The Recommended Reading Order
Gordon Korman's On the Run is a highly serialized adventure series. Because the story functions as one continuous cross-country chase, you must read the books in their exact publication order. Jumping ahead or reading out of order will result in major spoilers and make the plot difficult to follow.
Once you finish the main six books, the story continues immediately with the Kidnapped sequel trilogy, which features the same protagonists and picks up right where the original series ends.
Part 1: The On the Run Series
- Chasing the Falconers (2005)
- The Fugitive Factor (2005)
- Now You See Them, Now You Don't (2005)
- The Stowaway Solution (2005)
- Public Enemies (2005)
- Hunting the Hunter (2006)
Part 2: The Kidnapped Sequel Trilogy
- The Abduction (2006)
- The Search (2006)
- The Rescue (2006)
On the Run: A Closer Look at the Books
1. Chasing the Falconers (2005)
The adventure kicks off at Sunnydale Farm, a juvenile detention center in Nebraska where fifteen-year-old Aiden Falconer and his eleven-year-old sister, Meg, are being held. Their parents, who are prominent criminologists, have been falsely convicted of treason and sentenced to life in prison. When a fire breaks out at the facility, the siblings seize the opportunity to escape. Now fugitives, they set out to find Frank Lindenauer, a family friend and former CIA agent who holds the key to proving their parents' innocence. Along the way, they must evade local authorities, the FBI, and a terrifying assassin known only as "Hairless Joe."
2. The Fugitive Factor (2005)
Now in Boston, Aiden and Meg continue their search for Lindenauer, focusing on his past associates. However, their fugitive status makes every step perilous. The stakes rise dramatically when Meg is cornered and captured by the police. Locked away once more, it is up to Aiden to formulate a high-stakes, daring rescue plan to break his sister out before she is permanently relocated, keeping their quest for justice alive.
3. Now You See Them, Now You Don't (2005)
The search for Frank Lindenauer leads the Falconers to the west coast. Arriving in Los Angeles, they attempt to track down Lindenauer's former girlfriend. Stranded in a massive city without resources, they must navigate the dangerous streets and form an uneasy alliance with a local street gang. With the FBI closing in and Hairless Joe tracking their every move, the siblings must use all their wits to survive the urban jungle.
4. The Stowaway Solution (2005)
Desperate to reach Denver to investigate new leads, Aiden and Meg decide that traveling by land is too risky. They sneak aboard a industrial cargo ship, hoping for a safe passage. Instead, they face a double threat: a violent, unforgiving storm at sea and a crew that grows increasingly suspicious of their presence. Forced to flee the vessel on a life raft, the siblings are separated. Aiden is captured by the persistent FBI Agent Emmanuel Harris, leaving Meg to stage another dramatic rescue to keep them both free.
5. Public Enemies (2005)
The Falconers' luck is wearing thin. Thanks to 24/7 media coverage, Aiden and Meg have become household names and the most famous fugitives in America. Recognizing their faces is now a national pastime, making travel almost impossible. Despite this, they reach Denver to investigate HORUS, a shadowy conspiracy group linked to the treason charges. They must work fast to uncover the connection before the combined forces of the public, the FBI, and Hairless Joe catch up to them.
6. Hunting the Hunter (2006)
The thrilling conclusion to the original series features a final showdown. Cornered and tired of running, Aiden and Meg decide to stop evading their pursuers and instead turn the tables on their greatest threat: the assassin Hairless Joe. By trapping the hunter, they hope to force the truth into the open, clear their parents' names, and finally reunite their fractured family.
The Sequel Trilogy: Kidnapped
If you finish Hunting the Hunter and want to know what happens next, you are in luck. Gordon Korman wrote a follow-up trilogy in 2006 titled Kidnapped. The series begins immediately after the Falconer parents are exonerated and released from prison.
Just as the family is beginning to rebuild their lives, Meg is suddenly abducted. Aiden must team up with FBI Agent Emmanuel Harris—their former pursuer turned ally—to find her. The search takes them across the country once again, testing their resourcefulness to the limit in The Abduction, The Search, and The Rescue.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into the series, here are a few key details to keep in mind:
- Target Audience: The books are targeted at middle-grade readers (ages 9–12), but the fast-paced plotting and suspenseful cliffhangers make them highly engaging for young adults and older readers as well.
- Serialized Format: Unlike many children's series where books can be read in any order, On the Run is a single continuous story arc. Think of it as a television show split across six brief volumes.
- Tone and Style: The writing is lean, action-oriented, and features short chapters. Korman focuses heavily on survival, sibling loyalty, resourcefulness, and the moral complexities of breaking minor laws (like stealing food or trespassing) for a greater good.
Practical Reader Advice
Can the books be read as standalones?
No. The books do not contain self-contained mysteries. Each book begins exactly where the previous one left off, often in the middle of a chase or a cliffhanger. You must read them in sequence.
Where is the best starting point?
You must start with book one, Chasing the Falconers. Starting anywhere else will leave you confused about the plot and the characters' motivations.
Are there any spin-offs or tie-ins?
The only spin-off is the Kidnapped sequel trilogy. There are no external short stories, companion guides, or alternative perspectives to worry about, making this an easy series to collect and read.