September, 2008

There is still time to enter the "Lunch with Crutcher" contest! Take a moment to blog about your favorite Crutcher book!

Lunch with Crutcher Entry Page

Lunch with Crutcher
Chris Crutcher will be speaking at Strasburg High School on September 23, 2008. How would you like to have “Lunch with Crutcher” in the library and have the opportunity to ask him a question? The English teachers at SHS will help select the winning entries. This contest is open to all SHS students in grades 9-11 as well as students in the 8th grade at Signal Knob Middle School. There are two categories and you may enter more than once. Please complete a thoughtful paragraph (blog below) in either category and be sure to include your question for Mr. Crutcher:
1.Intellectual Freedom: What does it mean to you? Take a look at the Intellectual Freedom posts on this blog for more informaton. If you had the opportunity to ask Chris Crutcher one question, what would it be?
2. What is your favorite Chris Crutcher book and why? If you had the opportunity to ask Chris Crutcher one question, what would it be?


32 Responses to “Lunch with Crutcher”
Michael Morikawa Says: February 17th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Chinese Handcuffs was easily one of the absolute best books I have ever read. The characters were almost real, as if you knew them yourself. The emotions were real, and you could feel everyone’s pain through out the book. If someone were to ban this book like they do others, they are crazy. It touches on many adolescent problems in society today. My question for Chris Crutcher would be - What happened to Jennifer Lawless and Dillion Hemingway’s relationship. Did they amend their friendship wounds?


Julia Ratcliffe Says: February 20th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Intellectual freedom is one of the most important things we have today, to supress such a right would eventually cause a another revolution, as was caused by that supression before. It is also something we take forgranted though if we lost it, life would be so much differnt. How do you keep that moral to keep fighting to help us keep it amazes me.
I found Deadline to be my favorite of his books. It was a constant turn of events, once you began you read it…you were hooked: No way phathomable that you could just quit reading it. It always handed you a new bit of interesting information to keep you reading. It was definatly one of the most phonominal books that I have ever read.Where do you get inspired to write these amazing books?

shannah heinlen Says: February 25th, 2008 at 8:50 am
i read the sledding hills and i really liked it. i would recommend it to every teenager. i’m going to read another one of Chris Crutcher’s books after i’m done with my report on this book.

shannah h Says: March 5th, 2008 at 9:01 am
I read Deadline by Chris CrutcherI believe it was a good book. It is the best so far because it really keeps you interested in it though out the whole book.If I could ask him any qestion I think it would be how did he decide that he wanted this to be his profession.

Scott Doman Says: March 6th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Hi, My name is scott,I have read your book called deadline and i have to say that it was a realy good book. When i first started reading it i thought it would be borning but after i read two chapters i got so into it i could not stop reading it. I want to say that you are a good writer and that your books are realy goood to read.I like to read books and when i read your book i was so happy and exctied because i found uot some kids would be able to met you in person and talk and ask questions. One of my questions is what made you want to become a writer? Was the story based on real life situations? Why did you choose write a story like this? I realy liked the book! Scott Doman

Kasey Wilson Says: March 11th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
I read Chinese Handcuffs, it was a very interesting book. At first I didn’t think I was going to like it, but in the end I loved it! It was very easy to read and follow. There is some gruesome parts, but overall its a great book. The pain throughout this whole book felt so real as if you was feeling the same pain as the character. The things that happen in this book are things that could happen in life and in a sense makes you look at life a bit differently. It was a great book. I would recommed it to a friend any day!

Bethany Fauber Says: March 11th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
I have only read two books by Chris Crutcher but out of the two I would have to say that Chinese Handcuffs was the most interesting. Some parts of the book were a little hard for me to read because they were so gruesome and descriptive and I realized that those type of things really happen to people in the world. But getting past those parts, the book turned out to be ok and I learned some important life lessons. My question for Chris Crutcher is “What influenced you to write this book? Was it based on real life situations?”

Sarah Smallwood Says: March 11th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
I read Staying Fat For Sarah Byrnes and it was a really good book. The description in the book was fantastic, it aloud me to paint a picture in my head. You can also feel the emotions of the characters. The book has twists and turns, so I can’t tell which way it is going to end. The topics in the book are problems that are in our world today, which make me think about the situations. I don’t know why anyone would want to ban this book, it is too good to not let kids read. If I could ask Chris Crutcher one question it would be, when your books get banned does it bother you or has it gotten so routine that it does not even phase you?

Hailey King Says: March 11th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
I have read both Chinese Handcuffs and Deadline. They were both very interesting, but Deadline was definitely my favorite. When I first started to read the book, I didn’t think I would be interested in it. But, by the end of the first chapter, I didn’t want to stop reading it. It kept me interested until the end of the last chapter. I realized throughout the book that something like what happens in the book, could happen to someone close to me, or even myself and made me learn to live life to the fullest. If i had to ask Chris Crutcher one question it would be, What influenced you to write the book Deadline and did the situation in the story happen to someone close to you in reality?

Tanner Orndorff Says: March 12th, 2008 at 8:03 am
Although I have not gotten the chance to read many of Chris Crutcher’s books, my favorite would have to be “Running Loose”. The way Crutcher uses football in this book enables me to connect with the writing and understand what is being said. I like how the teenager in the story stands up for what he believes, not letting his coach or the principal get to him. Mainly I like how in “Running Loose” Crutcher says the things that teenagers really think, say, and do. Through all the bad words and, at first glance, what seem to be wrong meanings, this book teaches you morals and values in life that may not be obtained unless you read this book.For Crutcher: What gives you the passion and willingness to write what you write?

Rachel Sager Says: March 12th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Deadline was definitely my favorite Chris Crutcher book. I finished the book in record time because I just never wanted to put it down! There were new twists and turns on almost every page. I love how it addresses the issue of an unfortunately shortened life, and what someone in that situation would actually do about it. I could really relate to Ben, the main character. He handles the situation a lot different than I would but it’s what he feels is best for him. I felt like I was in this book, almost as if I was friends with Ben. It had me laughing out loud and literally sobbing in my pillow. This book is one of the best I’ve ever read! I can’t wait to read more from Chris Crutcher!If I had the opportunity to ask Chris Crutcher one question it would be, Is it difficult for you to write a book like this one, where there are so many different situations and struggles going on at once?:]

Patricia Gardner Says: March 12th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
My favorite book would have to be Chinese Handcuffs. I love how the book describes the real world so well. It doesn’t hold back, or sugar coat things that actually happen in life. It took me about 2 days to read this book… I never wanted to put it down! The characters show real emotion and that is hard to find in books. Most authors are affraid to write things like this because it may not be sutiable for all ages. I love how he doesn’t care and just writes.For Chris Crutcher: What influenced you to write Chinese Handcuffs? How do you wrute something so deep and personal?

Jenna Smoot Says: March 12th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
I read two Chris Crutcher books–Chinese Handcuffs and The Sledding Hill. They were both excellent, but my favorite was The Sledding Hill. Although it didn’t have as much action and excitement as Chinese Handcuffs, this book taught a very valuable lesson. I also thought that Chris Crutcher adding himself to the story made it even better. It made the story even more believable I think this book addressed a very important issue in censorship. I wanted to jump into the scene at the end of the book and testify myself.
If I could ask Chris Crutcher one question it would have to be about the problems he faces with censorship.Does it bother you to have your books banned? Or does it inspire you to keep on writing?

Elizabeth Corman Says: March 13th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
To me, intellectual freedom means the ability to voice your opinion and have it heard. Everyone has an opinion, why should it be stifled? Our forefathers decided on the right of freedom of speech, and our country has relied on just that for a long, long time. Again, everyone has a right to voicing their personal beleifs. It’s the way it always has been…It shouldn’t change now due to overreactive people that can’t handle voiced opinions.Chinese Handcuffs was by far my favorite book written by Chris Crutcher.The extent of serious issues that are discussed and resolved in this book really draws you in.One question for Mr. Crutcher…What inspires you? What gives you the courage and the stamina to write about these catching topics?

Val Sunder-Rao Says: March 13th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
To me, intellectual freedom means everything. It defines a person. Our founding fathers gave us the right to read, write, and say anything we wanted, within reason. Now-a-days, the government is trying to take that away from us. As an American, I believe that is wrong. If you want to write about drugs and abuse, go ahead and do it. But if you get offended by stuff like that, don’t read it. It is your right to read or not read something.
If I could ask one question to Chris Crutcher, I would ask him how after becoming a banned writer has changed his life. When kids are younger and dream of becoming an author, they never expect to have every one of their books banned. Does it ever become too much to handle knowing that your books won’t be appreciated by most people?

Brittany Howard Says: March 13th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Intellectual freedom is really important! Although I do think that some people take it too far. There are some things in books, that to me, kids my age shouldn’t be reading. On the other hand some people make good use of this freedom, by telling worthwhile stories. “Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes” is one of the books that use intellectual freedom for good. Chris Crutcher told this story with meaning and depth. That was my favorite Chris Crutcher book!
If I could ask Chris Crutcher a question it would be:Do you think that if you told your stories in a way so that they wouldn’t be banned do you think that you could still bring out the same meaning behind them? If so, would you?

Tricia Wolfe Says: March 13th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Intellectual freedom is a no brainer, it’s needed for survival. You have to have guts to put an idea out that would be contreversial, and if you don’t want to see something written, or hear something said, close your eyes or ears because it takes a lot of people to make the world go around. So many say certain things should be held back, but in reality, life holds no secrets and shows no mercy. So why fool yourself? And for its purpose-be exactly what you want to be and express yourself accordingly, and let others do the same.My all time favorite Chris Crutcher masterpeice is Chinese Handcuffs. It gives characters people could rlate to, sharing many of the same opinions. And, yes, there were many uncomfortable scenes, but they were ultimately necessary. The ending was strong and created the natural effect, showing how the clock of reality ticks.How did you come up with such amazing peices(including emotions along with actions)?

Allegra Moreno Says: March 14th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
My favorite Chris Crutcher book is Chinese Handcuffs. At first I didn’t like it becuase they brutually killed a cat. But after that it got more intresting. So interresting that I couldn’t put it down. I like how he puts real people with real life situations with real emotions. When are you going to make another one.

Patrick kohlhaas Says: March 14th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
My favorite Chris Crutcher book would have to be “stotan”. It shows how real people act. Not how a politically correct teenager would act. It shows actual situations that a normal person would experience. Also it shows strong morals and rejects drugs and killing. If i could ask Chris Crutcher one question it would be how he actually came up with all of him stories.

colin christensen Says: March 14th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
My favortie Chris Crutcher book is Dealine. I liked the book because it had a good moral. It told the story of a boy fitting his entire life into one year. it really sent the message of living life to the fullest and living everyday like its your last. it inspired me to stop taking everyday for granted and really make my life worth living and to mean something. i reallty enjoyed the book and hope to read more of Crutcher’s work.
If I could ask Crutcher one question it would be: What is your favorite book that you have written in your writing career? why?

Nasir Abbas Says: March 14th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
I read two books by Chris Crutcher this year, Chinese Handcuffs and Athletic Shorts. My favorite of the two was Chinese Handcuffs. The story line was great and I enjoyed it. It was one of the best books ive read. Good job Crutcher.

Kayla R. Says: March 14th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Hmm, lessee, the books I’ve read so far are Chinese Handcuffs and The Sledding Hill. I also intend to read a few more, Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes being next on my agenda. Of the two, I liked The Sledding Hill better. I really related to the main character, Eddie Proffit, and I can honestly say that I fell in love with every word of it. Plus, that crazy Montana West is hilarious! As for a question for Mr. Crutcher, well… I highly doubt I could choose just one. What I’d really like to ask about is how one goes about getting into the business of literature, because there is nothing I’d like more in this world than to be a novelist.

amanda galliher Says: March 20th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
i read the book Deadlinethis has to be one of the best books ive read in a long time is was so good i read it twice i couldnt put it down is supenceful and exciting. theres so much emotion in this book that you are part happy part sad and part nervous. Deadline is so great i would tell everyone about this book.if i met Chis Crutcher i would ask hi where he got his insporation for tha book Deadline because it not something someone thinks about everyday?

Brittany Lantz Says: March 25th, 2008 at 11:48 am
I read Deathline by Chris Crutcher. It was one of the best books I have ever read. The book was so suspensful and kept me reading. I would definatly recommened it to all of my friends.

Brittany Lantz Says: March 25th, 2008 at 11:50 am
I read Deathline by Chris Crutcher. It was one of the best books I have ever read. The book was so suspensful and kept me reading. I would definatly recommened it to all of my friends.If I met chris crutcher i would ask him what inspires him to write the books he writes, expecially deadline because death is not something that you think about in everyday life, expecially when you are 18 years old. but the boy in this book is 18 and has to deal with that for a whole year after he finds out.

Katie Jenkins Says: April 1st, 2008 at 4:08 pm
When I checked out Chinese Handcuffs, I didn’t think I would like it because it was required for me to read it, therefore, it would suck all of the fun out of it. At first I thought that it would turn out to be a pretty lame book, but I was wrong. This book describes real life situations so well, that it made it hard for me to put the book down. This was one of the books you could actually stay in bed all day & read. I’ve read other Chris Crutcher books such as Whale Talk & Deadline, but Chinese Handcuffs would have to be my favorite. I really enjoy his style of writing his books, and not holding anything back.
If I could ask Chris Crutcher a question, I would ask him if it ever bothers him that people would rather have young adults be “in the dark” with certain situations and ban his books to try to “protect” them, then actually facing the issues and not ban his books.

Clark Keller Says: April 8th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I read Deadline by Chris Crutcher. It was a very good book and I would like to read more books by this author. I also read his biography and it was awesome. I would like to ask Mr. Crutcher if he has ever lived on a farm. I would also like to know if he is enjoying his trip to Shenandoah County.

jared Says: May 1st, 2008 at 2:03 pm
I read the book running loose, and i was just amazed how chris crutcher fuses so many generes of writting into one book it just blew me away. But overall i really enjoyed this book and i thought it’s one of the best books i’ve ever read. once i got started i just couldn’t stop because you always wanted to hear what happend next.

Sarah Hoover Says: May 16th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
I have read many of Chris Crutcher’s books and short stories like; Ironman, Chinese Handcuffs, and Deadline. I have read some of his short stories such as A Brief Moment In The Live Of Angus Bethune, from Athletic Shorts, and Guns For Geeks, from On The Fringe. But out of all the stories I have read I like Deadline the best.
Deadline is a strong loud spoken book. It follows the tales of a young boy that learns he has cancer. Instead of telling everyone he loves what is happening to him he keeps it a secret. He does what he never thought of doing and started looking at his live. One of the main reasons I like Deadline would have to be the way it makes you think. After reading this book I just sat there and thought about how much strength this character had. How he chooses to bear his cross alone and did almost until the end. He had such heart and cared for the ones he loved so much he did not want them to be sad. Ben was a well thought of character. While I read I thought Ben was going to walk right off of the pages and into my room. In a way he did walk off the pages and into my heart.
If I could ask Chris Crutcher any question I would have to ask him how he creates such strong realistic characters. How is he able to manipulate the words and mold them into the characters we know and love? How is he able to always have readers so involved in his stories that you stay up as late as you have to finish his books? He makes you want to hug or scream at a character? Makes you want to cry or laugh? How is he able to write so many strong realistic stories that will always grab and keep your attention? I believe the characters are a huge part in all of it. But how does he do it?
I love all of the books I have read of Chris Crutcher’s. They are all strong books that keep you on the edge of your seat. I will continue to wait for any Chris Crutcher book I have not read yet and continue to cherish the ones I have read.

Jared S. Says: June 2nd, 2008 at 12:47 pm
I just read the book “The Crazy Horse Electric Game” and i was really impressed with how the main character rose up to the challenge of rebuilding his body after a bad boat crash. It was a really inspirational read that i think everyone would enjoy

william steward Says: September 5th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
the book that i read was deadline. wat suprises me the most is that the main character had decided that he didn’t want to take medication that would have givung him the chance to live longer.

Laila Abbas Says: September 9th, 2008 at 11:44 am
I read ironman about last year. I really like how in the end the characters all came together and realized that there was more to them than what people said. I just recently started reading the books by chris crutcher and I love them. I don’t really have a favorite because I would have to read all of them, which I plan on doing. What I really would like to ask Chris Crutcher is where he got his ideas from. Does he get them from people he met, or from news?