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Overview
Drawing on a twenty-four-year friendship with Crutcher -- the two met as undergraduates at Eastern Washington State College - Davis provides readers with a superbly crafted entree to the writer and his work, the first biocritical study devoted to Crutcher. In a cogent style, Davis delineates the people and events shaping Crutcher's character and commitment to youth and examines each of the published works, including Crutcher's 1992 novel for adults, The Deep End. While assessing each work's plot, theme, ethical perspectives, and critical reception, Davis draws freely on a wealth of personal observations from Crutcher and on insights Davis himself has gained during their long association. Readers learn, for example, that Crutcher can do one hundred straight push-ups; that his outlook was sharply influenced by his maternal grandfather, who grew up an orphan; and that at Christmastime Crutcher asks friends to give him not gifts but money he can use to help his clients at one of Spokane's mental health centers. Throughout, Davis employs engaging literary techniques to make his subject come alive for readers - taking readers on an imaginary motorcycle ride to visit the Idaho of Crutcher's youth, for instance, and introducing readers to Crutcher's mother, Jewell, who offers wry and telling remarks about her son. A portrait of a writer who infuses his work with physical, emotional, and intellectual energy, Presenting Chris Crutcher will appeal to young people, librarians, teachers of English and reading, and college and graduate students of adolescent literature.Editorials
VOYA -
Everyone loves Chris Crutcher. His readers, his adolescent clients, his colleagues, his friends, and the selectors for any number of best books lists for teenagers. Now, thanks to Davis, we know why. In this work, part of Twayne's Young Adult Authors series, Davis draws on interviews, reviews, his own supply of observations and anecdotes (acquired during his lifelong friendship with Crutcher), and passages from Crutcher's rich body of work to explain Crutcher's extraordinary sensitivity and devotion to adolescents, as reflected in his dual professional roles as therapist and author. Davis's insights illuminate the complexity of Crutcher's philosophy, the foundation of which is a deep and abiding understanding of and respect for adolescents and their courage in the face of all the challenges they master on their way to adulthood. Davis also spends a considerable amount of time discussing one of Crutcher's literary strengths, rarely found in typical YA novels, and that is his consistent portrayal of decent supportive adults in the lives of his protagonists, which endears him to readers of all ages. Davis pulls together the influences of Crutcher's life to give the reader a grasp of Crutcher's clear hard honesty that is a sustaining theme in his novels and short stories. Fascinating reading. Old fans will rush to the shelf to re-read his oeuvre. Those unfamiliar with Crutcher magic will go on a binge. Index. Biblio. Source Notes.School Library Journal
Gr 6 Up-These two series entries exhibit the meticulous research and scholarly but approachable style of earlier entries. Of the two, Avi reads slightly more like a well-researched paper that carefully dissects the necessary issues and draws all the logical conclusions. Bloom and Mercier devote limited space to Avi's early life, exploring at length their subject's varied and stated beliefs about the interpretation and significance of literature. Touching on many aspects of this multitalented man, the authors organize their book by focusing each chapter on a role Avi has assumed as a writer, whether it be storyteller, stylist, magician, or historian. The text shows painstakingly careful reading of Avi's work. Davis achieves similar goals with a more conversational tone and style. He readily acknowledges his 24-year friendship with Crutcher, which may explain the warmth and admiration that often permeate his narrative, yet he maintains the necessary objectivity for a thorough, honest, and sharply accurate analysis of Crutcher's major works and themes, a study made all the more engaging by a gifted storyteller's unique and appealing style. Both books have bibliographies that include critical reviews from sources such as English Journal, Horn Book, Kirkus Reviews, and School Library Journal. All collections serving young adults will benefit from the addition of these fine books. Not only do they offer thoughtful and critical evaluations of these authors and their respective contributions to young adult literature, but they also may serve to elevate the best of young adult writers to their rightful place among all authors of notable modern American fiction.Phyllis Graves, Creekwood Middle School, Kingwood, TXBooknews
The author discusses the life of Crutcher and assesses his fiction for young adults in terms of plot, theme, ethical perspectives, and critical reception. He also discusses Crutcher's novel for adults, The Deep End, and his friendship with the novelist. The works discussed include Athletic Shorts, Chinese Handcuffs, The Deep End, Ironman, The Crazy Horse Electric Game, Running Loose, Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, and Stotan! Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.Book Details
Published
March 27, 1998
Publisher
Twayne Publishers Inc.,U.S.
Pages
144
Format
Hardcover
ISBN
9780805782233