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January 13, 2006
Chris Crutcher
I have put my adult reading on hold temporarily to catch up on some teen novels. I have to say that I have really enjoyed them. Authors who write for teenagers know that they have to incorporate substance and style into fewer pages. These books make you think about issues and relationships in a more direct way than adult books do. And, after reading so many, I can't believe that authors still keep coming up with new (or novel!)ways to present material.
I have to tell you about the last one I read -- it's called The Sledding Hill by Chris Crutcher. Crutcher has written other young adult novels that you may have read or heard about, such as Ironman and Stotan. He's a good, solid dependable author -- and this title is no exception. He uses what appears to be a popular device lately -- that of having the protagonist be dead. Billy Bartholomew (who died in an accident) talks his best friend, Eddie through a difficult time. The topics covered in this novel are censorship, religion and relationships. Chris Crutcher puts himself into the novel as the controversial author (and very cool guy) in question. He places himsefl as a character in his own novel! I thought this was a very effective presentation and led to a satisfying read. It even made me check out Chris Crutcher's website, which is mentioned in the book! If you've never read one of his books, The Sledding Hill is a great one to start with -- enjoy!
Posted by Michele at January 13, 2006 12:22 PM