The Runaways
The Smiler Trilogy, Book 1
by Victor Canning
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Pub Date 15 Jul 2021 | Archive Date 9 Jul 2021
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Description
On a night of wild storms, two troubled figures escape from captivity.
One is a 15-year-old boy, Samuel Miles, a.k.a. ‘Smiler’, wrongly convicted of theft and sent to a young offenders institution. The other is a cheetah, Yarra, a restless resident of Longleat Wildlife Park.
Both are in danger from the outside world – and each other – but somehow their lives become inextricably bound up as they fight for survival on the edge of Salisbury Plain.
A fast-moving and compassionate adventure story, The Runaways is the first book in Victor Canning's classic children's trilogy.
Advance Praise
'Victor Canning is one of the world's finest story-tellers.' Good Housekeeping
‘A delightful tale by a brilliant thriller writer.’ Daily Mirror
‘Victor Canning is a master of his craft.’ V.S. Pritchett
‘Smiler proves himself to be a resourceful, resilient and very likeable leading character.’ Dan Smith, author of Big Game and Boy X
‘It left me a wreck and soon afterwards I realised the power books and authors had to make us feel deep emotions.’ R.W.R McDonald, author of The Nancys
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781788423489 |
| PRICE | £8.99 (GBP) |
Links
Featured Reviews
Robin P, Reviewer
Like Swallows And Amazons, Greyfriars Bobby, Tarka The Otter, and others, Victor Canning's novel can be read again and again, at any age. This, my fourth reading, brought as much enchantment and pleasure as before.
Victor Canning's love of the countryside permeates every page and his characters - Samuel M. (I won't call him Smiler because he hated it!), Joe, Mrs Lakey and her sister Miss Milly - are unforgettable.
You will shed many tears as the story progresses. A perfect book for anyone and everyone.
Dee H, Reviewer
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC, in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
⭐️ 4 ⭐️
What a wonderful book; not just for the Young Adult audience, but perfect for ancient adults like me too!
A beautiful story about two runaways: 15-year-old Samuel Miles, also known as Smiler (but he hates being called that!) who has absconded from a miserable life in a reform school, and Yarra, a cheetah who has escaped from Longleat Wildlife Park.
Originally published in 1972, The Runaways is a story of survival, friendship and belonging. It features some wonderful characters, who all add a certain charm to this delightful tale.
Told from the perspectives of Samuel and Yarra. I particularly enjoyed Yarra’s narrative; I was fully rooting for her as she adapted to living her new life in the wild. Canning certainly doesn’t sugar-coat how an animal has to kill to survive.
The author was obviously extremely passionate and knowledgeable about wildlife and nature; I could clearly visualise the landscape and the vast array of flora and fauna he described so vividly.
Overall, a lovely, old-fashioned uplifting story, heart-breaking yet heart-warming. Perfect for any adult, be they young or old.
The Runaways is the first book in the ‘Smiler’ trilogy, I’m already looking forward to catching up with Samuel on his next adventure.
Reviewer 282220
Love the stories of Victor Canning. Having read the first in this series, can't wait for the next one. Excellent descriptive writer and storyteller. Worth a read.
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