Heather M. O'Connor

Runs with the Stars

“Elders say they were always here. The horses were small, but strong.”
“Like me?”
“Like you.”

As they await the birth of a new foal, a man teaches his grandchild about the Ojibwe Horses that used to roam the forests of northwestern Ontario. The horses once ran wild and free, but when Grandfather was a boy, they almost disappeared. Now he is the caretaker of his own small herd, keeping the breed alive for future generations and teaching his grandchild about the loving bond between human and animals.

Written by Darcy Whitecrow and Heather M. O’Connor
Illustrated by Lenny Lishchenko
Published by Second Story Press
ISBN 9781772602388

Also available in Ojibwe/Anishinaabemowin & English edition

Wiijibibamatoon-Anangoonan
Ojibwe/Anishinaabemowin and English

You can buy Runs with the Stars from your local Canadian independent bookseller

shoplocal.bookmanager.com/isbn/9781772602388

Chapters Indigo

Amazon.ca

Barnes & Noble

Yes, I do school and library visits!

Book me through Authors Booking Service.

Teacher guide and book extras – Coming soon

My sincere thanks to the Access Copyright Foundation, the Ontario Arts Council, the Quetico Foundation, and Quetico Provincial Park for the grant funding that made Runs with the Stars possible. You help good books grow.

The fast-paced writing has enough soccer action to keep reluctant readers turning the pages, and the gambling intrigue, along with a side plot involving a new player on Jack’s team, adds to the increasing conflict… The tone, dialogue, and emotional stakes ring true. A solid pick for hi-lo sports fiction.

Booklist

O’Connor will keep the game’s fans close with plenty of in-the-know soccer patter, but she will also draw other readers with the story of Jack’s slow absorption into a gambling… Hard-hitting…and as memorable as a prison tour for young men who think crime is a sport and a joke.

Kirkus Reviews

Tight and authentic sports action combined with engaging characters make this title great for sports fans as well as readers who enjoy action and drama.

School Library Journal

Betting Game easily captivated my interest with its action and suspense and honest teen characters… The kind of read that will grip both sports fans and reluctant readers.

CanLit for LittleCanadians

A fast paced, entertaining read that will really appeal to all soccer players, both boys and girls, especially those struggling to sustain a reading habit.

Resource Links

O'Connor deals with topics that would be well worth discussing with almost any teen: the value of team-work; honesty; and ethics. I will certainly include Betting Game in our curriculum resource collection and would recommend it for other school libraries as well. **** /4 Highly Recommended.