#5 in	Books > Teens > Literature & Fiction > Short Stories
#11 in	Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( C ) > Crutcher, Chris
#12 in	Books > Teens > Authors, A-Z > ( C ) > Crutcher, Chris

Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

See Complete Table of Contents

Product Description

From Publishers Weekly

If the stereotype of the "bonehead jock" is ever to be defeated, it will be at Crutcher's hands. In these six short stories, he and his athlete protagonists take on such weighty issues as racism, homophobia, sexism and the teenager's essential task of coming to terms with his parents. At the same time the author makes the world of sports compelling enough to engage even the most sedentary readers. Three of the stories revolve around characters featured in Crutcher's The Crazy Horse Electric Game , including the memorable eccentric known as Telephone Man. Also starring in his own story is Lionel Serbousek, the orphaned artist and swimmer of Stotan! In the book's final tale, Louie Banks (from Running Loose ) is befriended by a young man with AIDS and must cope once again with the untimely death of a loved one. The stories' locales--mostly small towns in Montana and Idaho--are vividly evoked, and make a satisfying change from the well-known big cities and bland suburbs where so many YA novels are set. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up?The stereotype of jocks as insensitive dullards is challenged in stories that grapple with the big questions of life as well as with athletic prowess, told with good-natured aplomb and gritty honesty.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Product Description

Inside This Book (Learn More)

Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover

Tag this product

(What's this?)

Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items.

Customer Reviews

14 Reviews

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.7 out of 5 stars (14 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most helpful customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, Feb 23 2007

By	TeensReadToo.com "Jennifer Wardrip" (Central Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Athletic Shorts: Six Short Stories (Paperback)

In ATHLETIC SHORTS, Chris Crutcher presents original short stories involving characters from his previous novels. In the book's forward, Crutcher explains, "In my travels around the country and in letters from readers, I am constantly asked what happens to certain characters in my books. So once in a while I check in" (pp. ix-x).

Each of these short stories involves a central character from a previous novel, but, while Crutcher may have intended a particular story to be a prequel or an afterward, the stories remain independent. So a person who has not read RUNNING LOOSE will still be able to understand the storyline behind IN THE TIME I GET, in which Louie Banks looks into the eyes of a friend dying of AIDS and realizes the value of time. Additionally, after getting a taste of Crutcher's novels through his short stories, readers may well be inspired to go out and acquire the novels themselves.

Athletics are the uniting theme throughout these stories, but they also give Crutcher a medium to introduce physical, mental, and emotional challenges for his characters. Sports allow a safe setting for conflict and failure, while also providing a site for characters to achieve and excel.

Thumbs Up! Award Winner, 1992

Reviewed by: Mechele R. Dillard

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you?

Report this

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, Oct 21 2003

By	A reader from SMS (Ohio USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Athletic Shorts: Six Short Stories (Paperback)

Athletic shorts, by Chris Crutcher is a book about 6 short stories that describe athletes triumphs. I loved this book. Its would interest me around every corner. I would just wanted to continue reading. The only bad part of the book was that it had to end.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you?

Report this

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Read, Oct 16 2003

By	SMS Student (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Athletic Shorts: Six Short Stories (Paperback)

I thought Athletic Shorts was a good book because it was easy to understand since it was about sports. All the stories could hold my attention which made me want to read the next page. i thought that was a great way to write a sports book with 6 short stories all in one book. I could really relate to it because i like sports alot. I reccomend this book to anyone that like sports.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you?

Report this

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 14 customer reviews...

Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Courage shown by the imperfect facing the impossible
Another great book by Chris Crutcher -- this one containing six short stories with troubled or stressed teens facing difficult situations. Read more

Published on April 22 2003 by Frank

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a keeper!!
Being a high school athlete, this is a cook that I was really able to relate to. Each character in the story shows that he/she is able solve his/her problem through their sports... Read more

Published on Mar 28 2003 by Nick Fry

4.0 out of 5 stars Wow! What an eye opener.
These six short stories that I have read in the book, Athletic Shorts,really is an insperation to realize that there really are people in the world that can fit this profile. Read more

Published on Feb 10 2003