I've read a couple other books by Jason Reynolds, so when I found this at a thrift store, I picked it up and had it on my TBR. I like to get in a few YA books each month, and the topic ~ my youngest ran track his senior year, and just ran in his first college meet. This is set younger, 7th grade.

1st person, past tense, very conversational tone, like the MC (Castle/Ghost) is just chatting with us/the reader, telling us his story.  Like the other Reynolds books, there is some tragedy (our MC and his mother ran from his father as he was shooting at them. Dad is now in jail). On my original read (I got the audiobook and Kindle copy from the library, and went primarily with audio) ... while I liked it fine (thinking maybe 3*?), it didn't really stand out to me the way the other Reynolds books I've read (Long Way Down, All American Boys). But this is one of those books where the after/the extras, really bumped it up for me. 

As I looked over the Kindle copy, I noticed the Table of Contents, and the headers for each chapter  ...
1. World Records
2. World Record for the Fastest Tryout Ever
3. World Record for the Most Altercations4
4. World Record for the Worst Day Ever
5. World Record for the Most Runaways in a Single Day
6. World Record for the Longest Run After the Most Runaways in a Single Day
7. World Record for the Best Friday Ever After the Worst Wednesday and Thursday
8. World Record for Having the Best Secret
9. World Record for Cleaning the Dirtiest Car
10. Race Day

While the headers HAD been read in the audiobook, I don't know that I really registered them. Even seeing them at the beginning of the chapters, I don't know that I really saw them. BUT, looking at the TOC, and seeing them all together there (in the Kindle copy only, not in audio, not in the physical book) really made the "World Record" theme stand out and showcase how it all ties together; and I like looking at a TOC, and having headers that remind me of what happened in each chapter of the book. 

Then - there were discussion questions included at the end in Kindle and Physical (not in audio, which is just one reason why I always try to get the text in addition to audio). A "Reading Group Guide" and these questions really made me think of things I hadn't on my own, GREAT questions! It made me re-read portions of the book, and actually wish this had been a book club selection so I would have someone to talk to about it. 

While the goal when I pick up physical books is to put them in my Little Free Library ... I may just hang onto this one (selfish, I know). I can see myself flipping through it again, maybe encouraging my boys to read it. I don't know that I'll go continue on with the series ... we'll see. 

Kid appropriate - no proFanity or sex.