The Sledding Hill by Chris Crutcher, with a cameo appearance by ... Chris Crutcher?

kiya@evpl — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 20:58:00 GMT

Chris Crutcher writes controversial books. Some folks don't like the language he uses, though he will argue that he only uses language that teens themselves use. Some folks don't like the issues he addresses, and he will respond that the issues he addresses are issues that teens face, and that they need ways to explore those issues.

There are similarities to many of Crutcher's books. Most take place in small towns in the Northwestern part of the US. Many of his characters use sports to cope with some aspect of their lives. Most of the issues Crutcher talks about don't have clear-cut right or wrong answers, which is often the source of the conflict in the books.

Crutcher's characters always seem real to me, and Eddie from The Sledding Hill enchanted me from the start. His friend Billy explains:

In fifth grade, when my dad discovered Eddie scored sixty-five on his IQ test, he asked Eddie what happened, because Dad knew that couldn't be right. "I was answering the questions," Eddie said, "and then I started seeing what a neat pattern I was making filling in those little ovals, and before I knew it I was making neater and neater patterns."

The Sledding Hill is about Eddie, and his learning to cope after suffering two great losses in a short period of time. One of the things he finds that helps him is the book Warren Peece that his English class is reading. The book (which doesn't really exist) is written by Chris Crutcher, the controversial author. Surprise - some folks object to the book, and Eddie's minister tries to get it removed from the curriculum. Suddenly, Eddie is in the middle of another mess, and trying to find his way out. Crutcher even makes a guest appearance at the school board hearing.

This wasn't my favorite book by Crutcher, but I laughed out loud at parts of it, and enjoyed meeting Eddie and his friends. If my kids weren't so busy with schoolwork right now, I'd make them read it, but it will have to wait for summer vacation. Oh, what IS my favorite Crutcher book? Ummm, Whale Talk. No, The Crazy Horse Electric Game. Or maybe Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes... It's hard to pick just one...

Books at EVPL by Chris Crutcher
Books about Chris Crutcher at EVPL
Chris Crutcher's website
Purchase The Sledding Hill at Amazon and benefit the Public Library Friends

If you only had a short time to live...

kiya@evpl — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:28:00 GMT

What if you only had a short while to live? What would it change about how you live? Would you take more chances or fewer risks? Would you tell everyone, a few close friends, or no one? Would you make plans for the future or focus on making memories for those you would leave behind?

Chris Crutcher explores this issue in Deadline, the story of 18 year old Ben Wolf. While at the doctor for his sports checkup, he learns that something is not right with his blood. Further tests show that he has a rare blood disease that is certain to kill him - aggressive treatment might extend things a bit, but there is no "long-term" left in his world. All of this happens in the first ten pages of the book. Then Ben starts wrestling with the big questions - what is the best use of the time he has left? What meaning will his life have had once he's gone? What risks are worth taking? As always, Crutcher explores these issues with a side order of humor.

Forever Changes, by Brendan Halpin, also looks at these questions. Brianna Pelletier is a high school senior, gifted in mathematics, who also has Cystic Fibrosis. Her case is fairly severe, and she doesn't think she has a whole lot of time left. All of her friends and classmates are making plans for college and the future, and she's not so sure she has a future to consider. Halpin is good at grabbing the reader's interest. My son picked up the book, thinking he'd read a chapter or two, and finished the book a few hours later.

Interestingly enough, both books have a music link. Ben Wolf finds that the song Too Old to Die Young resonates with him, while Brianna discovers a CD called Forever Changes by the group Love touches her deeply. You can find both of these at EVPL - see the links below.

Deadline, by Chris Crutcher
Chris Crutcher's website
Too Old to Die Young on Linda Ronstadt's Adieu False Heart
Forever Changes by Brendan Halpin
Brendan Halpin's blog
Brendan Halpin's MySpace
Love's Forever Changes

Love's Forever Changes concert

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Moe Bandy's version of Too Old to Die Young

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Teens Blog : Chris Crutcher, death and dying

The Sledding Hill by Chris Crutcher, with a cameo appearance by ... Chris Crutcher?

If you only had a short time to live...