Running Overload

Jake Maddox Graphic Novels

by Jake Maddox, Tina Francisco (Illustrations)

Eighth-grader Nimo Mohamed has made the varsity cross-country team and she's determined to keep up with the older girls. So she's training harder than ever, maybe too hard. Soon the runner's grades are tumbling, her times are slipping, and her body is completely exhausted. Can Nimo learn to pace herself and stop this running overload? With its high-stakes sports story with an exciting full-color comic format, this Jake Maddox Graphic Novel is a winner for young readers.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Childrens

72 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2020

About the author

Who is Jake Maddox? Athlete, author, world-traveler–or all three? He has surfed in Hawaii, scuba-dived in Australia, and climbed the mountains of Peru and Alaska. His books range from the most popular team sports to outdoor activities to survival adventures and even to auto racing. His exploits have inspired numerous writers to walk in his footsteps–literally! Each of his stories is stamped with teamwork, fair play, and a strong sense of self-worth and discipline. Always a team-player, Maddox realizes it takes more than one man (or woman) to create a book good enough for a young reader. He hopes the lessons learned on the court, field, or arena and the champion sprinter pace of his books can motivate kids to become better athletes and lifelong readers.

Reviews

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

School library copy

I've been hoping to see more girls joining the cross country team at my school, and thought this would be a good addition to my sports graphic novels (all, what, ten of them?). Mo makes the high school varsity cross country team as a middle schooler, but doesn't feel as good as the rest of the team, so she over trains, which doesn't help. She does learn to pace herself at the end.

I know schools have different rules in different areas of the country, or in Canada, but I can't think of a place where a middle schooler could run in high school races. Here in Ohio, they are different lengths. (2 miles vs. 3.2) Still, some good messages about training, nutrition, and pacing, so not a bad purchase. Can't say I ever had a runner overtrain in all my years of coaching, but that wouldn't be fun to deal with! Did like the fact that she had to go back and forth between parents' houses.

[Shifa Safadi · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️FAVORITED!!⠀
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Age recommendation: ages 6-12 can enjoy this beautiful graphic novel.⠀
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This @capstonepub (love all the diversity in their books) graphic novel is not too long, with around 65 pages, big comic-style pictures, and huge captions perfect for early and advanced MG readers. It was read in one sitting by my 9 year old and is a fun and light read full of valuable lessons.⠀
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Nimo is an eight-grader that was accepted into the high school varsity cross-country team. She is nervous about being the youngest one, and struggles to prove that she is just as good as everyone else. She starts over-exerting herself, stops spending time with her family, starts lying to her parents about studying while sneaking out to do extra runs, and stops focusing on her school work.⠀
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As a result, Nimo’s grades start suffering and her knee gets strained. Her dad finds out about her lies and makes her quit the team.⠀
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Nimo is devastated, but after talking with her former Coach and some self-reflection, she realizes she needs to make some changes. Nimo promises her dad that she’ll do better and keep a balance in her life, and he lets her join the team again. And, with her help, her team is finally able to win their cross-country meet.⠀
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I love how Nimo is so proudly a Muslim girl, wearing her hijab and running with long modest clothes, and yet her religion is not the main focus. She is accepted by the team and no one seems to think she can’t play the sports due to her different clothes! So awesome to see in a book for young ones.⠀
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I also loved that Nimo is an African American Muslim, and that her parents are practicing Muslims. I love seeing more of these Muslim black-led books!⠀
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Nimo’s parents are divorced, but it wasn’t a big deal, and they were both on the same page with taking care of her and respected each other’s opinions. They also both showed up to cheer her on in the meets together. So beautiful to see parents put aside any differences for the sake of coparenting their kids.
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This book is such a beautiful positive representation of Muslims in traditional publishing! ⠀

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was ok. Good message.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick, fun graphic novel with an important message. I liked the art style as well.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good message.

[Jennybeast · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love that this book is an everyday adventure with a character in a hijab and it's not about her race or religion -- it's about running, and getting so carried away with wanting to succeed that you damage your ability to do so. 8th grader Nimo made the varsity team, and is so excited about it that she pushes herself to the brink of exhaustion rather than listen to the advice of parents and coach and friends. It's a short, well written, action packed graphic novel. I am massively irritated that this book claims to be by Jake Maddox -- it's not. It's written by Connie R. Colwell, art by Tina Francisco, lettering by Jaymes Reed and cover art by Berenice Muniz. I don't really understand why you need a famous name to sell a book that can absolutely stand alone on its own merits, but such is life.