Rating: 
Summary: Run, Run, Run as Fast as You Can
Review: They can't catch him; he's Nathan Bailey: car thief, juvenile delinquent, twelve-year-old boy. Accused of murdering a supervisor, now young Nathan is a desperate fugitive on the run. As an orphan, he is alone in the world and must depend alone on his wits, honesty, and desire to never return to the misery of the Detention Center. By breaking into houses and stealing cars, Nathan constantly puts the reader in suspense, as the police frantically search for him. He desperately calls up a nation-wide radio station to get the truth out, and is eventually nicknamed "The World's Favorite Criminal," due to his manners and habit to do laundry in the homes he breaks into. In this thriller, Nathan must continue his run, and that half the nation, along with the reader can't help but root for him all the way. The mystery of the murder combined with the nonstop pace provides a complex, yet exciting plot, and a challenge to put down the book. The real-life dialogue makes this a fun read, and characters that are easy to relate to. As loveable Nathan runs from the police, angry citizens, and a hit man, the reader tries to piece together the puzzle of the crime. Although not a conventional fugitive story, any lover of suspense and thrillers would enjoy this book. However, because of the adult language and gory, violent details, it is recommended for more mature readers. Confusing at times with the constant change in point of view, Nathan's Run is a roller coaster, as it is impossible to predict what will happen next. Nathan wins our hearts from the beginning, and we cheer him on, as he runs and runs from society, while we run with him.
Rating:
Summary: Suspense to the LAST page
Review: I recently purchased this book, I had seen an advertisement for it and I was interested. When I finally found it, I read it in a day! (I love books but I am a VERY slow reader) This book kept my attention all the way through. A 12 year old boy accused of murdering a supervising guard at a Juv. Detention Center is on the run, as the cops try to find him, he breaks into people's houses, steals people's belongings (even cars), and he calls a radio station daily, talking to the host, trying to prove his innocence. A MUST READ!!
Rating:
Summary: Lucky Find!
Review: Found a used copy of this book in a charity shop in Inverness, Scotland. Needed an "airplane read" and this looked interesting. What a pleasant surprise! Exciting plot, true-to-life dialogue, and a 12-year-old protagonist who isn't too good to be believable. Despite the age of the main character, the language and situations make this a book NOT intended for children. However, adults who enjoy murder thrillers won't be disappointed. Excellent book, especially for a debut novel. I will definitely look up this author's other works.
Rating:
Summary: Lucky Find!
Review: Found a used copy of this book in a charity shop in Inverness, Scotland. Needed an "airplane read" and this looked interesting. What a pleasant surprise! Exciting plot, true-to-life dialogue, and a 12-year-old protagonist who isn't too good to be believable. Despite the age of the main character, the language and situations make this a book NOT intended for children. However, adults who enjoy murder thrillers won't be disappointed. Excellent book, especially for a debut novel. I will definitely look up this author's other works.
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining, Fast-Paced Adventure (But A Bit Formulaic)
Review: Nathan Bailey had the life we wish nobody had to endure. Orphaned, raised by an uncle plagued by personal demons, committed to a kiddie jail (primarily on the testimony of said uncle), and became a fugitive from the law all before reaching his teens. It's easy to sympathize with Nathan as Mr. Gilstrap included many small details so unique to adolescence. The way Nathan is portrayed to think and act are very much in character for a young man, albeit a VERY contientious one. Most of the other characters were not given the same descriptive attention, unfortunately. They're servicible and believable, but somewhat flat.While reading Nathan's Run, I couldn't help but think policemen were given a bad rap in this book. I doubt that Mr. Gilstrap has a vendetta against cops, but they are (with two exceptions) made to look incompetent, manipulative, career-driven, and cruel. There is one particularly tense scene in which Nathan, smaller than normal for his pre-teen age, is brutalized by three policemen at once. I understand that some may be necessary to advance a plot following a fugitive, but this stereotyping felt like the stuff of 100 Bad Cop movies. Since this is a suspenseful tale with a young man at its center, I also believe Mr. Gilstrap alienated what might have been a massive audience, young adults, with generous portions of gratuitous profanity. It was, in my opinion, largely unneccessary to have nearly every character have an extensive 4-letter vocabulary. Still, Nathan's story is absorbing and tense to the last page. Emotions crescendoed to such a peak in the final scene that if I weren't riding a city bus with my goatee'd "big-guy" image to uphold, I might have cried. Honestly. My recommendation would be this: it's good, but not destined to be one of the "greats". Pick it up if you're in the mood for a fast-paced thriller.
Rating: 
Summary: Great story
Review: I truly enjoyed this book. I loved the character Nathan. The only reason I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 is because I would have liked an epilogue at the end of the story telling what ultimately happens to Nathan. Other than that I highly recommend this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Society Haters, Unite! You have a new champion.
Review: I sincerely hope this first book is also the last one by this author. A 12-year old car thief, burglar, and (?) murderer (?) is its "hero". The author gave away his leftist leanings when he stated in the blurb that this is a book about "the war our society wages against its children". So, don't jail them, provide them with the means to kill; whether it is with a Glock for drive-by shootings or a shank into a drunk's gut, never mind. After all, it is society that is at fault, never the non-existing parenting, or the teachers who are afraid to go to school because they will be blamed for their charges' rotten behavior, the teachers who get killed and raped by these misbegotten poor little sweethearts. Yech.... stay away from this garbage and keep your money.
Rating: 
Summary: ... aimed at young people
Review: My sixth grader came home with this book. It was found in his school library with a Reading Level of 6.7. He told me the book contained a lot of inappropriate words. I immediately looked at the book and in 10 minutes found a huge array of offensive, sexually explicit, and morally offensive words. There was no warning of the mature nature of this book on the cover or the reviews inside. THIS IS NO CHILDREN'S BOOK. I have currently asked the middle school to review the book and send it on to an audience where it would not influence such young children. Not my kid, not my school, NO WAY! (By the way, he did not finish the book.)
Rating:
Summary: Great Plot, Bad Ramble
Review: Gilstrap happens to be one of my favorite authors, and Nathan's Run was a great story. The plot of a young 12 year old boy who murders a Juvinille Detention Supervisor and becomes a fugitive of the law is gripping and thrilling. Gilstarp does a have a problem getting off a subject though. If you want a great book in the same genre, by the same author try At All Costs (Read my review on it). Overall this was a great book, if you have the time to read it.
Rating:
Summary: What an Intense Trip!
Review: First off I want to say that John Gilstrap has some of the best characterization I have read in awhile. Nathan's Run takes place over a two-day span of time. Mr. Gilstrap does not waste any of this time on fluff. The author uses his pages wisely to develop realist characters and plot. The villains are especially nasty and the heroes are flawed but very likable, good solid heroes. Mr. Gilstrap does a great job in weaving these characters into a very believable and real plot. There are only two things that I'm sad about, one that I didn't read this book sooner and that it ended. I really wanted it to continue for a few more chapters, but the book is called "Nathan's Run". So if you are looking for a good chase book with good characterization and plot, you won't go wrong with "Nathan's Run". This is a wonderful book; I look forward to reading more of John Gilstrap.
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