Heartbeat by Sharon Creech

Heartbeat by Sharon Creech is about 12 year old Annie. Annie is a runner - she runs barefoot just because she likes it. Sometimes she runs with her best friend, Max, but lately Max has been in a bad mood. He's joined the track team at school and keeps trying to convince Annie to join as well. He doesn't understand that Annie doesn't want to be a part of a team. She likes to run alone. Meanwhile, at home, Annie's mother is pregnant. Annie, her mom and dad, and her grandfather who lives with them, are all eagerly awaiting the arrival of the "alien baby". Annie's grandfather used to be a champion runner, but he gave it up a long time ago. Now, he is old and forgetful, but Annie still loves chatting with him. At school, Annie is completing an interesting art project. Her teacher gave all of the students apples and told them to draw a picture of the same apple every day for 100 days. Throughout the school year, Annie finds that her apple changes in ways she never expected, sort of like her own life.

I read this book because I recently read Hate That Cat by the same author. I really like Sharon Creech's free verse style of writing. This book was a quick read, but so full of thought! I really identified with both Annie and Max. I understand what it's like to want something that seems out of reach, trying and feeling like it doesn't do any good. I also understand what it's like to see things a little bit differently from everyone else. This was another great book!