The Fastest Boy in the World
Elizabeth Laird, Peter Bailey, Zeamanuel Abera
Eleven-year-old Solomon loves to run! The great athletes of the Ethiopian national team are his heroes and he dreams that one day he will be a gold-medal-winning athlete like them, in spite of his ragged shorts and bare feet. When his grandfather announces that he's going to take Solomon to Addis Ababa, Solomon cannot believe his ears. A trip to the capital? It's unfathomable. Solomon's joy is increased when he realizes that the Ethiopian running team will be doing a victory parade through the city that day. Maybe he'll get a glimpse of Haile Gebrselassie or Derartu Tulu?! But Solomon's grandfather has other plans. As Solomon follows him through the big, overwhelming streets, he learns something he cannot believe. The strict old man is a war hero who once risked his life to save a friend and has been in hiding ever since. When grandfather collapses, Solomon knows that getting help from his village is up to him. It's a twenty-mile run from the city to home, and grandfather's life hangs in the balance. Can the small bare-footed runner with the big heart do it? Shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal, The Fastest Boy in the World by Elizabeth Laird is the inspiring story of a small Ethiopian runner with a very big heart.
Reviews
OMG this book is one of my favourites because it’s sad and then happy and then sad , especially the end , it’s so sad
Marshal Angel Luther 19.08.2024
This book was really good because this is my reading challenge book in school and my teacher recommended it to me!
Anonymous 27.06.2024
It was a really good book and I loved the adjectives in it, it really made me feel in the story. I learned from this book that you should never give up and always believe you can achieve your dreams.
Mademoiselle Pansy Lanzarote 20.08.2022
I liked how he was really fast.
Anonymous 24.07.2022
I liked it because he ran home by himself
Anonymous 23.07.2022
I really like that Solomon is now an athlete and Him beating the bus and I would recommend this book to someone else
Senorita Honeycomb Hammersmith 06.12.2021
I liked it because he ran home all by himself.
Professor Octopus Chocolate-mousse 06.09.2021
My favourite character was Solomon, he was the main character in the story. The story was good, but it was sad in parts too.
Baron Burp Owl 05.09.2021
This is about a boy who lives in Ethiopia and wants to be the fastest runner in the world. He goes to a camp in the desert and trained really hard and qualified for the Olympics. It was a great book to read and I would definitely recommend it.
Ambassador Mars Jumpsuit 30.08.2021
it is about solomon and his grandfather going to Addis ababa
Anonymous 21.08.2021
Epic
Queen Letizia Arlington 10.08.2021
I really enjoyEd it because it is very adventurous but the boys Grandad died near the end of the book But guess what the boy is the fastest boy in the world
Captain Slip Toothpaste 01.09.2020
This was a really exciting book and I would recommend it.
Dame Bubbles Rollerskate 01.09.2020
it was very fun and exciting.The boy beat a bus home to his family by running
Anonymous 01.09.2020
I really liked the characters because they do amazing things. I liked the plot of the story but something sad happens at the end. The sorry is amazing!
Anonymous 19.08.2020
"The fastest boy in the world" was a sad book, with eleven year-old Solomon visiting a city with his grandfather. Unfortunately Solomon's grandfather falls gravely ill and Solomon must get back home to tell his parents
Sergeant Mars Washington 16.08.2020
Loved it. I read it in 2. I'm can't decide which person I liked the best. The Gradpa tho I didn't like that much until the trip.
Anonymous 01.08.2020
I really enjoyed reading this. My favourite character was Solomon because he carried on running. I would definitely recommend this to someone else.
Anonymous 29.06.2020
