Book Review: “Running Lean”

Book Info: Running Lean is a young adult fiction novel written by Diana L. Sharples and published by Zondervan.

Book Description: 

Equilibrium. That’s what Stacey and Calvin found in each other. He is as solid as his beloved vintage motorcycle and helps quiet the constant clamor in Stacey’s mind. She is a passionate, creative spirit—and a lifeline after Calvin’s soldier brother dies.

But lately the balance is off. Calvin’s grief is taking new forms. Voices of self-loathing are dominating Stacey’s life. When struggles with body image threaten her health, Calvin can’t bear to lose another person that he loves. Taking action may destroy their relationship, but the alternative could be much more costly.

My Review:

In all fairness, I have to say that when I first received this book, I had no idea it was a young adult novel. But, I actually enjoyed reading it. It didn’t knock my socks off, but then I’m not the target audience here. YA fiction has changed a lot since I was a teen. It’s refreshing to see something from this genre that’s not all about vampires, wolves and whatnot. The setting is a rural town and the focus is on Stacey and Calvin: two teens dealing with intense situations. Calvin’s older brother was killed at war. Stacey struggles with an eating disorder and self-esteem. Overall, the book is well written. The language is not watered down, and the plot development is solid. There’s a lot of teen angst and mild drama, which I suppose is to be expected in YA. This would be a great book for parents to read along with their teens. It opens up the door to discussing eating disorders, relationship boundaries and body image without the pressure of “a talk”.  I recommend it to readers between that ages of 12-17.

I was provided a free copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my honest review, which I freely give.

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