Chris Crutcher (born July 17, 1946) is an

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novelist A novelist is an author or writer of novels, though often novelists also write in other genres of both fiction and non-fiction. Some novelists are professional novelists, thus make a living writing novels and other fiction, while others aspire to ...

and a

family therapist Family therapy (also referred to as family counseling, family systems therapy, marriage and family therapy, couple and family therapy) is a branch of psychology and clinical social work that works with families and couples in intimate relationsh ...

. He received the

Margaret A. Edwards Award The Margaret A. Edwards Award is an American Library Association (ALA) literary award that annually recognizes an author and "a specific body of his or her work, for significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature". It is named afte ...

from the

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in 2000 for his lifetime contribution in writing for teens.

Biography

Crutcher was born July 17, 1946 to a

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B17 bomber pilot and a homemaker in Dayton, Ohio. A few weeks after his birth, his father gave up flying and the family moved to his mother's hometown of

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where his father could open an oil and gas wholesale business and he could grow up. After graduating from high school, Crutcher attended Eastern Washington State College (before Eastern Washington University) where he swam competitively and earned a BA in psychology and sociology. With no post-graduation plans or prospects, he went back to Eastern and got a teaching certificate. Crutcher taught at several primary and secondary schools in California and Washington before beginning his writing career. After his first book was completed, he joined Spokane's Child Protection Team and began practicing as a child and family therapist.

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 his books by removing them from libraries and classrooms. '' Athletic Shorts: Six Short Stories'' and ''Running Loose'' were #63 and #92 on the ALA list of 100 books most frequently challenged during the 1990s. 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 by some as too mature for children. Other cited reasons for

censorship Censorship is the suppression of speech, public communication, or other information. This may be done on the basis that such material is considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or "inconvenient". Censorship can be conducted by governments ...

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 two collections of short stories, '' Athletic Shorts: Six Short Stories'' (1991) and ''Angry Management'' (2009), some of which further explore characters from his previous novels. One of the stories from '' Athletic Shorts: Six Short Stories'', "A Brief Moment in the Life of Angus Bethune", was made into a film called ''

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''. The ALA

recognizes one writer and a particular body of work for "significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature" and "helping adolescents become aware of themselves and addressing questions about their role and importance in relationships, society, and in the world." Crutcher won the annual award in 2000 when the panel cited six books published from 1983 to 1993: ''Running Loose'', ''Stotan!'', ''The Crazy Horse Electric Game'', ''Chinese Handcuffs'', ''Athletic Shorts'', and ''Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes'' (‡). All were edited by Susan Hirschman at

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. The panel chair observed that " s stories bring to life the contemporary teen world, including its darker side. Sarah Byrnes suffers facial deformity caused by her father's deliberate cruelty. Jennifer Lawless dreads the nights her stepfather forces his sexual advances on her. ... Crutcher takes teenagers seriously and cares about them."

Selected 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 ''Whale Talk'' is a 2001 novel by young adult writer Chris Crutcher. It is narrated in the first person by the quick-witted, sarcastic, and athletic "T.J." Jones, an adopted Asian-African-European-American teenager living in Cutter, Washingto ...

'' (2001) * ''King of the Mild Frontier: An Ill-Advised Autobiography'' (2003) * '' The Sledding Hill'' (2005) * ''

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'' (2007) * ''Angry Management'' (2009) * ''Period 8'' (2013) * ''Losers Bracket'' (2018)

Short stories

*"A Brief Moment in the Life of Angus Bethune" – First appeared in ''Connections'', edited by Donald R. Gallo, published in 1989 by

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. Also published in Crutcher's collection '' Athletic Shorts: Six Short Stories''. Adapted into a

film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

in 1995. * "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. * "Popeye the Sailor" – ''Dirty Laundry: Stories About Family Secrets'', edited by Lisa Rowe Fraustino, published in 1998 Viking Juvenile. * "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. * "Guns for Geeks" – ''On the Fringe'', edited by Donald R. Gallo, published in 2001 by Dial Books. * "'O' Foods" – ''Guys Write for Guys Read'', edited by Jon Scieszka, published in 2005 by Viking. (Autobiographic)

Awards

* 1993 – The ALAN Award from

The Assembly on Literature for Adolescents ALAN, The Assembly on Literature for Adolescents is a teachers organization in the United States, an independent assembly of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). Founded in November 1973, ALAN is made up of teachers, authors, libraria ...

for Significant Contribution to Adolescent Literature * 1998 –

The National Council of Teachers of English The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) is a United States professional organization dedicated to "improving the teaching and learning of English and the language arts at all levels of education. Since 1911, NCTE has provided a forum ...

(NCTE/SLATE) Intellectual Freedom Award for advancing the cause of intellectual freedom * 2000 ALA Edwards Award * 2004 – ''

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'' magazine Writers Who Make a Difference Award * 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 Censorship The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC), founded in 1974, is an alliance of 50 American non-profit organizations, including literary, artistic, religious, educational, professional, labor, and civil liberties groups. NCAC is a New York-bas ...

Cole, Pamela Burress. Young Adult Literature in the 21st Century. Boston: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2009. Pg.74. Print. The ALA has named eight of his books to the annual list of "Best Books for Young Adults".

References

External links

*
All Info About Teen Reading – The Books of Chris CrutcherKids Right To Read Project interview with Chris Crutcher

Betty Greenway, ''The ALAN Review'' 22:1 (Fall 1994)
Chris Crutcher
at

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Authorities —with 21 catalog records {{DEFAULTSORT:Crutcher, Chris 1946 births 20th-century American novelists 21st-century American novelists American children's writers American male novelists Margaret A. Edwards Award winners American writers of young adult literature Eastern Washington University alumni Living people People from Cascade, Idaho 20th-century American male writers 21st-century American male writers