Freedom and control
Amber feels trapped by her father’s rules, his expectations and her own fears, and wants to make choices about her life.
Book details
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Manjeet Mann - Author
This is an emotionally intense verse novel about a young person seeking freedom within a controlling family situation. Its rhythmic, varied presentation foregrounds Amber’s inner life, while running, friendship and resistance provide movement and moments of agency.
Book Brief
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Sign in for personalised guidanceThis is an emotionally intense verse novel about a young person seeking freedom within a controlling family situation. Its rhythmic, varied presentation foregrounds Amber’s inner life, while running, friendship and resistance provide movement and moments of agency.
Amber feels trapped by her father’s rules, his expectations and her own fears, and wants to make choices about her life.
Amber is described as fighting for her mother and sister while living with an abusive, controlling father.
Running gives Amber a sense of freedom and peace, while the novel uses rhythm, spacing, fonts and varied verse forms.
The book includes domestic abuse, fear within the family, controlling expectations, ill-treatment, alcoholism and emotionally difficult material. It also addresses cultural or community expectations, school life, friendship and the pressure of making choices for oneself and others.
This is a grounded book brief while Suitabook strengthens the analysis: some draft conclusions still depend on unresolved evidence.
The Mallinson Library, Wellington College | ‘Run, Rebel’ by Manjeet Mann – Virtual Author Talk
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Checked: 20 September 2026.
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