Review: Running Barefoot by Amy Harmon

Running Barefoot by Amy Harmon

April 5, 2012

443 pages

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Content: Clean with some religious references

Source: Personal purchase

When Josie Jensen, an awkward 13-year-old musical prodigy, crashes headlong into new kid Samuel Yazzie, an 18-year-old Navajo boy full of anger and confusion, an unlikely friendship blooms. Josie teaches Samuel about words, music, and friendship, and along the way finds a kindred spirit. Upon graduation, Samuel abandons the sleepy, small town in search of a future and a life, leaving his young mentor behind. Many years go by, and Samuel returns to find his old friend in need of the very things she offered him years before. Their roles reversed, Samuel teaches Josie about life, love, and letting go.

Deeply romantic and poignant, 'Running Barefoot' is the story of a small town girl and a Native American boy, the ties that bind us to our homes and families, and the love that gives us wings.

What a beautiful story this is. Really, it's more of a journey. A journey through one girl's life into womanhood, her heartbreaks and heartaches, her hopes and dreams, her doubts and discouragement, and her persistence to throw away the past that holds her down and run into her future. A future of love and hope and happiness, if she allows it.

Josie and Samuel meet on a school bus and an unlikely friendship develops between them. On the outside, they are a 13-year-old and an 18-year-old, a blonde girl and a Navajo boy, a musical prodigy and an outsider. But underneath the surface are two souls who understand each other. What ensues are years of life lived not quite together, yet not far from each other's minds, and an incredible journey of friendship, misunderstanding, honor, heartache, compassion, and a deep love that can overcome anything if given the chance.

I cannot, or will not, go into great depth into this story because it is such a wide-sweeping journey that I'm afraid to give too much away. This is one of those special stories you will want to read and experience for yourself. And like me, be prepared to fall in love with Sam and Josie and their incredible love story.

AMAZON ~ GOODREADS