BOOKS ABOUT CHRIS CRUTCHER
CHRIS CRUTCHER: A STOTAN FOR YOUNG ADULTS -- Now Available!
by Bryan Gillis and Pam B. Cole
Publication Date: October 2012
Scarecrow Press
Chris Crutcher is a literary icon in the field of young adult literature. With his first book, Running Loose, published in 1983, Crutcher established a reputation for giving young adults a voice in realistic fiction. Since then, Crutcher has written a number of books with spot-on depictions of young adults growing through hard times, including Ironman, Whale Talk, Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, and Stotan!
In Chris Crutcher: A Stotan for Young Adults, Bryan Gillis and Pam B. Cole examine the life, career, and works of this young adult advocate. This volume opens with a never-before-published comprehensive portrait of the author’s life, gleaned from numerous conversations with Crutcher. The authors explore Crutcher’s childhood, his adolescent years, his life as an adult, and his career as a family counselor and examine how those experiences became fodder for his stories. The authors also discuss Crutcher's experiences with censorship and his philosophical stance.
In this volume, Gillis and Cole also analyze Crutcher’s novels, short stories, and novellas, examining his literary craft and such social themes as bigotry, identity, sexuality, relationships, and loss—themes almost always positioned within a sports story. The authors also discuss Crutcher’s novel, Period.8., which is a sweeping departure from his previous young adult novels and short stories. The analysis of this book focuses on Crutcher’s treatment of teen sexuality.
The most comprehensive study of his life and work to date, this book benefits tremendously from the cooperation of Crutcher himself. Generally known to be reserved about private matters, Crutcher talks candidly about his life as a child, teenager, and young man and how these experiences helped shape his character and his stories. His cooperative spirit gives voice to a book that could easily have been a stale literary analysis. As such, Chris Crutcher: A Stotan for Young Adults will appeal not only to teachers and librarians, but to students who have been enthralled by the works of this generous writer.
Bryan Gillis is an Assistant Professor of English Education and Literacy and the Undergraduate Coordinator for Middle Grades Education at Kennesaw State University. He has published several articles on linking reading and writing strategies with YA literature.
Pam B. Cole is Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies and Professor of English Education at Kennesaw State University in Georgia. She is the author of the textbook, Young Adult Literature in the 21st Century.
Teaching the Selected Works
of Chris Crutcher (2008)
I almost wish this book weren’t about my work because it wouldn’t seem quite so self-serving to tout it for its amazing information about teaching good books in general. This is good stuff. —Chris Crutcher
Why is Chris Crutcher a favorite of adolescents across the country as well as with critics and award panels? Because he talks honestly about issues that matter. Why should you teach him? Because those are the issues that matter most to students. Teaching the Selected Works of Chris Crutcher will get you started.
In Teaching the Selected Works of Chris Crutcher you’ll see how four of Crutcher’s novels draw students to literature and help them respond authentically.
READ MORE ABOUT IT HERE!
Why is Chris Crutcher a favorite of adolescents across the country as well as with critics and award panels? Because he talks honestly about issues that matter. Why should you teach him? Because those are the issues that matter most to students. Teaching the Selected Works of Chris Crutcher will get you started.
In Teaching the Selected Works of Chris Crutcher you’ll see how four of Crutcher’s novels draw students to literature and help them respond authentically.
READ MORE ABOUT IT HERE!
Chris Crutcher (2005)
ROSEN BIOGRAPHY
Published in 2005, this 114 page biography falls short, in part because author Michael A. Sommers never spoke to Chris or had his close associates review it for accuracy. One particularly glaring quotes states that Crutcher, "never even lived with a woman." Not true, and somewhat misleading. Sommers also said, "Ultimately, Crutcher likes sports because he views them as one of the few areas in life in which the rules are clear and easy to follow," a philosophy actually expressed by Louie Banks, a character in RUNNING LOOSE, not CC himself. Not necessarily bad, but not what it could have been.
Twayne: Presenting Chris Crutcher (1997)
PRESENTING CHRIS CRUTCHER
Now out of print, this extensive biography of Chris Crutcher's life and literature was written by his close friend Terry Davis and published by Scarecrow Press in 1997. In 2011, Scarecrow will publish a new biography about Crutcher by Dr. Bryan Gillis and Dr. Pam Cole. More about that exciting new project as soon as it is available.
ANTHOLOGIES
GUYS READ: The Sports Pages (2012)
Ten stories guaranteed to put you in the ring, under the basket, and right behind home plate, from the following perennial all-stars:
Dustin Brown
James Brown
Joseph Bruchac
Chris Crutcher
Tim Green
Dan Gutman
Gordon Korman
Chris Rylander
Anne Ursu
Jacqueline Woodson
with illustrations by Dan Santat
Dustin Brown
James Brown
Joseph Bruchac
Chris Crutcher
Tim Green
Dan Gutman
Gordon Korman
Chris Rylander
Anne Ursu
Jacqueline Woodson
with illustrations by Dan Santat
Cornered (2012)
It does not necessarily take a fist to create a punch in the gut. This fourteen-story YA fiction anthology delves into the experience of being bullied—socially, emotionally, physically, psychologically, and sexually. The school hallways, walks home, and house walls are no longer the boundaries for intimidation and harassment. With the rapid-fire response time of social media and smartphones, bullying has lost all limits, and the lines among truth, lies, and real accountability have become blurred.
Featuring a forward by Chris Crutcher and some of the hottest voices in YA literature, both bestselling and on the rise, Cornered includes works from Kirsten Miller , Jennifer Brown, Elizabeth Miles, Jaime Adoff , Lish McBride , Matthue Roth, Sheba Karim, Kate Ellison, Zeta Elliot, Josh Berk, and James Lecesne, founder of the Trevor Project).
Featuring a forward by Chris Crutcher and some of the hottest voices in YA literature, both bestselling and on the rise, Cornered includes works from Kirsten Miller , Jennifer Brown, Elizabeth Miles, Jaime Adoff , Lish McBride , Matthue Roth, Sheba Karim, Kate Ellison, Zeta Elliot, Josh Berk, and James Lecesne, founder of the Trevor Project).
Girl Meets Boy (2012)
GIRL MEETS BOY
... is a collection of story pairs -- twelve stories exploring the male AND female points of view on the same six events. CC paired with his assistant, writer Kelly Milner Halls. Published by Chronicle in January of 2012. For more about GIRL MEETS BOY, see Kelly's YA website: www.kellymilnerhalls-ya.com.
Discussion guide available HERE.
Owning It (2007)
OWNING IT
Chris Crutcher takes us on a wild ride through the mind of a teen with ADD, while David Lubar’s protagonist gets a sobering lesson from his friends. In Gail Giles’s tale, Brad can’t help barking at his classmates but finds understanding when he gives a comical (and informative) presentation to his entire school. And Robert Lipsyte introduces us to an elite task force whose number-one enemy is cancer. Whether their disabilities are physical or psychological, the subjects of these powerful short stories — written by ten outstanding young adult authors — meet every day with wit, intelligence, and courage.
Chris Crutcher takes us on a wild ride through the mind of a teen with ADD, while David Lubar’s protagonist gets a sobering lesson from his friends. In Gail Giles’s tale, Brad can’t help barking at his classmates but finds understanding when he gives a comical (and informative) presentation to his entire school. And Robert Lipsyte introduces us to an elite task force whose number-one enemy is cancer. Whether their disabilities are physical or psychological, the subjects of these powerful short stories — written by ten outstanding young adult authors — meet every day with wit, intelligence, and courage.
Guys Write for Guys Read
Compiled by Jon Scieszka Hardcover Anthology 288 pages, $15.99 Viking Children's Books May 2005 Ages 11 and up ISBN 0670060070
In this wide-ranging, guy centric collection of stories and illustrations, Stephen King realizes that having your 200 pound babysitter fart on your head and say "pow" prepares you for literary criticism. While Daniel Handler, otherwise known as Lemony Snicket, finds out what it means to stand up for your rights for the first time. With other features by Matt Groening, Lloyd Alexander, Garth Nix, Neil Gaiman, Christopher Paolini, Brian Jacques, Lane Smith and more...this anthology will have something that any boy can relate to and enjoy. Features stories by Chris Crutcher and Terry Davis, along with those mentioned in the publisher text. And check out the new GUYS READ website: www.guysread.com.
In this wide-ranging, guy centric collection of stories and illustrations, Stephen King realizes that having your 200 pound babysitter fart on your head and say "pow" prepares you for literary criticism. While Daniel Handler, otherwise known as Lemony Snicket, finds out what it means to stand up for your rights for the first time. With other features by Matt Groening, Lloyd Alexander, Garth Nix, Neil Gaiman, Christopher Paolini, Brian Jacques, Lane Smith and more...this anthology will have something that any boy can relate to and enjoy. Features stories by Chris Crutcher and Terry Davis, along with those mentioned in the publisher text. And check out the new GUYS READ website: www.guysread.com.
On the Fringe (2001)
ON THE FRINGE
...has been called one of Don Gall's best anthologies, to date. Crutcher's short story, "Guns for Geeks," is drawn from the original Whale Talk storyline -- sacked after Columbine make the Moses Lake incident little more than a footnote in the violent history of school shootings. Published in 2001, the same year the "new" Whale Talk was released.
Time Capsule (1999)
TIME CAPSULE
... also edited by Don Gallo and published in 1999, features Crutcher's "Fourth and Too Long," a story that explores a football players journey, including why his coach won't allow long hair in the 1960s, when his Native American counterpart will. .
Dirty Laundry (1998)
DIRTY LAUNDRY
...edited by Lisa Rowe Fraustino and published in 1998 by Viking features Crutcher's short story, "Popeye the Sailor," a story of the generational impact of child abuse. With unflinching honesty, Crutcher maps out one victim's struggle and evolution. Heartbreaking but powerful.
Cicada, November 1998
A BRIEF MOMENT IN THE LIFE OF ANGUS BETHUNE also appeared in the November 1998 issue of Cicada Magazine, a literary magazine for YA readers produced by the Carus Publishing Group.
Prejudice (1995)
PREJUDICE: STORIES ABOUT HATE, IGNORANCE, REVELATION & TRANSFORMATION
...an anthology published in 1995 by Hyperion and edited by Daphne Muse, featured "A Brief Moment in the Life of Angus Bethune." A story also in Connections (1990) and Athletic Shorts (1991), it became the inspiration for ANGUS, a film that had heart, but few other things in common with the original story.
Ultimate Sports (1995)
ULTIMATE SPORTS
...a Don Gallo anthology published in 1995 by Delacorte Press includes Crutcher's short story, "Superboy." Bo Brewster, the protagonist in Crutcher's novel "Ironman" returns to help Clark, a mentally challenged victim of extreme physical abuse, compete in a triatholon. Experience helps Crutcher capture the authentic voice of a mentally disabled young adult. Heart builds the fictional relationship between Bo and Clark to a moving and believable end.
Author Insights (1992)
AUTHOR'S INSIGHTS:
TURNING TEENAGERS INTO
READERS & WRITERS...
... is an autobiographical anthology featuring the work of Crutcher and eleven other writers. "Healing through Literature," is CC's essay in this collection edited by Don Gallo in 1992. Compiled for teachers of young readers and writers.
TURNING TEENAGERS INTO
READERS & WRITERS...
... is an autobiographical anthology featuring the work of Crutcher and eleven other writers. "Healing through Literature," is CC's essay in this collection edited by Don Gallo in 1992. Compiled for teachers of young readers and writers.
Connections (1990)
CONNECTIONS
...is an anthology edited by Don Gallo (1990) and was the first to feature "A Brief Moment in the Life of Angus Bethune," later featured in another anthology and in CC's own short story collection, Athletic Shorts (1991). Described as a collection of light, romantic stories.
