THE FRONTRUNNER

Fawley’s novel follows the journey of a young athlete who’s pursuing his dreams, despite all odds.

Fifteen-year-old Russ Clayton lives in the small town of Athens, Kansas, where he pursues his goal of becoming a professional runner. He’s been raised by his single father his whole life, and he doesn’t have the resources that other aspiring runners have. He does have a natural talent, however, which he uses in his part-time job as a courier. He manages to start a track team at his school, and his ability and drive lead him to attend more advanced competitions. When his father becomes ill, however, he defers any chance he might have had to attend the São Paulo Olympics. Later, Russ’ coach, Buck, refers him to a running guru and ex-Olympian, Brad Coy, whom Buck calls an “angry, old desert rat.” Coy’s unconventional training focuses on mental toughness as well as physical strength. Meanwhile, twins Mishka and Sergei Pushkin have been training from a very young age to represent Russia in the Olympics. Their trainer, Yuri Grimlov, was assigned this task by the Russian government to redeem himself for a doping scandal during a past Olympics, in which he competed against Coy. He trains the twins equally, but he gives one twin a pill to help enhance his performance. Russ thrives in his own training and qualifies for the summer games in Helsinki, where he faces off against the twins. Fawley delivers a novel that effectively develops serious themes of passion, privilege, and the importance of family and community. What stands out most, however, is the pacing of the energetic racing scenes, which are interspersed among quiet moments of loss experienced by characters on either side of the finish line. Readers will be invested in the characters’ emotional journeys, regardless of their personal interest in the sport. The novel also avoids common tropes that often bedevil other works of sports fiction.

A dramatic coming-of-age story with compelling racing scenes.