Most helpful customer reviews
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Ironman=Strong Issues, Jun 11 2004
As a high school teacher, I teach this book to my juniors. Or perhaps I should say we read and enjoy it together. Chris Crutcher uses humor and straight talk to present a variety of issues facing kids today, love, divorce, child abuse, managing anger, even finding out someone you care about is homosexual. I find I am able to discuss these issues with my students using the book as a springboard. One of my students said, "This is the best book I have ever read. The kids in the book talk like us and feel like us." Another student said she laughed out loud when reading it at home. The other reviews presented the plot, I just wanted you to know what my teens thought of the book. I will warn you there is a small amount of strong language in the book, if you are considering using it in the classroom or buying it for your teenager. I have read all of Crutcher's books, and feel he is one of the best young adult authors ever.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Ironman wins the gold for teenagers., May 15 2004
The hardest part of reading Ironman is the narrative flow. The story begins with Beauregard Brewster or 'Beau' writing letters to his favorite talk show host, Larry King. Through it we gain insight into Beau's passion for training to compete in triathalons. In the letter he talks about his latest problem, yelling at his English teacher/football coach. This leads to him being put into Mr. Nak's anger management group with misfits. As we read along the story becomes clearer and focused. Beau's parents are divorced, but his father still has a negative effect in his life becoming an adult. We discover Beau's unwillingness to bend under his father's harsh parenting techniques. Beau is truly a sympathetic character many teens can identify with. In anger management, Beau forms a relationship with Shelly, a future American Gladiator. The anger management group of misfits argue and bond over their personal demons representing many problems teen face. Through it all Mr. Nak teaches about allowing for mercy in even the saddest tragedies. Eventually the story comes to a climax as Beau must compete against the odds in a triathalon. However, his father's involvement may stack the odds even further against him. Crutcher's excellent creation of antagonists pressures and helps bring out the shining best in his protagonists.
A spectacular story about friendship, compassion and the Stotan way of determination.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Ironman wins the gold for teenagers, May 15 2004
The hardest part to get past in most books written by Chris Crutcher is the narrative flow. Ironman begins with the main character, Beauregard Brewster or Beau, writing a letter to his favorite talkshow personality, Larry King. In it we see insight into his personality and his passion for triathlons. As we read on we learn he is being sent to an anger management class due to an altercation with the hard as nails football coach; an embodiment of all he loathe's in his own father. There Beau meets Mr. Nak, who presides over the troubled anger management group. And there he finds himself surrounded by other angry teenagers who have been dealt a harsh life.Further into the story, we discover Beau is labeled a quitter by the school, coaches and his own father; a write-off for almost all those involved with competitive sports. Ironically, Beau's past shows his unwillingness to bend to his father; who seems to believe crushing the son's spirit is an appropriate parenting technique. Crutcher succeeds in developing a truly sympathetic underdog character. Beau's journey through anger managerment is an amazing look into personal demons some teens face. As the characters in anger management develop, Beau begins a relationship with Shelly, a future American Gladiator and an anger management group veteran.
Eventually things come to a head when Beau has to compete in a triathalon where the odds are stacked against him. Worse yet, his father conspires with his opponents to completely crush his spirit. Some people may misunderstand and call antagonists too two-dimensional, it follows Crutcher's "pull no punches" antagonism to bring out the shining best in the protagonists.
Through it all, Mr. Nak teaches about finding mercy in the hardest tradegies of life. A spectacular story with many themes of friendship, compassion, and determination of true Stotans!
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