Heartbeat

RUN RUN RUN. That’s what twelve-year-old Annie loves to do. When she’s barefoot and running, she can hear her heart beating…thump-THUMP, thump-THUMP.

It’s a rhythm that makes sense in a year when everything’s shifting: Her mother is pregnant, her grandfather is forgetful, and her best friend, Max, is always moody. Everything changes over time, just like the apple Annie’s been assigned to draw a hundred times.

Newbery Medal winner Sharon Creech masterfully weaves this tender and intuitive story told in free verse about a young girl beginning to understand the many rhythms of life, and how she fits within them.

Named one of the New York Public Library’s 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing

“Tenderhearted. Vintage Creech. Its richness lies in its sheer simplicity.” —School Library Journal (starred review)

“The story soars as Annie’s feet fly.” —Bookpage

What happens when your best friend grows distant, your grandpa starts to forget, and a new baby is on the way?

• An Unforgettable Intergenerational Friendship: Annie loves her grandfather, a champion racer who is now losing his memories, showing her the tender rhythm of saying goodbye.
• A Lyrical Story in Verse: Told in beautiful free verse that captures the thump-THUMP of a running heart and the quiet moments of a girl finding her voice.
• Navigating Friendship and Change: When her best friend Max gets moody and serious, Annie wonders if their barefoot runs and easy friendship can survive growing up.
• The Rhythms of Life and Death: As her family prepares to welcome a new baby, Annie grapples with what it means to grow, change, and watch a loved one fade.