The Running Dream

Fiona is Jessica’s best friend, confidante, and fellow track teammate. From the very beginning of Jessica’s journey, Fiona is at her side, providing a wealth of positivity and strength. She never doubts what her friend is capable of, even when Jessica thinks the worst of herself. It is Fiona who is the creative and driving force behind the fundraising for Jessica’s prosthetics, and it’s Fiona who leads the way in the creation of Team Rosa. Ever loyal, Fiona is also sensitive to Jessica’s feelings and values their friendship like no other.

Jessica’s father is a self-employed handyman who is ill-prepared both financially and mentally for the tragedy that his daughter survives. Angry at the strain placed on his family and the unwillingness of the entities involved in the accident to take responsibility for what has happened, he seems a despondent and bitter man at times. His outlook on life and in particular Jessica’s future is changed by the goodwill he sees in her friends, teammates, and her coach, who strive to give Jessica back her ability to run.

Jessica’s mother is a rock of support for her daughter and her family. Mrs. Carlisle is on hand for nearly every moment of Jessica’s recovery, in both the challenging and uplifting moments. She learns to let go of the past and allow her daughter to forge her own path into the future. She supports Jessica’s efforts to walk again, run again, and participate in the River Run race.

Kaylee is Jessica’s younger sister. Shestruggles with what has happened to Jessica and the change it has rendered on Jessica’s personality. By watching the model that Jessica provides and witnessing her sister’s efforts and transformation, Kaylee is ultimately able to understand what drives Jessica to run again.

A mainstay in Jessica’s running life, Coach Kyro sympathizes with his track star’s loss but doesn’t coddle her, either. He stands by Jessica, protecting her from the ugliness of her medical insurance situationwhile also encouraging her to believe in herself. Kyro is the motivating factor for the team’s fundraising elements and is rewarded by seeing a reborn Jessica regain her elite running form by the end of the novel.

As the son of the town mayor, Gavin is the center of attention. He is also handsome, and Jessica has had a crush on him for some time. She thinks he’s a good person, even when he contacts her in the hospital to write a story for the school paper. But she reconsiders when Gavin begins dating Merryl, a selfish girl on the track team. As he watches Jessica overcome multiple obstacles in her way, Gavin’s admiration for her grows. He breaks up with Merryl and confesses his feelings for Jessica. He accompanies Jessica on her journey, helping her raise funds for her legs and running alongside her during the River Run.

Rosa is a student in Jessica’s math class who is wheelchair-bound due to cerebral palsy. When Jessica has to sit at the back table with Rosa, she finds out that this quiet girl is bubbly, full of life, and is a mathematical genius. But Rosa’s condition means her motor skills are impaired, and people see her only from the initial view and impression. Determined to repay Rosa for her kindness and friendship, Jessica trains to push Rosa in a wheelchair for a ten-mile road race, giving Rosa the chance to experience what it’s like to run.

Referred to as “Hankenstein” by Jessica (mockingly at first then affectionately later on), Hank is the prosthetist who measures Jessica and develops her prosthetic legs. Seemingly clinical at first, he takes great interest in helping Jessica learn to walk again and function as a runner. 

Chloe is the receptionist at Hank’s prosthetist office, and as a leg amputee herself, she provides Jessica with great inspiration. Watching Chloe walk around gracefully gives Jessica hope that she will be able to walk as seamlessly in the future.

A member of the track team, Merryl is a spoiled, selfish young woman who is on the team for appearances more than anything else. She tends to make everything about her, including Lucy Sanders’ wake and funeral. Merryl briefly dates Gavin Vance because he is a popular student at school, not because she values him as a person. She makes cruel comments to Jessica when Gavin dumps Merryl to go out with Jessica.

A domineering, seemingly humorless force, Ms. Rucker is Jessica’s math teacher. At first, she seems unwilling to help Jessica assimilate back into class and assigns Jessica to a seat at a table in the back of the room with Rosa. Although Ms. Rucker initially appears to be a heavy-handed teacher, she shows a soft side when she greets Jessica and Rosa at the starting line of the River Run. She wears a “Team Rosa” shirt and tells the girls to run strong.

Sumner is the reporter for the local Channel 7 news. She first learns about the Liberty High track team’s fundraising efforts for Jessica’s legs and films a clip which helps spread the word about Jessica’s quest. Then, she brings attention to Jessica’s River Run for Rosa and respects Jessica’s wishes that Rosa be the focus of the story with the emphasis on learning to see beyond a disabled person’s 

Jessica’s track rival, Vanessa is a spoiled, self-centered character. Vanessa is rude to Jessica in front of Vanessa’s mother, and lodges a spurious and cruel complaint during a match that Jessica purposely distracted her during a race that Vanessa ultimately lost. Vanessa is a foil for Jessica in both the competitive track environment and in quality of character and strength of personality.

Lucy Sanders was seated in front of Jessica when the track team’s bus was hit. Lucy died in the accident, a condition that Jessica almost envies in the initial days of her recovery in the hospital. Eventually, Jessica realizes how much Lucy has lost, and understands that she is luckier than she thought. Jessica visits Lucy’s grave to apologize and grieve, and during the River Run race, Jessica calls out to Lucy along with her teammates as they run by the cemetery.