Freerunner
Freerunner
“Stop!”
The police officer sounded close. I skipped past the parking garage across the street.
A blue construction fence cut me off from some high-rise buildings. I jumped and caught the steel mesh. My fingers ached and my toes nearly slipped from the tiny metal holes. An entire block of fencing nearly toppled under me.
I found some grip and jumped again over top of it. I looked behind me. The cop had to find a longer way around. That fence bought me two more seconds to get away.
I turned another corner. The art gallery was across the street.
I sprinted in front of a line of cars turning left. The lead car hit the brakes, hard. Someone behind him honked. I caught a quick glimpse of the river. She was staring at something behind me. I knew it was the cop.
Freerunner tells the story of 14-year-old Patrick who is new to Ottawa. While hanging out at the mall, Patrick decides to steel headphones. He is seen and attempts to flee but is apprehended. This is not Patrick’s first brush with trouble. His mother is frustrated and, to Patrick’s surprise, agrees with the officer that instead of jail time, Patrick must go to the neighbourhood gym and attempt parkour.
Freerunner is about more than learning parkour. It is about pushing oneself harder and harder, and it’s about change. Trifunov has created a likeable character in Patrick, someone the audience cheers on and wants to succeed. Patrick is the underdog. The novel is also about fitting in and, ultimately, friendship and with this, trust.
A good read. Very enjoyable.
Christina Pike is the Principal of Macdonald Drive Junior High in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.