''Running on the Cracks'' is award-winning writer Julia Donaldson's first novel aimed at a teenage audience. It was published in 2009.

Plot

The story revolves around 15-year-old Leo, who runs away from her aunt and uncle's home, where she has been living since the sudden death of her musician parents. Leo is driven away by the disturbing behaviour of her uncle. She does not expect a 46-year-old touching her. She escapes to Glasgow, where she comes across a wide variety of characters, who all help her to solve the mystery of where her grandparents are.

Development

Donaldson has spoken openly about how the character of Mary, who suffers from a mental illness, was inspired by the people she met while her son was in hospital. ''Running on the Cracks'' is Donaldson's longest book.

Recognition

''Running on the Cracks'' won the ''Nasen Inclusive Children's Book Award'' 2009, and was shortlisted for the ''Independent Booksellers award''. * “Leo’s plight is universal and sure to attract the attention and empathy of many American teens.”—Booklist * “This fast-paced, richly characterized Scottish import, imbued with the important message that friends are the family you choose, will be a boon to libraries looking to add more world literature to their teen collections.”—Kirkus Reviews * “This engaging, bittersweet story follows biracial British teenager Leonora ('Leo') Watts-Chan… The fast pace and short chapters should appeal to readers, who will celebrate the hopeful ending.”—Publishers Weekly

Adaptations

''Running on the Cracks'' has been adapted for the stage by the

Tron Theatre The Tron Theatre is located in the corner of Trongate and Chisholm Street, in what was formerly the Tron Kirk which had started as the Collegiate Church of Our Lady and St. Anne in the Trongate area of Glasgow, Scotland. The Tron Steeple still ...

. The production toured in 2013, including a staging at the Pilot Theatre and the York Theatre Royal. The book was adapted by writer

Andy Arnold Andy Arnold is a Scotland-based theatre director and the artistic director of the Tron Theatre in Glasgow. Career Arnold was the major force behind setting up The Arches, Glasgow's long running multi-arts venue, which was open from 1991 to 201 ...

, directed by Katie Posner and the lead role of Leo was performed by Jessica Henwick. The play received positive reviews from critics, with ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...

'' describing it as "gripping", ''

The Scotsman ''The Scotsman'' is a Scottish compact newspaper and daily news website headquartered in Edinburgh. First established as a radical political paper in 1817, it began daily publication in 1855 and remained a broadsheet until August 2004. Its par ...

'' praising the "fine performances from the five-strong cast, with Gaylie Runciman in poignant form as Mary, and Jessica Henwick outstanding as Leo", and ''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper ''The Sunday Times'' (fou ...

'' giving four stars and noting the show's "edge-of-the-seat excitement of a thriller". STV also gave four stars.

References

{{reflist 2009 British novels 2009 children's books British young adult novels Novels set in Glasgow British novels adapted into plays Egmont Books books