As Fast As I Can

Full disclosure: I made friends with Penny Tangey years ago when we both attended a literary festival at a school in Queensland. She was a baby author back then, having just published her first book, Loving Richard Feynman, which I adored. I spotted As Fast As I Can in a street library -- I've had a few good finds lately!

As Fast As I Can was published in 2020 and it won both the Readings Prize and the Queensland Literary Award, and rightly so, because it's terrific. Ten year old Vivian wants to go to the Olympics. After trying and failing at several different sports, she discovers that she is actually a talented long distance runner. But when her mum is diagnosed with a genetic heart condition, it might mean the end of Vivian's Olympic dream.

As Fast As I Can is filled with Tangey's droll humour, perfectly pitched to a young audience, but as all the best kids' books are, thoroughly engaging and funny for an adult reader, too. Vivian's story is a poignant one but it's never sentimental, and there is plenty in here about changing friendships, healthy choices and family relationships, as well as hopes and dreams. Even though I've never been a runner or indeed sporty in any way, I really loved it.