In the tradition of Uzodinma Iweala's Beasts of No Nation by way of Christopher McDougall's Born to Run, this is the inspirational true story of the Ugandan boy soldier who became a world-renowned runner, then found his calling as director of a world-renowned African children's charity. 

"Julius can't remember who first saw the men. He heard no warning sounds - no dog barking or twig snapping. Until this point, events had moved too swiftly for Julius to be afraid, but now panic seized him. In another instant he realized that his old life was finished." 

Thus begins the extraordinary odyssey of Julius Achon, a journey that takes a barefoot 12-year-old boy from a village in northern Uganda to the rebel camp of the notorious Lord's Resistance Army, where he was made a boy soldier, and then, miraculously, to a career as one of the world's foremost middle-distance runners. But when a devastating tragedy prevents Julius from pursuing gold at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, he is once again set adrift and forced to forge a new path for himself, finally finding his true calling as an internationally recognized humanitarian. Today Julius is the director of the Achon Uganda Children's Fund, a charity whose mission is to improve the quality of life in rural Uganda through access to health care, education, and athletics. 

While pursuing his destiny, Julius encounters a range of unforgettable characters who variously befriend and betray him: the demonic Joseph Kony, a "world-class warlord"; John Cook, a brilliant and eccentric US track coach; Jim Fee, an American businessman who helps Julius build a state-of-the-art medical center deep in the Ugandan bush; and finally Kristina, Julius' mother, whose own tragic journey forms the pivot for this spellbinding narrative of love, loss, suffering, and redemption. 

Written by award-winning sportswriter John Brant, The Boy Who Runs is an empowering tale of obstacles overcome, challenges met, and light wrested from darkness. It's a story about forging your true path and finding your higher purpose - even when the road ahead bends in unexpected directions. 

“Brant proves again why he is one of our best sportswriters, masterfully weaving a compelling narrative of an African country at war, along with the transformation of a young man from athlete to humanitarian.... [Achon’s] life story is a shining example of the Olympic spirit.” (Booklist, starred review)

“Fantastic... Brant does a beautiful job of chronicling the tension.... Indeed, his work is first-rate throughout the book, and it makes for a read-in-one-sitting story.” (Publishers Weekly, starred review)