Chris Crutcher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chris Crutcher
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| Born | July 17, 1946 Dayton, Ohio, U.S. |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Education | Eastern Washington State College (BA) |
| Period | 1983–present |
| Genre | Young Adult novels, short stories |
| Notable awards | Margaret A. Edwards Award 2000 |
Chris Crutcher, born on July 17, 1946, is an American writer and a family therapist. He is well-known for his books for young adults. In 2000, he received the Margaret A. Edwards Award from the American Library Association. This award honored his important contributions to books for teenagers.
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About Chris Crutcher
Chris Crutcher was born in Dayton, Ohio. His father was a pilot during World War II. When Chris was a baby, his family moved to Cascade, Idaho. His father started a business there.
After high school, Crutcher went to Eastern Washington State College. He studied psychology and sociology. He also swam in competitions. Later, he earned a teaching certificate. Crutcher taught at schools in California and Washington. After writing his first book, he also became a child and family therapist. He worked with Spokane's Child Protection Team.
His Books and Stories
Chris Crutcher's first novel was Running Loose, published in 1983. This book is about a high school senior whose life changes unexpectedly. Many of his novels are about teenage athletes. These characters often face personal challenges. Most of his main characters are male, teenage athletes, and sometimes swimmers. His books often feature wise teachers or coaches who help the characters.
Chris Crutcher's writing has sometimes been challenged. Some people have tried to remove his books from libraries and classrooms. For example, Athletic Shorts: Six Short Stories and Running Loose were on a list of frequently challenged books in the 1990s. His books often show teens dealing with serious problems. These can include difficult family situations, unfair treatment based on race or religion, and disabilities. Some people feel these topics are too grown-up for young readers. Others have mentioned strong language in his books. Despite these challenges, Crutcher's books have won many awards.
Crutcher has also written an autobiography called King of the Mild Frontier (2003). He wrote an adult novel titled The Deep End (1991). He also has two collections of short stories. These are Athletic Shorts: Six Short Stories (1991) and Angry Management (2009). Some of these stories feature characters from his other novels. One story from Athletic Shorts, "A Brief Moment in the Life of Angus Bethune", was made into a movie called Angus.
The ALA Margaret Edwards Award is a special honor. It recognizes a writer and their books for making a "significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature." It also honors writers who help teens understand themselves and their place in the world. Chris Crutcher won this award in 2000. The award committee recognized six of his books published between 1983 and 1993. These books included Running Loose, Stotan!, The Crazy Horse Electric Game, Chinese Handcuffs, Athletic Shorts, and Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes. The committee noted that his stories show the real world of teenagers, including tough parts. They said Crutcher takes teenagers seriously and cares about them.
Awards and Honors
Chris Crutcher has received many awards for his writing:
- 1993 – The ALAN Award for important contributions to books for teenagers.
- 1998 – The NCTE/SLATE Intellectual Freedom Award for supporting the freedom to read.
- 2000 – The ALA Edwards Award.
- 2004 – The Writer magazine Writers Who Make a Difference Award.
- 2005 – Catholic Library Association St. Katherine Drexel Award for helping high school libraries.
- 2005 – Intellectual Freedom Award from the National Coalition Against Censorship.
The American Library Association has also named eight of his books to their annual list of "Best Books for Young Adults."
List of Works
Books
- Running Loose (1983)
- Stotan! (1986)
- The Crazy Horse Electric Game (1990)
- Chinese Handcuffs (1989)
- Athletic Shorts: Six Short Stories (1991)
- The Deep End (1992)
- Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes (1993)
- Ironman (1995)
- Whale Talk (2001)
- King of the Mild Frontier: An Ill-Advised Autobiography (2003)
- The Sledding Hill (2005)
- Deadline (2007)
- Angry Management (2009)
- Period 8 (2013)
- Losers Bracket (2018)
Short Stories
- "A Brief Moment in the Life of Angus Bethune" – This story first appeared in a collection called Connections in 1989. It was also in Crutcher's own book, Athletic Shorts: Six Short Stories. It was made into a film called Angus in 1995.
- "Superboy" – Published in Ultimate Sports: Short Stories by Outstanding Writers for Young Adults in 1995.
- "Popeye the Sailor" – Published in Dirty Laundry: Stories About Family Secrets in 1998.
- "Fourth and Too Long" – Published in Time Capsule: Short Stories About Teenagers Throughout the Twentieth Century in 1999.
- "Guns for Geeks" – Published in On the Fringe in 2001.
- "'O' Foods" – Published in Guys Write for Guys Read in 2005. This story is about his own life.
