A Heart in a Body in the World
Publisher
Simon Pulse
Publication Year
2018
ISBN
9781481415200
Pages
368 pages
Genre
realism
Format
novel
Item Type
Fiction
Annotation
When everything has been taken from you, what else is there to do but run? From Seattle to Washington, DC, Annabelle is running through mountain passes and suburban landscapes, from long lonely roads to college towns. She's not ready to think about the why yet, just the how - muscles burning, heart pumping, feet pounding the earth. But no matter how hard she tries, she can't outrun the tragedy from the past year, or the person - The Taker - that haunts her. Followed by Grandpa Ed in his RV and backed by her brother and two friends (her self-appointed publicity team), Annabelle becomes a reluctant activist as people connect her journey to the trauma from her past. Her cross-country run gains media attention and she is cheered on as she crosses state borders, even thrown a block party and given gifts. The support would be nice, if Annabelle could escape the guilt and shame from what happened back home. They say it isn't her fault, but she can't feel the truth of that. Through welcome and unwelcome distractions, she just keep running to the destination that awaits her. There, she'll finally face the miles of love and loss behind her...and what still lies ahead.
Grade Level
9-12
Lexile Measure
HL680L
Diversity Topics
Family Relationships; Disability and Health; Single parent; Mental illness; single mother; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); teenager with a mental illness
Main Character
female teenager
Race/Ethnicities
White (Italian American)
Family Formation
single mother
Awards
Cybils Awards, 2018, Nominee, Young Adult Fiction
Josette Frank Award, 2019, Winner
Michael L. Printz Award, 2019, Honor, Young Adult Literature
Best Books for Teens, 2018
Booklist Book Review Stars, 2018
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2019 Grades 9-12
YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults, 2019 Young Adult Fiction
Keywords
love; violence; high school; running; romance; relationships; therapy; trauma; gun violence; cross-country; sexual assault
Diversity Impact
direct
STARS Citation
Caletti, Deb, "A Heart in a Body in the World" (2018). Diverse Families. 1800.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/diversefamilies/1800