Run Like a Girl

Before starting her junior year, Chedera Edwards’s world shatters when her financially struggling mother sends her four hours away to live in a predominantly white suburb near Dallas with her wealthy and emotionally distant Nigerian father. She resents leaving behind her mother and friends to accept “handouts from the man who’d done his best to be scarce in my childhood.” Her situation takes a turn for the worse when she discovers that her new school doesn’t have a girls’ track team; Dera aspires to compete at the Olympics, a dream she believes hinges on having a stellar collegiate track career. How is she going to dominate the competition and impress university recruiters if she doesn’t have a team to run on? Luckily, the school administration allows her to join the boys’ track team, but her new teammates are less than accommodating, contributing to racist bullying online and IRL. In this admirable debut, Egbe examines, via Dera’s discerning perspective, gender in sports, racial stereotypes, bullying, and family discord. Mature theming, methodical sports narration, and evergreen friendship and romantic drama provide ample entry points into this organically woven work. Ages 13–up. Agent: Jemiscoe Chambers-Black, Andrea Brown Literary. (May)