes him back home, In the meantime Nick and Cole read up on Luther and find out he's a very rich man but went into hiding after a family accident but Cole and Nick convince him to return to the spotlight.
Nick is an easygoing, not easily scared, emotional 12-year-old with blonde hair. I can tell he's using all these traits because he ran away from how so that makes him emotional he's easy going because most people won't talk to homeless people and he's not easily scared because he ran away without hesitation.
Cole is a polite sweetheart and loyal in that he looked for mick even though he knew not much about him he is a good friend and great father.

[Mohamad · Rating 3 out of 5]

THE RUNAWAY.BOOK REVIEW:

The book is ok not bad. The book is little bit scary because old angry man was falwing a kid with 12 years old. Will the kid was the hero in this book because he knew what that old angry man wanted to do something bad to Nick that kid who ran very fast to save his live. The kid is smart but the old angry man lost his minde because he is older and he want to use his power on that kid. The place was in the forest and evry where Nick ran he falowed him and that is so scary. And I think Nick lost his family so that why he used to live with that old man but he want to do something bad for Nick so he ran away and Nick was so strong he never give up he survied awhole night and amajor electrical sreom in a haunted house so Nick want to go away from that old man he want to stay away as far as ipossible but in the end of the book Nick ran away. He made it he found his family who can do that a kid in grade seven with 12 years old with srong heart and the book was like something in real life in the war there was alot of people want to ran away from there contry because of wars and also it reminded me when I play with my frinds tag its like running away from the old angry man will I enjoyed the book beacuse it have alittle bit of advenhure if I was in the book I would like to Nick he is so cool to show people you are not scared maby you are scared from your heart but from the out side your not scared.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twelve year old Nick is upset that his mother got married. When she and his stepfather tell him that they were going to have a baby, it was the last straw and runs away. He literally runs into a homeless man named Luther. They form a sort of friendship, but Luther shares nothing of his life. Nick becomes concerned about the plight of the homeless and about his friend in particular. He does his research and learned that Luther wasn't what he appeared to be and, in doing so, was able to help the homeless in the process. He was able to build a bond with his new father.

[Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this for novel study back in grade 5. Thought about it randomly today, absolutely loved this book as a child.

[Bella Baxter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Το βιβλίο αφηγείται την ιστορία ενός άστεγου άνδρα και ενός έφηβου αγοριού, οι οποίοι συνδέονται με μια περίεργη και απροσδόκητη φιλία. Ο μεν άστεγος προσπαθεί να διαχειριστεί τον προσωπικό του Γολγοθά και να κοινωνικοποιηθεί ξανά με τη βοήθεια του παιδιού. Το δε παιδί, προβληματιζόμενο με τις αλλαγές στα οικογενειακά του δεδομένα, βρίσκει έναν ψυχολόγο και πιστό σύμβουλο στο πρόσωπο του άστεγου.
Η Kristin Butcher θέλει να αναδείξει τη σημασία της ενσυναίσθησης και της αλληλεγγύης, ανεξάρτητα από την κοινωνική θέση. Το νόημα του βιβλίου είναι μια βαθιά κοινωνική κριτική που προκαλεί την αναζήτηση των λόγων που αναγκάζονται οι άνθρωποι να γίνουν άστεγοι. Μέσα από τα μάτια του παιδιού, αλλάζει ο τρόπος που αντιμετωπίζουμε τους ανθρώπους που ζουν στον δρόμο.
Το ύφος γραφής είναι ανθρώπινο, ευαίσθητο και άμεσο. Η αφήγηση ρέει αβίαστα, αγγίζοντας συναισθηματικές χορδές, χωρίς να γίνεται μελοδραματική. Είναι ένα βιβλίο που διαβάζεται γρήγορα, καθώς το ενδιαφέρον παραμένει αμείωτο, χάρη στην πρωτότυπη και συγκινητική σχέση των δύο πρωταγωνιστών.
Οι χαρακτήρες είναι ρεαλιστικοί και πολυδιάστατοι. Ο άστεγος δεν είναι απλά ένα θύμα, αλλά ένας άνθρωπος με παρελθόν και αξιοπρέπεια. Ο έφηβος είναι ο καθρέφτης της αλλαγής, που ωριμάζει μέσα από αυτή τη φιλία. Είναι δύο άνθρωποι που διδάσκουν ο ένας τον άλλον, ξεπερνώντας τα στερεότυπα.
Είναι ένα βιβλίο που προσφέρει ένα υπέροχο μάθημα ζωής για τη φιλία, την αποδοχή και την ανθρωπιά. Η ιστορία είναι τόσο καλογραμμένη και συγκινητική που σε κάνει να αναθεωρείς τον τρόπο που βλέπεις τον κόσμο γύρω σου. Η αξία του έργου είναι ανεκτίμητη, δικαιολογώντας απόλυτα τα 5 αστέρια.
Ένα υπέροχο μάθημα ζωής