Heartbeat
Author: Sharon Creech
Desc: Newbery Medalist Creech ("Walk Two Moons") masterfully weaves this story told in free verse about a young girl finding her identity and learning how it fits within the many rhythms of life. Run run run. That's what twelve-year-old Annie loves to do. When she's barefoot and running she can hear her heart beating . . . thump-THUMP thump-THUMP. It's a rhythm that makes sense in a year when everything's shifting: Her mother is pregnant her grandfather is forgetful and her best friend Max is always moody. Everything changes over time just like the apple Annie's been assigned to draw. But as she watches and listens Annie begins to understand the many rhythms of life and how she fits within them. Twelve-year-old Annie ponders the many rhythms of life the year that her mother becomes pregnant her grandfather begins faltering and her best friend (and running partner) becomes distant.