By Han Nolan
McElderry Books, 2023
Hardcover: $19.99
Genre: Young Adult
Reviewed by Lynn Lamere
Han Nolan manages to artfully combine thriller with teenage angst in her book Running Past Dark. The novel centers around a unique genre of running, and Nolan’s novel keeps a running pace with short chapters and engaging dialogue.
The reader is introduced to a troubled protagonist right away. Scotlyn (Scottie) and her sister Caitlyn (Cait) were inseparable as twins often are, and Scottie is dealing with her twin’s recent and sudden death in an automobile accident along with Coach Jory Wilson, a hugely popular high school football coach thanks to his winning record and rapport with his players. Before the accident, Cait had confessed to her sister that Coach Wilson raped her, and when Scottie shares this information with the police, the accusation is leaked and publicized by the local media, making Scottie a scapegoat for the town’s grief of its beloved coach.
Told in first person, the reader lives the experiences with Scottie as she deals with her twin’s death. Questions remain regarding that fateful afternoon. Why was Cait in the car with the coach? Were others involved? Who was driving? The inquiries fuel Scottie’s angst. The many plot twists give the novel a thriller vibe as the questions regarding the accident slowly become unraveled and answered. However, even with the death of her sister, she is spared no time for mourning. The home she shares with her mother is vandalized and burglarized. Her classmates’ painfully cruel pranks and constant bullying are abysmally addressed by the school administration, making Scottie the scapegoat for the loss of the school’s beloved coach.
Help for Scottie is hard to find; she cannot turn to her mother as she is mourning her daughter by self-medicating with alcohol. Nico, Scottie’s on-again and off-again boyfriend, provides some support, but he is the last person to see the coach and Cait alive, and it becomes evident he has secrets of his own to share.
Yet Scottie finds help ironically—in a lie she tells to save face during homeroom class. There, a teacher befriends Scottie and suggests an outlet for her, Ultimate Running. The sport requires focus and intense training, which is the perfect remedy for Scottie. She finds camaraderie within the diverse running group, one that provides direction as she finds herself all alone dealing with seemingly insurmountable issues.
Nolan’s novel will resonate with young adults, which tackles the many issues of high school life and growing up. The humiliation of being bullied and being used as a scapegoat are integrated into the plot. Suicide is broached as the reason for the accident. Alcoholism, and its effect on family, is vividly explored. Also, the importance of high school athletics and the pressure on young adults are examined. But Nolan does not stop there. The topic of systematic sexual assault is even a topic in this fast-paced book.
Through the eyes of Scottie, Nolan provides the reader a glimpse of life as a teenager dealing with major life changes. The book provides hope for other teenagers overwhelmed with the issues of the day. By finding an outlet and focus—ultimate running—Scottie can cope.
Lynn Lamere is a composition instructor at Gulf Coast State College. She grew up in Andalusia, Alabama, and now resides in Miramar Beach, Florida.
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