Born to Run by Michael Morpurgo

Born to Run Reviews

• 
  Leila

  An excellent book as always by this exceptionally gifted children's author. It touched my heart.
• 
  Anna

  Its a touching story about a greyhound who had many different lives. He was saved from a canal with the rest of his siblings and kept by the rescuer. He was dognapped, attacked and left on his own to fend for himself, will he ever find a true home?
  I recommend this book to younger aged children and animal lovers.
  I really liked this story because it's heartwarming and has very good composition, it draws you into the story and you don't want to put the book down as it's full of suprises.
  The only thing i disliked about the story was that it was easily predictable in some places of the story.
  Overall i really enjoyed reading this book!
• 
  Odith Senerath

  I think this book is brilliant. The story is about a greyhound who after being rescued from a canal by a boy who was being bullied goes on to have another two owners and very different adventures. The book is almost sad but then not really, the human characters play a big part in the story.
  I like the chapters that are written from the best mates perspective. He goes on to have other names.
  I'd recommend this book to all my friends.
• 
  Isaac_E1

  In this book it really shows how friends are a really important part of your life and that your friends are always there to help you. But sometimes one point in your life you must leave your old life and friends behind and find new friends. I think this book really illustrates well that part of life, that your must let go of your old comfortable life and find a new life.
• 
  Derek

  This is a charming story about the different lives of one dog.
  
  
  
  "Born to run" by Micheal Morpugo is a story about the life of a greyhound and the experiences he encounters. The book is (I would probably guess) aimed at young teenagers. However, any dog lover will love this tale of a greyhound who has three different (and very contrasting) owners for the duration of this novel.
  
  
  
  The story begins with Patrick a young boy who whilst walking on his way to school sees a bag floating in the canal which seems to be moving. Without any concern for his own safety he jumps into the canal and gets the bag onto dry land where he discovers the bag is full of little greyhound pups. He becomes a hero in his school and after much deliberation on his parent's side they allow him to keep one of the puppies who he names Best Mate. And that is exactly what they become, unseparable enjoying each others company. What Best Mate loves to do is run and Patrick and him love to run in the park.
  
  
  
  However, one day something happens to change all that and Patrick and Best Mate become separated. Best Mate begins a new life as a racing dog and becomes called Bright Eyes in this new life he meets new friends Alfie another greyhound and Becky a young girl who lives at the kennels. Although Best Mate or Bright Eyes as he is now called misses Patrick he settles into his new life and becomes a champion racing greyhound.
  
  
  
  Life for Best Mate however seems always set to change and due to various circumstances he finds that he is without a home and is then taken in by Joe who runs a baked potato van and he names the dog Paddywack and so begins another chapter in Best Mates life.
  
  
  
  I thought this was a lovely book. It is quite clearly written for children yet it still has an appeal to an older reader if you love dog stories. The book has 240 pages, but the font used is so easily readable that it's quite possible to read the whole book in an evening. The story is very charming and the characters are larger than life. Be warned that despite this book being a child's book it may have you in tears! There are some very sad moments.
  
  
  
  This book isn't really suitable for young children it tackles some serious issues one being children running away and the other that sometimes racing greyhounds are shot when they become too old or injured to run. This was a topic that I did not expect to find in this book but the author describes in clear detail that you are under no doubt what happens to the poor dogs. I felt this was worth mentioning as many people will find this quite upsetting to read. It was in fact an article in a newspaper about this practice that prompted the author to write the book in the first place. He had a rescue dog himself, which prompted him into thinking about the life story of a greyhound.
  
  
  
  The book also has a really good section at the back which will appeal to dog lovers. There is a bit by the author about why he wrote the book, information about the retired greyhound trust, a fun quiz to find out what kind of dog you are most like, information on animal charities, interesting dog facts, famous dogs, most common dog names and how you can get involved in helping dogs. Another little touch I liked is that at the bottom right of each page throughout the book is a little picture of Best Mate and if you flip through the pages it makes him run! There are illustrations throughout the book and a lovely photo of a retired greyhound on the front cover.
  
  
  
  So, in summary, this is an emotive account about a greyhound who has a lot of difficulties thrown at him but shows great character and loyalty to the end. It is a story that will appeal to dog lovers but isn't really suitable for young children. If you are going to give it to a child, be warned - they will probably want a dog after reading it, if they didn't before!
• 
  Noodles

  This book is very fast paced. It rattles along with barely a paragraph or chapter in sight. I guess that is to keep children interested.
  It looks like a book for young children, with wide line spacing and illustrations. But I found the content to be very adult for the style of the book. There was animal abuse, parents dying, nasty step parents, children running away, homelessness, violence. Maybe I'm just old fashioned, and don't expect to find those issues covered in a book that looks like it's aimed at early readers. Maybe kids are tougher than they used to be, and are used to this kind of stuff. For me, though, this book was caught a bit in-between the age groups it was written for. The content is extremely emotive, but the pace of the book and writing style took away some of the impact of events.
  The parts of the book written from a dog's eye view were a nice idea and made a good bridge for sudden shifts in the story. But, for me, they didn't quite ring true. The perpective was too human, it didn't sound like a dog talking.
  Overall, it was a decent read. It's an emotional roller coaster, with both nasty and kind people displayed by how they treat the dog. But I'd rather either see some of the nasty bits taken out, to make it more suitable for smaller children, or see them covered more carefully for maximum impact on a teenage/adult audience.
• 
  Claire

  THIS. BOOK.
  
  
  As you can see, I am struggling for words.
  
  This book is absolutely gorgeous. Strong themes of friendship, family and loyalty. Read it. Love it. Cry. Cry again. Then read all of Michael Morpurgo's other books. ALL OF THEM.
  
  This had always been one of my top favourite Michael Morpurgo books when I read them a good few years ago, so I was skeptical and, to be honest, scared that I wouldn't love it as much if I reread it now. But wow. I was wrong. This. Book. I can't even form well-structured sentences.
  
  This book has given me the reassurance that no one is ever too old for one of Morpurgo's timeless gems. I look forward to rereading all of Morpurgo's other gorgeous books now, and in many years to come.
  
  I need to clarify that this 5🌟 rating is certainly not for the nostalgia of this reread. Sure, I wouldn't have picked up this book now if I hadn't loved the author and book previously, but that does not mean in any way that my rating is biased. 'Born to Run' has a simplistic beauty to it's writing, heart-wrenching and emotional storylines, and the most lovable and precious characters. I dare someone not to fall in love with this book. If you give 'Born to Run' a chance, you will never ever regret it.
• 
  carys butt

  a real tear jerker 10/10 i want to live in the spud van but the dog attack drawing scared me a lot
• 
  Steve

  Yes, of course I know that Michael’s books are intended for a reading audience just slightly younger than me😊 However I am a sucker for a good doggie story and this must be one of the best out there. Absolutely marvellous!
• 
  Lucy

  It is quite a sad book
• 
  aloverofstories

  Absolutely loved it!
  
  I heard so many good things about Michael Morpurgo. He's a great storyteller. ❤ It was interesting to read about greyhounds since I'm not that familiar with the breed.
  
  Born to Run was such a moving story that, again, makes me feel grateful for the love and loyalty of dogs. They make this world a more beautiful and less lonely place to live in. Excited to read more of Morpurgo's dog stories.
• 
  Roselle

  Emotional story another favourite as a child any age would enjoy this story.
• 
  Julie

  You learn that Michael Morpurgo once had a pet Greyhound and loved his pet to bits, it was from his love of Greyhounds that this story evolved and the rough hand that these dogs are often dealt, especially ex- racing Greyhounds.
  The story starts with a young boy Patrick who dreads going to school but on his way to school sees a sack floating in the canal, the sack is moving so he jumps in and rescues the sack which has 5 unwanted Greyhound puppies in. He pleads with his parents to let him keep one and calls it “ Best Mate “, and this dog indeed becomes one. Best Mate is an excellent runner and this becomes his downfall when it comes to the notice of evil people, that this dog may become a racing greyhound. You learn then what becomes of many racing Greyhounds and the cruel treatment dished out to them, but Best mate has a friend in Becky who tries to save him from a cruel fate. Best mate then finds his way into the life of an older man Joe who adopts him. You then touch on other current social issues, the closing of care homes and the devastation it can cause to the elderly residents, maybe Morpurgo sees a parallel between the care of unwanted dogs and elderly people who society now deems to be useless. The ending has a twist and some of the book is told from the dog’s perspective which is good. You have to be very hard hearted not to get a lump in your throat or a tear in your eye reading this book.
  
• 
  Taylor Parsons

  I have read this book 3 times I would recommend it if you like books that you just can't put down, this book is a brilliant book and it is a beautiful read. I love reading but this is the best book I have ever read!!!!! 5 star all the way!
• 
  Stacie White

  Amazing book, made me cry
• 
  Kristina Carr

  Born to Run is a beautifully written, heartwarming tale of friendship, love and loss.
• 
  Robert

  
  Michael Morpurgo has a way of writing a good solid story and out of the books of his that I have read, I would say that Born to Run is easily his best, mainly because Morpurgo does not compromise the story in anyway.
  
  The novel is about a boy named Patrick who rescues a litter of greyhounds and keeps one, which he calls best mate. Unfortunately best mate is then stolen and passes through a series of owners, some good and some bad. Eventually he is reunited with Patrick after five years but the now 17 year old Patrick does not recognise him and has a new greyhound. Best Mate then accepts his fate and stays with his current, kind owner.
  
  On the whole it is a sad book and *trigger warning* there's one section where there's cruelty to dogs BUT Born to Run is also a sentimental story which could shed a tear. Morpurgo though those not emotionally manipulate his readers so instead of a full on sob fest he treats the heavy topics in an accessible manner. Sure there could have been a bit more closure and I'm surprised that an owner can actually not recognise a distinctive dog that was dognapped but this is fine. Really the only problem with Morpurgo's books is that the covers are in desperate need of re-branding.
• 
  Kimmi

  Totally didn't almost cry at the end! Why did he leave?! I thought he'd recognise him! This was such a sweet book about one dog who lived lots of different lives with different people.
  I really recommend it to everyone who loves dogs and happy-sad at the same time book.
• 
  Jade Douglas

  Beautiful story but wish the ending was a little different to make it perfect. Great read for all ages.
• 
  Danielė

  This book, is wonderful piece. I recommend for everyone who love dogs and beautiful love stories. It touched my heart.
• 
  Harriet Cornwell

  One of the few books that makes me cry every time I read it without fail!
• 
  Lily Madden

  So much nostalgia reading this!!
  
  This is a re-read for me but I last read it when I was about 8/9? The story is still so special, sweet, and heart-wrenching.
  
  I’m so glad I chose to re-read it <3
• 
  17sikoraz213

  I liked Born To Run because, it was very gripping, this is because, there was always a plot twist. It is about a dog called Brighteyes that does not live with her owner anymore as the owner had to go to the Hospital and would not be able to visit Brighteyes, so the Mum of the owner offers a man to have the dog which is called Brighteyes. The man was delighted to have Brighteyes because, it reminded him of his previous dog. The man did not know the name of the Brighteyes so he called it Paddywack. At the end of the book, Paddywack saw his precious owner and sadly the owner did not remember Paddywack. Paddywack continued to remain happy with his new owner. Born To Run was very interesting because, the different settings and characters were described very well.