Chris Crutcher is a literary icon in the field of young adult literature. In this book, Gillis and Cole examine the life, career, and works of this young adult advocate. This volume opens with a never-before-published comprehensive portrait of the author's life, gleaned from numerous conversations with Crutcher. The authors explore Crutcher's childhood, his adolescent years, his life as an adult, and his career as a family counselor and examine how those experiences became fodder for his stories. The authors also discuss Crutcher's encounters with censorship and his philosophical stance. Gillis and Cole also analyze Crutcher's novels, short stories, and novellas, examining his literary craft and such social themes as bigotry, identity, sexuality, relationships, and loss-themes almost always positioned within a sports story.

Acknowledgements
Chronology
Introduction
Chapter 1: The Person
Chapter 2: Crutcher and Censorship
Chapter 3: Running Loose (1983)
Chapter 4: Stotan! (1986)
Chapter 5: The Crazy Horse Electric Game (1987)
Chapter 6: Chinese Handcuffs (1989)
Chapter 7: Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes (1993)
Chapter 8: Ironman (1995)
Chapter 9: Whale Talk (2001)
Chapter 10: The Sledding Hill (2005)
Chapter 11: Deadline (2007)
Chapter 12: Period.8 (2012)
Chapter 13: Athletic Shorts (1991)
Chapter 14: Angry Management (2009)
Appendix: Awards
Bibliography
Index
About the Authors

Bryan Gillis is assistant professor of English Education and Literacy and the Undergraduate Coordinator for Middle Grades Education at Kennesaw State University. He has published several articles on linking reading and writing strategies with YA literature.