HealthyBooks will continue to be online and available to users, although not updated. Read more…
Going straight ISBN: 9781843622994
Coleman, Michael
Published by Orchard, 2003
A tough story with a tough hero, but one who learns to go straight in more ways than one. When 15 year old thief Luke Reid shoves blind Jodi out of the way of a stolen car bearing down on her, he is given a detention and training order in reverse because of his part in the stealing of the car. In his case, then, the training part of the order comes first, and he is to work with the blind - in particular, Jodi, who is into sport of all kinds. Jodi has a genetic disorder, retinitis pigmentosa, but because she is strong and positive, she is determined to do all she can. Luke comes to admire her, and very gradually, in spite of her father's hatred of him, begins to be a real help to her, particularly training as her guide runner when she runs 2 1/2 miles of the London marathon. But Luke is also in trouble with two thugs on the sink estate where he lives - the two who stole the car - and his talent as a lock-pick are so valuable to them that they threaten to hurt Jodi if he doesn't help them. Luke is torn between his fears for Jodi and his promise to be with her for the marathon. How he manages to fulfill his promise and evade the thugs make the climax to this very exciting novel. We learn a great deal about blindness, particularly sport with blind people, and there is a fascinating description of a special game, goalball, that Luke learns to play with Jodi and her friends. There is real hope for Luke and his family, and Jodi's parents have learned that 'We haven't got a blind girl for a daughter, we've got a daughter who just happens to be blind'.
Age: 11+