The Runaway

The Runaway is a story of anger and hurt, and also about the power of forgiveness and believing the best of others. It is a story of growing up and learning how to apologize and say you were wrong. In the small village of Llandymna, most people live in fear of what others think of them, a place, like most of the world, where the opinions of others matter a lot. Set in a quaint Welsh village, it is a story about real life with characters who you will come to like despite their many flaws. Hurt by others, Rhiannon runs away, choosing to live in the woods, setting events into motion. When strangers come to town, they help to catalyze some new possibilities. In the end, the entire village has the chance to see how their actions affect others.

Claire Wong has written a solid novel about life and given us readers a first-hand glimpse into the thinking of the characters, who grow up a lot between the front and back covers of this book. I'd recommend reading the Runaway... perhaps you'll even learn something about yourself.

I was not taken in by this book as I had expected. Although many of it caught my attention, there was a good amount that didn't. The good parts though, kept me reading and wanting to know a little more about Rhiannon and her life. And it starts off being all about her struggles and her run from home. Willing to live in the wilderness than to be by her Aunt's side anymore, she becomes aware that there is so much information and town truth she is lacking.

Rhiannon's way of describing situations and memories of her family, caught a lot of my attention. She describes many things in fairy tale formats or with myths and legends. Such as the way she views her Aunt Di, comparing her to the moon and the dark sides of it, which she reserves for when she is at home behind closed doors.  

In her time in the woods she reminisces on the good and bad memories of her life. Rhiannon details her encounters and her triumphs as well as those that have made her feel unheard and unwanted. In running off she hoped to be able to find that love and affection she was searching for. By seeing the ones she knows missing her, she would find reason for her being a part of all of their lives. 

She finds herself in the same predicament before she left home, with a lack of resolve. Then others join in her misery, trying to find a way to make it all okay. With Maebh O'Donnell taking lead in much of this story as well. She is the elderly lady, the ones everyone considers like a grandmother, with all the secrets the town holds, and stories that can fill the people of the town with fear. When Rhiannon's own Aunt doesn't search for her, the townsfolk turn to Maebh for possible answers. 

There were many more characters and stories to tell, but that's for the reader to delve into. To me, it was an in-between read of YA and a little bit of a younger audience than that. It had enough interesting facets to keep me reading, but possibly not enough to read again. Sometimes I'm surprised though, as time moves along, and I find I might enjoy a read a little more the second time around. I'm caught in the middle with this read because of it. So, I will more than likely give it another go some time from now. 

***I received this copy from Lion Fiction via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.***

Rhiannon lives in a small Welsh village on the edge of a dense forest.  She never knew her father and her mother died years ago so Rhiannon has been brought up by her aunt.  Relations become more strained and shortly before her 18th birthday Rhiannon walks out.  She enters the forest and realises that she could actually survive for quite a while on her own, so she does.  Meanwhile in the village, new arguments and visitors threaten to reveal secrets kept for a generation or more.

This book tries to bridge the gap between young adult and normal fiction and at times it succeeds very well.  The plot is unrealistic - Rhiannon has one lighter but manages to keep a fire during for weeks, she tames a sparrowhawk and she survives on damsons and nuts - but there is a trajectory about outsiders.  I really liked the way that the ancient tales wove themselves into the narrative.  Overall this is not a bad book, it just tried a little too hard to be all things to all and did not succeed for me.

The Runaway tells the story of seventeen-year-old Rhiannon Morgan who spontaneously decides to run away from home after arguing with her aunt. From there, she enters the woods surrounding the tiny Welsh village in which she lives and makes a decision that will change her life: she will make the Dyrys Woods her new home and become entirely self-sufficient. Meanwhile, visitors and arguments threaten to dislodge a secret the village has fought to keep buried for over a generation...


The way in which the story is told has you feeling as though you relate to Rhiannon, because after all, who hasn't thought about running away at one point? And sure, while the vast majority of us didn't do it, you still find yourself encouraging Rhiannon to succeed in making a life for herself amongst Mother Nature; to show it to everyone back home that she doesn't need them or their comfy beds or their working toilets or the countless other things that don't come with making a century-old ruin your home. And while the writing isn't absolutely perfect throughout and a few of the characters' personalities do fall flat in parts, The Runaway still manages to capture your attention while simultaneously providing you with a heartwarming read about secrets, family, friendship, lawbreaking and a longing to be seen and taken seriously for who you truly are. Additionally, I'd like to make note of the intricate way in which the author weaves Welsh mythology into the events that transpire. It's touching and adds a note of something mystical to the otherwise mundane village life.


Whilst reading, I couldn't help but become struck by its similarity to one of my favourite films: The Kings of Summer. It seems I have a tendency to enjoy the tales of those who up and leave small town life for adventure in nearby forestry. Perhaps I am biased and that's why I thought it such a charming little read? I'm unsure. Either way, all I know is that even if Rhiannon's aunt Diana does act somewhat strangely unfazed by her niece's sudden departure, The Runaway still manages to accomplish in creating a great pick-me-up novel that, while not blowing you away with its creativity or uniqueness, should grace you with its airy, no pressure atmosphere ― or at the very least, aid in pulling you out of a reading slump should you find yourself in one.

When I saw this novel I was fascinated not only by the description but also the incredible cover. However, I’m sort of mixed on my overall thoughts about this story. Rhiannon is 17 years old and has been raised by her Aunt Diana after the death of her mother. Rhiannon and Diana seem to butt heads almost constantly and Rhiannon is known for verbal outbursts with others. She has always enjoyed spending time with the elderly Maebh, who knows everything about the village’s history and loves telling stories to anyone that will listen. Right before her 18th birthday, Rhiannon decides to run away after another argument with her aunt and heads to Dyrys woods to be alone. As she works to find food and shelter – determined to make it on her own – the townspeople work at finding Rhiannon and also get to know two newcomers who are there searching for information about their father’s past. 

I liked the character of Rhiannon, although I was a bit confused about her socially-unacceptable outbursts. It was clear that she felt like an outsider living with her Aunt and cousins and that she and her aunt did not see eye to eye. Her escape had always been stories – listening to them, telling them to her cousins, or telling them to herself during stressful or sad times. I loved Rhiannon’s whimsical imagination but also loved her useful and responsible survival skills in the woods, which she learned from her late Uncle. Diana seemed concerned only with her political role in the village and her two young children. There were several other key characters, but I didn’t feel like they were very developed. One character, Callum, comes to also hide in the woods after a misunderstanding and it’s obvious that he and Rhiannon hate one another, but I was never clear as to why. Grace and Adam show up in the village not long after Rhiannon runs away and quickly become friendly with the village residents and seem very pleasant and helpful, but again I didn’t feel like I knew them. I think that was what kept me from really loving this novel was the lack of connection with most of the characters. 

Claire Wong is clearly a creative and imaginative writer and I adored her concept of a girl running away to the woods, mainly because I believe I had that daydream SEVERAL times when growing up. Rhiannon was obviously strong and resourceful, but it was unfortunate that the only relationships she could create and maintain were either with Maebh and an injured hawk that she nurses back to health. The pacing and flow of the novel were great, but I did find myself skimming quite a bit when it came to some of Maebh and Rhiannon’s stories. I appreciated the themes of supporting one another rather than pointing fingers, but I still just didn’t connect with this novel. Perhaps a younger reader would find this more entertaining? 

*Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

"The good thing about telling stories: you can change them as you wish." 

Seven-teen year old, orphaned Rhiannon Morgan spontaneously decides to runaway from her Aunt Diana's home, located in a small Welsh village called Llandymna. Taking very little with her, she finds shelter in the woodland near by and begins to create a new life for herself.  

Diana Morgan is well known and respected (and even a bit feared) due to her position on Llandymna's community council. The disappearance of her niece causes a string of events that unearth some ugly truths buried deep within this small village's history. Although the past may be painful to dig up, it may just give the villagers the hope they need to overcome it and the courage to move on.

Claire Wong's debut novel The Runaway is told from two alternating POV's: Rhiannon's (first person) and that of the other villagers written in a third person perspective. The world building is good and the characters become more fleshed out as the story progresses.  

Who hasn't fantasized about running away from home as a child? I know I did, and into a forest too! (I always thought all the magic laid deep in wooded areas, haha) I never acted on it though, because truthfully it was more so the adventure I wanted rather than to leave home forever.... But still. I did. I would plan everything out, and dream up the different adventures I'd go on. 

Despite the small similarity between the MC and I, I didn't feel I could relate to her very much. She was just months away from her 18th birthday, and the decisions she made seemed a bit immature for her age. Since nothing was planned, she just grabed the nearest bag to her and flees. Luckily for her, it was one of her old camping packs, but it contained very little: a sleeping bag, a lighter, a folding pan, an empty water bottle, and some food. Yes, she managed to survive in the woods on her own, but her instinct for survival and her reasons for leaving should have been stronger for her age. I could understand if she lived in an abusive household, but it was just stressful.

She said she wanted to feel respected and to be  seen as an adult. If she would've waited until her 18th birthday, she could have moved out and showed everyone that she was capable of adult responsibilities in a more productive way. Yes, as a child I did fantasize about running away from home, but as I got older my fantasies became more realistic. By the time I Was 17/18 years old I was dreaming up what colleges I'd like to go to, what career path I would take and what sort of house I would one day buy. Everyone's different, and everyone matures at different ages, but it was hard to see Rhiannon as an almost 18 year old. I would have been able to ignore her age, if only the fact that her 18th birthday didn't keep coming up. Then again, I'm a mom, so maybe I'm putting too much thought into this? 

I did love the role of story telling in this book and the impact the myths and folklore had on the village. The stories that Maebh, Nia and Rhiannon tell through out the story are entertaining. Maebh's are the most interesting because she's been in Llandymna for a very long time, and her stories have a lot of truth to them. I also enjoyed the stories Rhiannon made up while she was alone in the forest, and the character she looked up to from a story that she grew up listening to, Sparrow girl.  

This contemporary novel by Claire Wong shows why you should never runaway from your problems - whether it be by literally running away, or figuratively. The Runaway sends an important message that all teens and YA readers could benefit from. This is a light read with some mystery and good pacing. 



**** I received an eBook copy of this title via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. ****

This is my review of The Runaway by Claire Wong. This was kindly sent to me as an ebook by NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. The beginning of this review does not contain spoilers and I will indicate when spoilers come in. 

The story takes place in a little village called Llandymna, and I felt the author captured that character that small villages have very effectively throughout the novel. This book is structured into three main parts. It is told from the point of view of several different characters, which I liked as the reader gets to experience how different characters react to the events that take place during the novel. The story follows that of a seventeen year old girl, Rhiannon, who decides to run away from home. 

My favourite aspect of this novel was the character development throughout. We see as the story progresses how the characters grow also. I also liked how the author describes how characters are feeling, for example how alone Rhiannon feels when she runs away at first:

	“Sometime it feels as though I’m defined by all the people I’ve lost, like one of
	those negative-space pictures, where what’s not there is just as important as what is”

This novel was well worth reading, and I enjoyed the author’s style of writing. Overall I give this book 4 out of 5 stars, and recommend it to teenagers and young adults. 

----Spoilers from this point onwards----

We soon learn in the novel that Rhiannon’s aunt Diana is a big part of the reason why she has decided to run away. Rhiannon’s mother Eilin died several years ago, and so her aunt Diana is raising her. Initially, Diana seems very unconcerned about the fact that Rhiannon has run away. Again, I liked how the author captures this as she describes Diana going about her everyday routine:

	“Governments might fall, fire might rain down from the sky, but Diana’s coffee
	and walnut sponge is something you can count on”

Diana seems to be more concerned about how other members of the village view her above all else. She has high social standing in the village, and makes use of this power and exerts it over others to her own advantage. She tend to look down on others, in particular she makes Callum and Nia feel very insignificant and unimportant:

	“Isn’t it wonderful to have such generous people around to help us when we 
	fail to manage our own time well?”

Yet as the novel progresses, we begin to see cracks in Diana’s demeanour. When Adam and Grace come to visit the village, they discover Rhiannon and begin to help her. People start to take a liking to Adam in particular, and after he and his sister speak to Maebh, we learn that Emyrs is their father. 

Emrys was a man that was driven out of the village several years ago. It is a secret shame the village has that nobody except Maebh will speak of. After Callum runs away following a fight with another character, Ifan, Maebh worried that history will repeat itself. 

Diana feels guilty about what happened to her sister, feels she is responsible for her car crash. It is then we see the dramatic shift in her character, her desire to make things right before it is too late. Using her influence in the village, she manages to get some people not to follow Ifan into the woods to find Callum. She also apologises to Nia for the way she has treated her. 

In the end, they manage to get to Rhiannon and Callum in time. We see the village finally begin to heal as a memorial is put up in the village in honour of Emrys.

Lovely book about a troubled teenager whose decision to run away from her guardian's home ultimately leads to the uncovering of a secret from her town's past.  The writing is polished and moving; even the most unsympathetic characters are given motivations that explain their behavior.  The emphasis on the power of storytelling to preserve and interpret the past is a fascinating theme throughout the book.

Claire Wong weaves a vivid story that captures the imagination of her readers from the very first line.

I received this book through netgalley and my attention was instantly grabbed by the beautiful cover and interesting description. However this is a very slow read and as much as I appreciate the beautiful wretched author uses this book was just wasn't what I expected and had hoped for I found it to plain for me and way to slow at the beginning.

Thank you very much for allowing me to read this title; I am trying to read as widely as possible ahead of the Carnegie/Greenaway nominations and awards for 2018 and your help is much appreciated.
As a Carnegie/Greenaway judge, I'm not allowed to comment about my opinions on specific titles so I can't offer an individual review on any title as I stated on my profile.

I hate to say this but I found it very hard to get interested in. I stopped reading about 20% in. This novel sounded wonderful from the description but I guess it just isn’t my type of novel. Maybe I will try again soon.

I've found myself two and three-starring a lot of recent net galley downloads, and unfortunately, I think this qualifies. Perhaps I'll need to let myself sit with this one for a while and decide how I felt in order to write a longer, more in-depth review. 

The Runaway had a lot of good qualities going for it - the concept of a girl's runaway story from an abusive household is lovely. And I've always enjoyed survival stories, enough that I ended up finding this one quite compelling. I also adored the portrayal of a small town - it's a big theme throughout the book and one I enjoyed seeing. Though perhaps not the most original of themes, all these elements <i>should</i> have led to a four-star book. 

Unfortunately, I wasn't the biggest fan of the portrayal of bad home environment. The book's narrative seemed, to me, to be very much on the side of Rhiannon being a silly girl running from her problems. And honestly, I don't know if I agree with that as a writing choice. The portrayal of Rhiannon’s aunt Diana at first led me to believe she was an abusive parent figure, and the choice to have her apologize to Rhiannon and Callum seemed somewhat abrupt. I felt the book was sidestepping her bad behavior and portraying it almost as a mistake, rather than acknowledging her actual mistakes. 

Perhaps some of my disappointment simply comes from genre expectations. This read to me more like middle grade than YA, which is fine, but definitely not what I expected from the request category in which I discovered this book. Unfortunately, MG is not what I prefer to read, and I felt this book - like others - sidestepped the full wrongdoing of certain characters. Maybe better marketing might help? 

Again, I won't be posting my review of this until after the release date - when I don't enjoy a book that isn't getting much hype, I try to avoid giving people a negative opinion of it. However, this review will be posted on the page sometime soon.