Chance is a high school kid trying to make ends meet. His dad is an alcoholic who can't hold down a job. Because of this, Chance is left to work to pay the bills. When he is offered a job he can't resist, Chance struggles within himself to do what is right. ( )

Terrorism was in there which I didn't suspect. It worked though. The book was good but, it just felt like it was missing something. The characters weren't that strong maybe? I don't know but, it was a little bit lacking to be a really great and amazing book. ( )

Great book about the choices we make when we are desperate. 17 year old Chance lives on a houseboat with his loser, alcoholic father and works after school to try and pay the rent money for their mooring as the father drinks it away. When an opportunity comes Chances way to make some much needed cash by just running along the waterfront and checking for packages, alarm bells ring but Chance has no choice but to accept the Fat Guy's offer. Soon Chance is embroiled in something he can't get out of as he knows too much about an illegal and dangerous operation.
A very suspenseful book that kept me reading until the very last page. ( )

Chance Taylor is a high school boy who is trying to find out what he could be when he grows up while already juggling adult issues. Chance’s parents are divorced and he used to live with his mom until one day when he was with his dad and his mom never came to pick him up. He never heard from her again. His dad is an alcoholic and a heavy smoker. Since Chance’s dad spends all his time and money drinking at local bars, Chance has to take it upon himself to come up with the money to pay the water, electricity, and moorage bills. They would lose their boat, which serves as their home, very soon since they are already several months behind on their bills. Just when Chance thinks there’s nothing to look forward to in his life, he gets offered a very high paying job collecting packages. When he is told that he must start collecting the packages hiding them somewhere secret in his boat and that if someone sees him he could be killed, he starts questioning if his job really is “just collecting packages” or something more. One girl in his class, Melissa, seems to be finding an interest in him which worries Chance because he doesn’t want anyone close to him that way he doesn’t put them in danger. Melissa ends up putting herself, Chance, and Chance’s father in danger by sticking her nose in Chance’s business. Read Runner by Carl Deuker to find out if they can get themselves out of danger.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes reading action-packed and fast-paced books. I especially recommed this book to people who enjoy reading books about family and obstacles families go through. Runner by Carl Deuker was so intriguing I never wanted to put the book down, which is uncommon with me because it seems as if no books have that affect on me. The ending is very unpredictable since the book has a little plot twist. This book displays a strong plot and characters with interesting quailities which keeps you guessing what their next move will be. All in all, it is a great read and I suggest it to everyone. ( )

The main character, Chance Taylor was a star track runner for majority of his time in high school. It can be blame by the grief of his mother leaving him for his lack of caring of running track. He ultimately quits the track team and just wants to finish high school. He lives on a boat with his father, an army dropout. His father is a drunk and does not have a job. Since he was kicked out of the military, he does not receive their benefits and is left in the lower class. As time goes on the money situation gets tight for the Taylors and they have no idea how they will be able to continue paying to live on their boat. The advisor of the marina where their boat is docked understands this issue and offers Chance a job to pay their bills. Chance's job requires him to smuggle packages on their boat. He becomes the provider for his family by participating in this legal activity. In the end, it is discovered that the packages contained explosives. This book really focuses on terrorism. A lot of it is related to the attacks of 9/11 but in this book. It shows how the only way for terrorist to prosper in their plan is to get the help of citizens in that nation without them knowing. ( )