Angry Management by Chris Crutcher
This book is made up of three novellas that are related to prior novels and short stories by this author, all related because they are part of Mr. Nak's Angry Management Class, which we first learned of in Ironman.
The first novella involves Angus Bethune from a short story in Athletic Shorts and Sarah Byrnes from Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes. They become friends, go to Reno, and learn the truth about Sarah's mother. I read this novella before I finished the book that Sarah Byrnes is part of, which was both a blessing and a curse. I knew Sarah was going to be ok, but I ruined it for myself.
The second novella is about a young lady named Montana who takes on the school board in her town, the president of which is her adoptive father. I am not familiar with the story or book she comes from, but I want to know more about her.
The last novella reunites readers with Mr. Simet from Whale Talk, and Matt Miller, a minor character from Deadline. They are connected by a young man named Marcus James who is a gay, black high school student in a town where there might be five black people. Needless to say, this is a racially charged and heartbreaking story.
On the whole, I enjoyed this book. I am finding that I really enjoy anything that Chris Crutcher has written, and I hope he keeps it up.
Monday, May 27, 2019
The Things You Do For Friends
Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher
Eric Calhoune is a swimmer. He really likes a girl named Jody, but Jody happens to be dating a douchecanoe named Mark Brittain. Eric's best friend is Sarah Byrnes, who is in a mental facility. He goes to see her nearly every day, and she just sits there. She won't talk. Sarah Byrnes has a lot going on and a reason for not talking; if she doesn't talk, she has to go back to her dad. Her dad is a psycho.
How do we know Sarah Byrnes' dad is a psycho? Well, Sarah Byrnes' face is disfigured. First we're told that it is because she pulled a pot of boiling spaghetti on herself when she was three, but we later find out that isn't true.
Eric does everything he can for Sarah Byrnes, all the while getting Mark Brittain riled up. This was a fantastic read, and I got to enjoy it with my 4th period PreAP class. I'd like to believe they enjoyed it as much as I did.
Eric Calhoune is a swimmer. He really likes a girl named Jody, but Jody happens to be dating a douchecanoe named Mark Brittain. Eric's best friend is Sarah Byrnes, who is in a mental facility. He goes to see her nearly every day, and she just sits there. She won't talk. Sarah Byrnes has a lot going on and a reason for not talking; if she doesn't talk, she has to go back to her dad. Her dad is a psycho.
How do we know Sarah Byrnes' dad is a psycho? Well, Sarah Byrnes' face is disfigured. First we're told that it is because she pulled a pot of boiling spaghetti on herself when she was three, but we later find out that isn't true.
Eric does everything he can for Sarah Byrnes, all the while getting Mark Brittain riled up. This was a fantastic read, and I got to enjoy it with my 4th period PreAP class. I'd like to believe they enjoyed it as much as I did.
Friday, May 24, 2019
Mercy Allows for All Things
Ironman by Chris Crutcher
This was one of the books I chose to read to my classes this year. This author is amazing, and writes about real issues facing teenagers these days. Even though there are aspects of this book which date it a little bit, the themes and situations are timeless.
In this book, a young man is training for a triathlon. He also is sentenced to anger management classes at school because he angered the football coach. This is meant to be punishment, but it becomes a part of his life that he cherishes. He is exposed to people who, although his peers, have things going on that help him put his life in perspective. And perspective he does gain. He also manages to make friends with people he wouldn't normally have bothered with, and that may be the best lesson my students could have taken from this book.
I would absolutely read this with my students again. The best comment I got when we finished was "Mrs. Parker, that was an AWESOME book!" If that's not a ringing endorsement, I don't know what is.
This was one of the books I chose to read to my classes this year. This author is amazing, and writes about real issues facing teenagers these days. Even though there are aspects of this book which date it a little bit, the themes and situations are timeless.
In this book, a young man is training for a triathlon. He also is sentenced to anger management classes at school because he angered the football coach. This is meant to be punishment, but it becomes a part of his life that he cherishes. He is exposed to people who, although his peers, have things going on that help him put his life in perspective. And perspective he does gain. He also manages to make friends with people he wouldn't normally have bothered with, and that may be the best lesson my students could have taken from this book.
I would absolutely read this with my students again. The best comment I got when we finished was "Mrs. Parker, that was an AWESOME book!" If that's not a ringing endorsement, I don't know what is.
It's Been a While
Period 8 by Chris Crutcher
I got it in my head that it would be fun to read to each of my six classes. It was. What was different is that I read six different books, all by the same author. I'd read three of the six before, but the other three were new to me. This is the book I read to my 5th period on level/co-teach class.
As is the norm with Crutcher's books, this takes place in the Pacific Northwest/Idaho/Montana area. It starts off in a hotel room with a woman buttoning up her blouse, so you know this is kinda sketchy to start with in a high school classroom. Thankfully, it did not dwell on that too much. Instead, we hear that a young man cheated on his girlfriend and they break up. We see that an "upstanding" young man tries to swoop in and take that girlfriend for his own. We learn about a girl who is referred to as the Virgin Mary fall from grace, and corrupt policemen. This book was a wild ride full of bad language an not so comfortable situations, but my kids liked it. I would absolutely read it again to my classes.
I got it in my head that it would be fun to read to each of my six classes. It was. What was different is that I read six different books, all by the same author. I'd read three of the six before, but the other three were new to me. This is the book I read to my 5th period on level/co-teach class.
As is the norm with Crutcher's books, this takes place in the Pacific Northwest/Idaho/Montana area. It starts off in a hotel room with a woman buttoning up her blouse, so you know this is kinda sketchy to start with in a high school classroom. Thankfully, it did not dwell on that too much. Instead, we hear that a young man cheated on his girlfriend and they break up. We see that an "upstanding" young man tries to swoop in and take that girlfriend for his own. We learn about a girl who is referred to as the Virgin Mary fall from grace, and corrupt policemen. This book was a wild ride full of bad language an not so comfortable situations, but my kids liked it. I would absolutely read it again to my classes.
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