MacKenzie's Last Run

Winner of the Midwest Book Award!
Teachers' Pick! ~ on Amazon

13 year-old Mac, who secretly blames himself for his father’s death, runs away to stop his widowed mother from remarrying but ends up seriously injured, miles from home, while clues inadvertently left behind suggest he’s been kidnapped—possibly by Mom’s fiancé—and set his twin sister Tessa on a desperate search to find him.

Gayle loves all kinds of stories, but she especially enjoys a good survival story. As a writer, it was probably only a matter of time before she wrote one. MacKenzie’s Last Run is that story. Purchase links are below:

Educators please find discussion questions and a curriculum guide below:

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Here's what reviewers are saying:

“An emotionally authentic representation of the legacy of gun violence." Kirkus Reviews

"A highly recommended, emotionally compelling survival tale."  Midwest Book Review

"Heart-pounding, fast-paced, and unputdownable"

"A poignant story of loss, grief, healing, and hope that grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let go."

"Another beautiful, must-read story from Rosengren."

"Would make a great classroom read!"

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"In an emotional, gripping, and important story, Rosengren shares what we rarely see years after a mass shooting: the long-term impact on the family left behind. Heart-pounding, fast-paced, and unputdownable, this story provides an eye-opening view into rebuilding life from the ashes of guilt and grief in order to redefine family, love, and, most of all, hope for a future." -Liza Weimer, author of The Assignment

"MacKenzie’s Last Run is a poignant story of loss, grief, healing, and hope that grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let go. This is another beautiful, must-read story from Rosengren and one that will resonate with readers struggling with losses of their own." -Valerie Biel, author of the award-winning Circle of Nine series

MacKenzie’s Last Run is a survival story of the best kind; one that shows both emotional and physical struggles. Sadly, it’s also a timely novelWould make a great classroom read. -Amy Laundrie, retired teacher, author of Stranded on Castaway Island

MacKenzie’s Last Run is a survival story that explores the aftermath of tragedy and the myriad of ways we carry its echoes with us. 

 Active shooter drills are commonplace now, and many people have been directly and indirectly affected by mass shootings in this country. This book tackles the fear head-on, but it does so in a way that most kids will be able to process

A riveting story of survival in the face of painful loss. -Nicole M. Hewitt, Middle Grade writer and host of Feed Your Fiction Addiction blog.

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