BOOK NOOK: ‘Run Cheche, Run’ by Tony Mochama

Tony Mochama’s Run Cheche, Run is an exhilarating, funny, compelling, solidly plotted story by a master raconteur.

Sometimes, the desire for accolades can lead a person into the eye of unmitigated twisted circumstances too much even for one who can show the wind a clean pair of heels.

UNASSUMING RUNNING TALENT

Cheche Chepchirchir is your typical teen in high school with unassuming talent for the 1500 metres track race. She lives with her father Dan, a widower and single father who has been taking care of her since her sixth birthday. Her mother had passed away in a 2007-08 post-election murderous episode somewhere in Naivasha, events she can vaguely put to mind.

Seemingly, Dan has put on hold plans to remarry to concentrate on bringing up his daughter while building his boda boda business in Eldoret.

He goes through the motions of coming to terms with his daughter’s maturity such as dealing with her menses; he wisely gives her space while extending a helpful hand from a distance.

THE ‘POCKET ROCKET’

Cheche trains every morning with her dad before leaving for school and reaps big. She outruns a Zonal champ making a bitter older, school rival in the process.

The ‘Pocket Rocket’, as described by the media, wins the county title with an eye on the regionals and nationals that would see the triumphant representing the country in the World Junior Championships in Montreal, Canada.

The best and talented track runners are from her backyard. Cheche’s ability and observable talent of rocketing past her rivals like statues in an ancient Roman palace put her at a superb position for regional and national glory that could change her life.

A MOMENT OF HORROR

Change does come, though in troubling, sinister developments that will culminate in a whiz journey of sheer terror, hurried decision-making and hope.

Every single sentence is a dose of captivating narration that will take you from their cottage somewhere in the woodlands of Eldoret, the streets of Eldoret for an action-packed boda boda intrigue and meet up with a shady character to titillating drama in school with teachers and ill-meaning students with ominous plans.

Her home will never be the same again as a lovely intruder makes her way into the pious space she shares with her father.

Cheche’s teen tantrums and childish disposition will face a real test. For a girl who seems to zoom past every hurdle and obstacle with dazzling speed and success, she might have chewed more than she can swallow as well-hatched arson camouflage the plans of well-connected cunning terrorists.

The pocket rocket might have to run harder to save more than just one life.

MESMERISING IMAGERY

Run Cheche, Runfuses normal challenges of a teen and her father as they live their life in an ordinary way. Imagery runs the story to fascinating levels as the plot, twists and turns hit a high pitched crescendo you will love delving into.

There is nothing like a good read that cuts across the age bracket and Tony Mochama’s Run Cheche, Run ranks very well in that regard.

Published under the National Book Development Council of Kenya by East African Educational Publishers Ltd, Run Cheche, Run is a CODE’s Burt Award winner for African Literature.

Burt Award books are chiefly meant to give readers access to top quality, enjoyable and engaging reads depicting settings from easily identifiable environments that give life and breathe to the story as Run Cheche, Run skilfully does.

The young adult particularly will love the book for its ability to hone language excellence and nurture comprehension skills.