Heartbeat

Heartbeat
By Sharon Creech
Harper Collins, 2004. 180 pgs. Young Adult

Twelve-year-old Annie loves to run, just for the sake of running and the stable rhythm. While she runs, she is able to think about things, like her mother's pregnancy, her grandfather's mental decline, and her best friend and running partner, Max. While the running provides stability, other things in her life, such as her art assignment to draw an apple each day for one hundred days, teach her about the ebb and flow of life.

A wonderful novel-in-verse with a likable, insightful protagonist, this book was very enjoyable. The vivid descriptions are one highlight of the book. I listened to this on CD and enjoyed the narrator; reading it for myself was also a good experience.

AE