Heartbeat, by Sharon Creech

Heartbeat, by Sharon Creech. ISBN # 0-439-76400-9

Heartbeat is a novel written in free verse poetry that flows beautifully and deeply describes the comings and goings of twelve-year-old Anne. Anne’s twelfth year has brought many changes, such as the new baby in her family, her grandpa going senile, and a constant give and take with her friend Max.

Anne loves to run, but not to be fast, not to win races, but just to run for the beauty in it. There is something about the way her feet feel when she is crushing the leaves. Max, on the other hand, needs to win. He need for running is to be the fastest. Max urges Anne to join the girls’ track team, but this is not what Anne wants, and Max has trouble understanding this.

Anne is close to her grandpa and she has to deal with him slipping in and out of senility.
An unexpected school art assignment helps Anne understand that you have to look at life in many different angles. Her art teacher assigns her class to make a drawing of the same apple 100 days in a row. Anne realizes that there are many ways to look at the ever-changing apple, and the same applies to life. This revelation helps Anne to understand Max, her senile grandpa, and the addition of a new baby to her household.

This is a quiet, gentle book that flows like a river. It was a true joy to read. Like Walk Two Moons, Sharon Creech has the ability to write novels that appeal both to tweens, teens and adults.