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Transcript

Runner

Runner by Carl Deuker

Summaries

Character Based Summary

Character Based Summary

This story is about 17 year old Chance Taylor, who lives on a boat in the marina. On the outside, his lifestyle may seem luxurious, but in reality he and his father are barely getting by. Due to his father's inability to hold down a job, Chance has to take actions to prevent them from going into homelessness. The way Chance handles his situation shows that he seems to be very responsible and selfless. When it seemed like they had hit rock bottom, Chance decided to step up and take responsibility, when he knew his father couldn’t. He jumped at every opportunity in order to help support himself and his dad by helping pay the mortgage, dock fees, food, and clothes, taking all these responsibilities into his own hands. He showed this when he was going on his daily run near the docks, when a marina worker offered him a job about picking up and delivering packages on his daily run, with a hefty pay. Chance knew that what he was doing may involve something illegal but he couldn't turn down the offer, because it would help him and his father out when paying for the bills. This is also when his selfless side was highlighted because, even though the job he accepted might be linked to possible smuggling rings, he was willing to risk it in order to help his family out.

Theme Based Summary

Theme Based Summary

One of the overarching motifs or themes throughout this novel is that the easy way out can lead to consequences. For example, when Chance decided to accept the job that the marina worker gave him for quick money, it forced him to be very secretive to his friend Mellisa. He wasn't able to hang out with her frequently, and had to keep secrets from her and lie for her own safety. Another example was after his boss died mysteriously, he confessed to his dad on what he was doing, and when they later opened the packages, that he stored on their boat they found bombs in them. Chance was unknowingly involved with smuggling bombs for terrorists. Because of his involvement, he had to encounter multiple hardships, which could have been prevented if decided to not take this sketchy job for fast money.

Reader Review

3 reasons why we enjoyed the book-

Reader Review

Reason 1

One reason why I like this book is that there was a lot of anticipation. For example, when Chance was getting a package and a cop car was slowly closing near him. It made me wonder if the cop was on to him. Even through his whole process of getting those packages and delivering it, the author truly portrayed how Chance was feeling, and in fact made the reader feel the suspense when someone was being suspicious of him. This really made the reader filled with anticipation on if he was going to get caught or not. Another example was when Chance and his dad were finally going to find out what was in those packages. Ever since Chance started doing his job, the biggest question was what was in those packages. The way the author was building anticipation for this moment made the book very enjoyable.

Reason 2

Another reason why I like this book is because of the way the author introduced unexpected twists in the plot. Throughout this whole book, a problem was showing up in every corner, some of which were completely unexpected, which overall made this book very interesting and kept us hooked. For example, when the author introduced the problem of Melissa starting to figure out what Chance was really doing, and spying on him, it was completely unexpected and added interesting suspense and conflict. It really made us think "Well, what is he going to do?" and "How will he solve this problem?". Another example of when the author added unexpected conflict was, when all seems to be going well, and Chance is starting to adapt to his new job, his boss (the marina worker) unexpectedly died. Even though most people thought it was because of suicide, Chance knew it was murder. This led to many unexpected twists, such as Chance not knowing what to do with the packages full of explosives on his boat. It also led to the terrorists watching him and thinking he was stealing their bombs, which put him in a lot of danger.

Reason 3

I also really liked this book because of the message it portrayed. It really showed the reader that the easy way out is not always the right option. For example, when Chance first accepted the job for an easy way to get fast money, it affected his everyday life. It affected his relationship with Melissa, a girl from school, because of how secretive he had to be. And it overall led to him being unknowingly involved in a terrorist act, which could have ended badly for many others, and was not worth getting the easy money for. The lesson that he learned and many others can learn can be applied to the real world, and help many understand that the easy way out is not always the most ethical decision.

Identifying lenses

Identifying

Lenses

Mirrors

Mirror 1

Like chance, I like to run to relive stress

1

Lens: I am in Track

Because I am in Track, I can relate to how Chance feels when he runs. For example, Chance runs every single day after school, in order to have some stress relief from school and his dad. I can relate to how he feels. Another example was when he accepted his delivering packages job, while he was on his run. As a runner I can understand his appeal to the job, since not only does it help support his family, but it involves doing something that he loves.

Mirror 2

2

Like Chance, I go to school.

Lens: I am a student

Because I am a student, I can really understand the stress Chance has with juggling school, and outside activities. For example, after school he has to complete a lot of school work, along with doing many side activities, such as writing for his school newspaper. He also has to spend time working his job and other chores while also making time for friendships. For example, after his homework he starts going to coffee shops with his friend Mellisa, and other people from the newspaper club, where they talk and catch up. Because I am a student I can really relate to how he feels in this regard.

Mirror 3

3

Like Chance, I jump at every opportunity

Lens: I am a problem solver

Because I am a problem solver I can understand why Chance tries to jump at every opportunity presented. For example, when Chance was trying his very hardest to maintain his restaraunt job along with school in order to provide and support his family, I could really understand his importance to maintain his job. And when he had the opportunity to make a lot of money while doing something he does on a daily basis, I can understand why he accepted it, because at that time it really helped solve his troubles.

Windows

Windows

Window 1

Unlike chance, I don't live on a boat.

1

Lens: I get seasick easily

Because I get seasick whenever I am on a boat or ship, I rarely get on them. Since I barely get on boats or ships, I really don't understand what it's like for Chance when he lives on a boat. For example, when Chance comes home from his job, he goes straight to his boat and falls asleep on the deck of it. Also another example is when he was eating dinner in the small kitchen in his boat, which has limited space compared to any kitchen on land. Due to my seasickness, I don't understand what it is like for Chance to live on a boat.

Window 2

2

I've never had a job before.

Lens: I am 13 years old.

Because I am 13 years old, I don't really understand what it's like to have a job. Throughout this whole book it was mentioned that Chance had a couple of jobs. For example, he had a job cleaning dishes for a restaurant. Also another example is his job of receiving and delivering packages while he is on his runs. He had multiple experiences with getting jobs, successfully doing them, and also getting paid for them. Because I am 13 years old, and had no job experiences I can not relate to Chance in this regard.

Window 3

3

Unlike Chance, my mom didn't leave me, and my dad is very present in my life.

Lens: I have a close bond with my family.

Because I have a close bond with both of my parents, I can't relate to the family troubles Chance has. For example, when he was young, his parents got divorced. He started to live with his mom, but then, when he visited his father, she left and never came back. He also has a rocky relationship with his dad because he is an alcoholic and cannot hold a job to support him, so he isn't there with him most of the time. Because of these bad relationships Chance has with his parents, I can not relate to him in this way.

Reflections and Interpetations

Reflections and Interpetations

Lens Reflection

Lens

Lens: I am in track

Using my interpretive lens of being in track, that helped impact the way I see this story, because it helped me really understand why Chance loves to go on runs. It helped me understand why Chance runs so often to relieve his stress and just to escape everything that is going on in his life, for example school and his father. This lens also helped me understand why he might have accepted his job of receiving and delivering packages. This may be due to the fact that it involves running, something that he does on an everyday basis, and still he gets high pay for something he does very frequently. At that time and situation, his job seemed like a good idea for him. Therefore, me being in track affected the way I think, regarding his daily runs and accepting the job offer.

Window Reflection

Window

Because I have a close bond with my family, it really helped me learn what it is like for someone who doesn't have such a close bond to their parents. I saw all the hardships and the feelings Chance had to face. He had lasting impacts when his mother had suddenly abandoned him when he was little. And to make matters worse, he has a rocky relationship with his father due to his father's alcoholism and inability to keep a job. The way the author wrote out the hardships Chance had to face really helped me learn what Chance is feeling.

Mirror Reflection

Mirror

Mirror: Like Chance, I jump at every opportunity given to me.

Because I jump at a lot of the opputunities thrown at me, it helped me grow more of an understanding of where Chance is coming from. Because of his situation and the fact that he is trying to be helpful in order to help him and his father out financially, it was understandable why he made some decisions. He was just trying to survive and support his family, while also still being a kid at school. It really showed his personality and his way of thinking. The way the author wrote about how Chance tried to jump at every opportunity really helped me grow more of an understanding of him, since I do the same thing.

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