Chasing Hope: A Distance Running Novel is the story of Jake and Keinan, two unlikely high school cross- country teammates who work to overcome their respective challenges. Jake O’Malley is a talented distance runner from a tough, working-class neighborhood. He dreams of the running scholarship to Northwestern State University awarded annually to the top senior from his county. However, to achieve his lofty goal Jake must work to overcome the challenge of an alcoholic mother, absent father and a team with no running tradition. While Jake struggles to overcome his challenges in America, Keinan’s idyllic life in Somalia is torn apart by a warlord who attacks his beautiful village. Keinan and his brother face many challenges as they travel across Somalia attempting to reach the relative safety of a Kenyan refugee camp. Keinan eventually ends up as a refugee in Jake’s hometown where his distance running skills are soon discovered. Will Keinan’s phenomenal running talent help pull Jake forward or will Keinan earn the scholarship for himself and crush Jake’s dream?