Chris Crutcher
Encyclopedia
Biography
Crutcher was born to a World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
bomber pilot and a homemaker on July 17, 1946, in Dayton, Ohio. They later moved to Cascade
Cascade, Idaho
Cascade is a rural city in and the county seat of Valley County, Idaho, United States, in the west central part of the state. It sits at an elevation of , along the North Fork of the Payette River...
, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, where Crutcher grew up.
He graduated from Eastern Washington State College (now called Eastern Washington University
Eastern Washington University
Eastern Washington University is an American public, coeducational university located in Cheney, Washington.Founded in 1882, the university is academically divided into four colleges: Arts and Letters; Business and Public Administration; Science, Health and Engineering; and Social & Behavioral...
) with a BA in psychology and sociology. He taught primary and secondary school in California and Washington before beginning his writing career. More detailed information is included in his autobiography, King of the Mild Frontier: An Ill-Advised Autobiography.
Chris Crutcher's biography Presenting Chris Crutcher (1997, Twayne Publishers) was penned by fellow Spokane born author Terry Davis
Terry Davis (author)
Terry Davis is an American novelist who lives near Spokane, Washington, and is a professor emeritus of English at Minnesota State University, Mankato , where he taught Creative writing – fiction and screenwriting – as well as adolescent literature...
, another young-adult author.
Writing
Crutcher's debut novel was Running Loose in 1983 about a senior in high school who has it all until life throws him for a few loops. Many of his novels concern teenaged athletes who have personal problems. Most of his protagonists are male, teenage athletes, often swimmers, and recurring supporting characters include a wise Asian-American teacher or coach and a caring journalism teacher.Chris Crutcher's writing is controversial, and has been frequently challenged and even banned by individuals who want to censor
Censorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
his books by removing them from libraries and classrooms. Running Loose and Athletic Shorts: Six Short Stories
Athletic Shorts: Six Short Stories
Athletic Shorts: Six Short Stories is a young-adult fiction short story collection by Chris Crutcher. Most of the stories are related to Crutcher's early work. This book also contains the short story A Brief Moment in the Life of Angus Bethune which first appeared in Connections, edited by Donald...
were on the ALA's top 100 list of most frequently challenged books for 1990-2000. His books generally feature teens coping with serious problems, including abusive parents, racial and religious prejudice, mental and physical disability, and poverty; these themes are viewed as too mature for children. Other cited reasons for censorship
Censorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
include strong language and depictions of homosexuality. Despite this controversy, Crutcher's writing has received many awards.
Crutcher has also written an autobiography called King of the Mild Frontier (2003), an adult novel titled The Deep End (1991), and Athletic Shorts: Six Short Stories
Athletic Shorts: Six Short Stories
Athletic Shorts: Six Short Stories is a young-adult fiction short story collection by Chris Crutcher. Most of the stories are related to Crutcher's early work. This book also contains the short story A Brief Moment in the Life of Angus Bethune which first appeared in Connections, edited by Donald...
(1991), an anthology of six YA short stories, some of which further explore characters from his previous novels. One of the stories from that compilation, "A Brief Moment in the Life of Angus Bethune", was made into a film called Angus.
The American Library Association has named eight of his books, “Best Books for Young Adults.”
Crutcher's writing is noted for its wit and humor, and as a result of his propensity towards ribaldry (i.e. bawdy humor), is often considered to be the truest replication of adolescent thought patterns produced by someone over the age of 20. According to a close friend, Crutcher is quite proud of the fact that he has "grossed out three generations."
Selected works
- Angry Management (2009)
- DeadlineDeadline (novel)Deadline is a 2007, young adult novel by young adult writer Chris Crutcher. The story follows 18-year-old Ben Wolf who has been diagnosed with a rare, incurable blood disease. Instead of receiving treatment Ben decides to pack a lifetime of living in one year. Ben Wolf has big things planned for...
(2007) - The Sledding HillThe Sledding HillThe Sledding Hill is a 2005 post-modern metafictional novel by young adult writer Chris Crutcher. By having the novel narrated by a super-omniscient dead boy and placing himself into the novel, Crutcher has written a work that encompasses two literary fads....
(2005) - King of the Mild Frontier: An Ill-Advised Autobiography (2003)
- Whale TalkWhale TalkWhale Talk is a 2001 novel by young adult writer Chris Crutcher. It is narrated by The Tao "T.J." Jones, an adopted Asian-African-European-American teenager living in Cutter, Washington, a fictional location described in the novel as being within the Pacific Northwest's Inland Empire, about 50...
(2001) - Ironman (1995)
- Staying Fat for Sarah ByrnesStaying Fat For Sarah ByrnesStaying Fat For Sarah Byrnes is a young-adult fiction novel by Chris Crutcher. It has been recognized by the American Library Association as a "Best of the Best Books for Young Adults". It is also one of fifty books on Young Adult Library Services Association's The Ultimate Teen Bookshelf...
(1993) - The Deep End (1992)
- Athletic Shorts: Six Short StoriesAthletic Shorts: Six Short StoriesAthletic Shorts: Six Short Stories is a young-adult fiction short story collection by Chris Crutcher. Most of the stories are related to Crutcher's early work. This book also contains the short story A Brief Moment in the Life of Angus Bethune which first appeared in Connections, edited by Donald...
(1991) - Chinese HandcuffsChinese HandcuffsChinese Handcuffs is a 1989 a young adult novel by young adult writer Chris Crutcher. The story alternates between the two main characters, Dillon and Jennifer, both high school athletes dealing with personal issues...
(1989) - The Crazy Horse Electric Game (1987)
- Stotan! (1986)
- Running Loose (1983)
Short stories
"O" Foods - Guys Write for Guys Read, edited by Jon Scieszka, published in 2005 by Viking. (Autobiographic)Guns for Geeks - On the Fringe, edited by Donald R. Gallo, published in 2001 by Dial Books.
Fourth and Too Long - Time Capsule: Short Stories About Teenagers Throughout the Twentieth Century, edited by Donald R. Gallo, published in 1999 by Laurel Leaf.
Popeye the Sailor - Dirty Laundry: Stories About Family Secrets, edited by Lisa Rowe Fraustino, published in 1998 Viking Juvenile.
Superboy - Ultimate Sports: Short Stories by Outstanding Writers for Young Adults, edited by Donald R. Gallo, published in 1995 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers.
A Brief Moment in the Life of Angus Bethune - First appeared in Connections, edited by Donald R. Gallo, published in 1989 by Delacorte Press. Also published in Crutcher's collection Athletic Shorts: Six Short Stories
Athletic Shorts: Six Short Stories
Athletic Shorts: Six Short Stories is a young-adult fiction short story collection by Chris Crutcher. Most of the stories are related to Crutcher's early work. This book also contains the short story A Brief Moment in the Life of Angus Bethune which first appeared in Connections, edited by Donald...
.
Awards
- 2005 – Catholic Library Association St. Katherine Drexel Award for outstanding contribution to the growth of high school librarianship.
- 2005 – Intellectual Freedom Award from the National Coalition Against CensorshipNational Coalition Against CensorshipThe National Coalition Against Censorship , founded in 1974, is an alliance of 50 national non-profit organizations, including literary, artistic, religious, educational, professional, labor, and civil liberties groups...
- 2004 – The Writer magazine’s Writers Who Make a Difference Award
- 2000 – American Library AssociationAmerican Library AssociationThe American Library Association is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members....
Margaret A. Edwards Award, presented by Young Adult Library Services AssociationYoung Adult Library Services AssociationThe Young Adult Library Services Association , established in 1957, is a division of the American Library Association. The mission of YALSA is to advocate, promote and strengthen service to young adults as part of the continuum of total library service, and to support those who provide service to...
(YALSA) for lifetime contribution to young adult literature.
- 2000 – Four of his books appear on BooklistBooklistBooklist is a publication of the American Library Association that provides critical reviews of books and audiovisual materials for all ages. It is geared toward libraries and booksellers and is available in print or online...
's Best 100 Books of the 20th Century.
- 1998 – The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE/SLATE) Intellectual Freedom Award for advancing the cause of intellectual freedom.
- 1993 – The ALAN Award from The Assembly on Literature for AdolescentsThe Assembly on Literature for AdolescentsALAN, The Assembly on Literature for Adolescents is an independent assembly of NCTE. Founded in November 1973, ALAN is made up of teachers, authors, librarians, publishers, teacher-educators and their students, and others who are particularly interested in the area of young adult literature...
for Significant Contribution to Adolescent Literature