Chris was born in 1947. He's been a teacher, he is a therapist... and he was a teenager. All these experiences are reflected in his writing. His books are funny, and sad, and great reading. Two of his books - Athletic shorts and Running loose appear on the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000! Chris' books continue to be challenged. Want to read what the problem is? Read the Censorship section on Chris' page.
He won the 2000 Margaret A. Edwards Award - honouring a lifetime contribution of writing for teens.
Chris' 'ill-advised' autobiography.
Dillon writes letters to his brother Preston. Problem is - Dillon saw Preston commit suicide. And Preston's left a lot of crap behind for Dillon to deal with - then there's Dillon's friend Jen and her problems. This is one of Crutcher's hardest hitting books - and that's saying a lot!
A high school athlete, frustrated at being handicapped after an accident, runs away from home and is helped back to mental and physical health by a black benefactor and the people in a special school where he enrolls.
Bo and his father really don't get along. When Bo decides to enter Yukon Jack's Ironman there's all these new ways for them to clash. Bo details his life in letters to talkshow host Larry King. Bo's coach is Lion - from Stotan! And in his classmates from anger management Bo finds his Stotans.
Louie, a high school senior in a small Idaho town, learns about sportsmanship, love, and death as he matures into manhood.
(reprinted as The secrets of Sarah Byrnes)
In the beginning they were friends because they had cases of the "terminal uglies" now Moby and Sarah Byrnes are friends because they need each other. When Sarah Byrnes admits how she was burnt Moby needs to pull on all his resources to help her.
Four 18-year-olds form strong friendships when they come together as part of a swimming team. Have you ever had a Stotan moment? Read it and see.
TJ is attitude on legs. Forced to join a school sports team he forms a swim team made up of misfits - then he battles to have them recognised as athletes by the school.
Chris's short stories
Chris has also written a short story in the short story collection, On the fringe, 'Guns for Geeks'. It's the short story that developed out of the original plan for Whale talk, which was shelved after the Columbine High School shooting.
Chris has also written a short story that appears in Time capsule: short stories about teenagers throughout the Twentieth Century - 'Fourth and too long', set during 1960 to 1969. Benny's hair's too long for his football coach - so he's taken off the team because he won't cut it. Coach believes long hair's just the first step to being a commie - so he's standing firm. And Benny's just so grateful something covers up his ears - he's never going to cut his hair! |
