Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Reading Time
    • Home
    • Reviews
      • Highly Recommended
      • CBCA Short Listed
      • Early Childhood Books
      • Younger Readers
      • Intermediate Readers
      • Older Readers
      • Great Read Alouds
      • Information Books
      • Picture Books
      • Professional Development
    • Interviews
    • Suggestions
    • News
    • Meet The Review Team
    • Contact Us
    Reading Time
    You are at:Home»Reviews»As Fast As I Can

    As Fast As I Can

    0
    By Admin on June 10, 2020 Reviews, Younger Readers

    Penny Tangey, As Fast As I Can, University of Queensland Press, March 2020, 248 pp., RRP $16.99 (pbk), ISBN 9780702262814 

    Vivian is an uber-competitive 10-year-old whose big dream is to become an Olympian. She doesn’t think about what kind of Olympian necessarily – just an Olympian. And so, she throws herself into long jump, swimming, and other sports, all with comical results. Her best friend Olivia shares Vivian’s dream of becoming an Olympian and together they brand themselves Olivian. But when Olivia excels at the school athletics, Vivian is left reeling, literally, in her friend’s dust. 

    Vivian swallows her disappointment and is thrilled to eventually discover she has a talent for cross country running. However, when the shoe is on the other foot Olivia tells Vivian that calling themselves Olivian is ‘getting a bit old’. Tangey does a great job of portraying the ebb and flow of primary school friendships, especially when a third friend Liza joins the besties. 

    The plot really amps up after Vivian’s family receives a devastating health diagnosis. This book is likely to evoke empathy in young readers. It will give them pause for thought about the price of ambition and the things that matter in life. A thought-provoking read. 

    Reviewed by Heather Gallagher  

    Related Posts

    The Bush Birds

    Star of Anise

    Spotlight Please…It’s Stevie Louise

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    • Themes
    • Curriculum
    Action adventure Airplanes Alphabet Anxiety autism Bullying CBCA Awards Coming of age Dystopian emotions family fantasy friendship grief Historical humour magic Mystery Post apocalyptic Readers Cup reluctant readers school Sci-Fi series of books siblings Sport Starting school Teacher Notes
    ANZAC Australian animals Australian history Biography Culture & Diversity Disabilities First Nations Geography health Humanities mental health Poetry Reconciliation resilience Science STEM Stolen Generation sustainability Wordless books



    Recent Comments
    • Barbara on The Secret of Sapling Green
    • Cherie on Elephant Island
    • Patricia Tilton on Freddy the Not-Teddy
    • Jilanne Hoffmann on Freddy the Not-Teddy
    • Penelope Pratley on The Secret of Sapling Green
    Recent Posts
    • The Bush Birds
    • Star of Anise
    • Spotlight Please…It’s Stevie Louise
    • Moth in a Fancy Cardigan
    • How to Make a Monster
    Recent Comments
    • Barbara on The Secret of Sapling Green
    • Cherie on Elephant Island
    • Patricia Tilton on Freddy the Not-Teddy
    • Jilanne Hoffmann on Freddy the Not-Teddy
    • Penelope Pratley on The Secret of Sapling Green
    © Copyright 2021 The Children’s Book Council of Australia - All rights reserved

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.