This book is a collection of short stories based on characters from his previous stories. All of the stories have a sport included and all take place in, or near, Idaho. The topics included are a bit heavy - abuse, death, poor self-image - but are authentic. Clearly this is a book for older students, but topics are all relevant in the lives of teens. Some stories may be more relatable than others, but would be good discussion starters or writing topics. It would also be useful for discussing parts of literature - theme, main idea vs details, perspective, foreshadowing, etc. ( )

Like Richard Peck's short story collection, many of these are linked to Crutcher's novels. He begins each one with an author note, explaining the origin of the story. My favorite is Telephone Man, which, I think, is a testament to the power of tolerance to transform. It's beautiful. Hopeful. ( )

Like Richard Peck's short story collection, many of these are linked to Crutcher's novels. He begins each one with an author note, explaining the origin of the story. My favorite is Telephone Man, which, I think, is a testament to the power of tolerance to transform. It's beautiful. Hopeful. ( )

Contains 2 stories about gay athletes, the first in a young-adult book. These six powerful short stories chronicle bits of the lives of characters, major and minor, who have walked the rugged terrain of Chris Crutcher's earlier works. They also introduce some new and unforgettable personalities who may well be heard from again in future books. As with all Crutcher's work, these are stories about athletes, and yet they are not sport stories. They are tales of love and death, bigotry and heroism, of real people doing their best even when that best isn't very good. Crutcher's straightforward style and total honesty have earned him an admiring audience and made readers of many nonreaders. One need not have read Crutcher's novels to appreciate the young men within these pages. They stand proudly on the own.

I like his shorts better than his novels. Strange. ( )