ABANDONED. YA fiction about a boy who is passionate about running and athletics who suffers an illness for a few months

[Ingolsby]

Book for teens. Main character is called Dave, who is passionate about athletics and running but who has suffered an illness for a few months which halts his progress in athletics. He becomes close with a girl called Helen ,who is nice to him throughout the illness and with whom he has been friends with since primary school. He helps her read lines for the play she is starring in (which is The importance of being Earnest).

Dave also has a recurring dream in which he is running on a track with everyone watching and cheering him on but then begins to float up in to the air before crashing down to earth and awaking in a sweat.

In a scene, Dave and his father are reading the newspapers, the Independent on Sunday and the Observer, so I presume it is set in the UK.

A particular year is hard to discern from the extract that my nephew has read of it. He is super keen to find the book so any help at all on this, or suggestions, would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Rainbowheart]

Do you happen to know when your nephew read about it?

Any clue whether it's a new release or an older publication?

[Ingolsby]

Rainbowheart wrote: "Do you happen to know when your nephew read about it?

Any clue whether it's a new release or an older publication?"

He read it last month in his friend's house but very difficult to figure out its publication date from the content. He thinks it may have been used in an English class. It is just that he happens to be going through something similar in his life and really enjoyed the extract so is keen to get the book and read all of it.
Thanks for your help.

[Kris]

Ingolsby, please post a new comment if you're still looking for this book - or if you found it.

Ingolsby (OP) was last active on the site in May 2020. Moving to Abandoned folder.