Rating: 
Summary: Another Tillerman Classic
Review: All of the Tillerman Books are amazing, and this takes an introspective look into Dicey's uncle, father, running, blacks and the Vietnamese war. All of these plot lines make a unique blend and enjoyable book.
Rating: 
Summary: If you liked Catcher in The Rye...
Review: Alright, the stories are wildly dissimilar, but Cynthia Voigt's style of writing in this book reminded me strongly of Salingers in Catcher. At the same time, it is inarguably her OWN style, and she works it beautifully. I don't know what else to say, other than reconmending her other books - all of them, especially Homecoming - and asking why is she not recognised as one of America's greatest writers. These things truly seems half dumb-luck quite often. Perhaps the critics need to explore young adult literature a bit more? I suppose with the His Dark Materials trilogy being nominated for the Booker, people might start to take some notice of this genre. I certainly hope so.
Rating: 
Summary: Slow but meaningful
Review: At first I had a bit of trouble getting into the book. I had read Dicey's song and loved it so I wanted to read the rest of the Tillerman series. At one point I thought of giving up since it seemed like Bullet veiws of life were too angery and I couldn't relate, at other times I also questioned my interest in the story being told. I however kept going and I really liked the second half. It was nice how Bullet had to go through and rediscover himself! He had to ask himself is this really what I believe? In this way I believe Bullet matured and came to a better understanding about life and his values. I also enjoyed him going past the prejustice to find the person(Tamer). Read the book if you want to know what I am talking about!
Rating: 
Summary: the runner that listens to no one
Review: Bullet is a runner on the school track team. Infact, he's the best runner of them all. He doesn't give in to anyone's orders. Not his father or his coach. When Bullet is asked to train Tamer Shipp, he says no. Later, he befriends him. Back home, his father always tries to box him in and Bullet's mother is also boxed in by his father. Bullet has tried ways to jump out. And now he's finally 18. Bullet decides to drop out of school to go to war leaving his mother with a red boat and 100 dollars.
Rating:
Summary: Bullet - a runner's mind
Review: Bullet is a runner, in every respect. He doesn't ron for winning or beating someone, but just for the running himself. Running means escaping from his problem, feeling alive. Eventually he finds out, that you can't run away from life or break out of your 'prison' but maybe you can slacken the bars. I enjoied this book very much and thoucg I read it some years ago it's still one of my favourits. The carachter of Samuel Tillerman made a great impression to me and I love the way he faces 'life'.
Rating:
Summary: One of the finest books ever written
Review: Cynthia Voigt is one of the best writers we have today; the only reason she hasn't won Pulitzers and National Book Awards is that she writes for young adults, and most critics can't imagine any writer for that audience producing anything of literary merit. "The Runner" is the book I'd show anybody who ever put down young adult novels. By Cynthia Voigt's own estimation, "The Runner" is her best novel. She's right. I first read the novel five years ago; since then, I've taught it almost thirty times in that period of time, and it just keeps getting better. Every semester, some student points out some corner of the novel I'd missed. "The Runner" tackles serious subjects in a serious way: racism, war, growing up, friendship, principles, parental conflicts. Each and every one of these issues is dealt with thoroughly and seamlessly in the life of Bullet Tillerman, Dicey's uncle. My students love the rebellious Bullet; they are aghast when they realize he's a racist. They read with absolute fascination to find out what happens next. The novel's cast of characters are unique and original: Bullet's father and mother, his best friend Patrice, and his teammate Tamer are unforgettable. This is a novel that I think will come to be remembered as the best novel ever written for young adults, but even more, one of the finest novels of the last 50 years.
Rating:
Summary: Runner
Review: He was a runner.He was running because he liked to run.He has a brother and sister who ran away from home and from their father who tried to "box them in" .His brother left an old boat,and his sister left an old dog.This family was going threw a lot of stuff,they were fighting every day.The Runner hated his father and he didn't understand his father "boxing in"everybody.
I kind of like this book,but I think this book is very sad,but I think everybody needs to read this to understand more of life.
Rating:
Summary: Definitely Voigt's best
Review: I agree with Doc that this is Voigt at her best (and am as surprised that this book has not won an award). The Runner surpasses Homecoming in so many aspects. The large theme is of racism and Vietnam, but entwined is also the story of Bullet's relationship with his family, friends, peers. Essentially, you are transported into Bullet's world (high school in the Vietnam era) and see other characters from his viewpoint. You are shown what Bullet is like indirectly by his conscious thoughts and actions, and by how others respond to him. What is so compelling about this story is that because of external events the character is forced to look deep within himself and consciously change his inherited belief structure. Also, the other characters are interesting without being melodramatic, the prose describing Bullet's love of running is memorable.
Rating:
Summary: Yuck!
Review: I did not like this book very much. I don't like the way Bullet deals with things and I don't like how he's so racist. I gave this book 2 stars in stead of 1 because I could get through this book even though it took me 2 weeks. I reccomend reading Homecoming or Dicey's Song instead.
Rating:
Summary: A coming-of-age story that doesn't mince words
Review: I first read The Runner when I was twelve. I've re-read the book once or twice a year ever since, and it gets better with each reading.Voigt does nothing to soften the harsh facts of 1960s society, and some facets might seem shocking especially to a younger reader. However, watching Bullet confront his own racial prejudice and slowly realize how little sense it makes (he later concludes "You are what you are, and that's what counts") made me think of the smaller and more subtle ways in which prejudice might affect my own thoughts, even without my realizing it. My mother read this book along with me, and I think it's a very good book for parents and older children to read and discuss together.
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