RUNNING MY OWN RACE follows the story of Kofi, an 11-year-old boy whose world shifts when he receives a scholarship to a local private school. Kofi has always dreamt of being a professional running athlete, and with this opportunity, his dream is now a little step closer. But the path forward is far from easy, as Kofi finds himself torn between pursuing his athletic dreams and fulfilling his mother’s desire for him to achieve academic success and “become somebody.” As he struggles to balance his passion with his family’s expectations. Kofi faces more obstacles, trying and struggling to fit in his new environment, representing his local community and all the while trying to maintain old friendships, especially with his best friend Charlie. With positive guidance from the school coach, Kofi excels on the track, to the disgust of his classmate Miles, who begins a relentless campaign of bullying with taunts of racial and social class epithets, which ultimately culminates in an altercation that threatens to derail Kofi’s dream. Abena Eyeson takes the reader on an engaging tale of resilience, self-advocacy and learning to follow your own path: “running your own race”. Culminating in restorative justice and a positive resolution, this book is an ideal choice for readers 9-12 years old as it thoughtfully explores complex contemporary issues, all the while celebrating the joy of running.
Reviewer: Julian Beresford
Julian Beresford is a freelance illustrator and writer based in South Yorkshire, England. He grew up in the southwest of London, where he spent most of his childhood lost in his imagination, drawing constantly and taking inspiration from and developing a love of British comics such as the Beano, Dandy, 2000 AD and any of the worlds mythological stories he could get his hands on. He has studied animation and game art at university and has many creative interests which he combines with his love of the fantastical and mythological, to explore and create his written and illustrated work. In 2018 Julian was commended at Faber Faber Fab Prize award for his illustrative work.
Julian is a Megaphone Community member.