Review of Sitting Bull Run

[Alice Glover]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Sitting Bull Run" by pat j daly.]

---

5 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

Sitting Bull Run by Pat J Daly is about the cross-country team of St. Theresa High School, a Catholic parish school in Bellport, New York. All seven members of the St. Theresa varsity team of 1974 are colorful and interesting, but the three members Coach Hogan has dubbed "the core three"—Dennis Hurley, William Flanagan, and Peter Walker—are the main characters. Their coach calls them "the core three" because they usually finish cross-country races together. They have also grown up together, and the townsfolk often see them running practice runs in the neighborhood. The three friends routinely run on the parish grounds at night. They drink beer, spy on the parish nuns, and get up to the usual hi-jinks of high-spirited young boys everywhere. This year's team was favored to win the New York State High School Cross-Country Championship, and Coach Hogan has them on a training schedule that he feels will capture the coveted trophy.
Then, a violent incident on the parish grounds involving "the core three" jeopardizes the boys' season and threatens their futures. Monsignor Cassidy, the pastor of St. Theresa's, has the boys' fate in his ambitious, manipulative hands. The priest is no fan of the three boys. He disparagingly calls them "the three little pigs" because of the muddy mess they once made of the parish lawn when they were scuffling about in a rainstorm. He doesn't want bad publicity for his parish because the Vatican has just promoted him to Bishop of Rockville Centre, so the situation is even darker for the boys.
I loved this book. I gave it 5 out of 5 stars, and I don't have much to criticize. I loved the New York neighborhood atmosphere and all the engaging, well-developed characters. However, there was one point in the book when I thought it was wrapping up; all the issues seemed resolved, and it had all the makings of a great Hollywood movie. But then comes Part 3, and the reader learns what happened after that fated high school season—namely to Dennis Hurley, the main protagonist. That was good, too, but the Hollywood movie was already in the bag by Chapter 42. Secondly, the author says that cross-country has its own language and recommends that readers read the glossary of running terms at the back of the book. That section should be moved to the beginning of the book. I read it at the end, and it had a lot of helpful information.
Of course, I would recommend this book to the running community, readers who enjoy sports stories, and anyone who just loves a terrific book about a group of resilient American kids and the triumph of the human spirit.
And as a final note, the great chief is just a plaque on the parish grounds for those who may wonder what Sitting Bull has to do with all this. He serves as the team mascot. Before a competition, the team puts their hands atop Coach Hogan's and yells, "Sitting Bull." Remember, this was 1974, two months after Richard Nixon stepped down. An Indian warrior could still embody all the attributes of a championship season then, and having an Indian mascot was all right then, and that is what I liked most about Sitting Bull Run—the wonderful 1970s American time frame.

******
Sitting Bull Run
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Williams Jaden]

Sitting Bull Run by Pat J Daly follows three friends on St. Theresa High School's cross-country team as they strive for a state championship. When a violent incident threatens their season, their future hangs in the balance under the watch of a manipulative priest. A powerful mix of friendship, competition, and consequences.

[Naimah Agboluaje]

Sitting Bull Run by Pat J Daly seems to be a captivating book that delves into the lives of a cross-country team from St. Theresa High School. The book focuses on the "core three" members of the team, Dennis Hurley, William Flanagan, and Peter Walker, and their journey through a challenging season. The review highlights the engaging characters and the New York neighborhood atmosphere portrayed in the book.

The reviewer thoroughly enjoyed the book, giving it a rating of 5 out of 5 stars. They praised the well-developed characters and the seamless blend of a coming-of-age story with the backdrop of a sports narrative. The review does mention a slight misstep in the structure of the book, where it seemed to be wrapping up before entering into a new section. The reviewer suggests moving the glossary of running terms to the beginning of the book for better readability.

Overall, the review conveys that Sitting Bull Run is a terrific book that will appeal to the running community, sports enthusiasts, and anyone who appreciates a story about resilient American youth and the triumph of the human spirit. With its engaging characters and a touch of nostalgia for the 1970s, it appears to be a good read for those looking for an immersive and inspiring tale.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. Heartwarming story, filled with love and warmth.

[Joe Alex 2]

The mix of cross-country sports, small-town camaraderie, and the challenges faced by young boys in the 1970s makes this story seem both nostalgic and meaningful. I find the team dynamics and the resilience of the characters intriguing, but I don’t think I’ll be picking this one up for now.