SOLVED. Fiction book about a boy of color, runs through the woods/forest barefoot, maybe starts bleeding(?) and is absorbed by the mud. Natural imagery, not a very threatening scene. [s]

[Alicia]

I read this book as a young adult, likely late elementary to middle school years (grades 4-7 likely; years 2005-2010). Definitely fiction. Maybe offered during a Scholastic Book Fair but also might have been required reading for the class. I think the book is centered around a young boy of color (maybe Native American ?). Vivid memory of a scene from the book: the boy is running through dense brush/woods. He is barefoot. The plants around him have thorns, maybe vines too. His feet begin to bleed (because he's been running for too long?) and he loses energy, trips, and falls. Once he is lying on the forest floor, the book details a harmony between his blood and the ground's mud, like he is providing life to the forest and the forest is taking it from him. I believe this is the boy's death. I do not think he gets up after this happens, rather he becomes a part of the forest/thicket around him. My only other note is that he might have been in an unnourished state - maybe dehydrated (?) and possibly running from or to a voice or the memory of a voice (I think a father). He has to run this long distance through the woods for some reason and may have started running at or near a beach.

[Mighty_felix]

Is it Messenger by Lois Lowry? The climactic scene sounds extremely similar to what you've described. The only thing is I don't remember the boy's race being mentioned.

[Alicia]

Yes! A thousand times yes! I NEVER would have found this otherwise. You're right, I was wrong about the boy's race - it's likely never mentioned though recent covers suggest he is white. Thank you so much Mighty-felix, I am over the moon.

[Kris]

Glad you found your book, Alicia. Here's the link for Mighty_felix's find - Messenger by Lois Lowry.

[Mighty_felix]

Yay, happy I could help! I just read this one within the last couple of years. The rest of the series is very good, too.