Making Connections through Chris Crutcher’s Work Eric Fortune EDTC 3771 MWF 9:00 – 9:50 AM Senior English Due: 10/20/11 Figure 1 – (Halls 2010)

Biography Born on July 17, 1946 in Dayton Ohio. Author of fourteen books -- eleven novels, two short story collections and an autobiography. Prior to his work as an author, he taught school in Washington and California and acted as director of an Oakland alternative school for nearly a decade. That academic history coupled with 25 years as a child and family therapist specializing in abuse and neglect has infused his literary work with realism and emotional heft. His signature blend of tragedy and comedy have made him a favorite with teen and adult readers. He is also one of the most frequently banned authors in North America -- a fact he considers an accomplishment, rather than a drawback. Figure 2 - (Halls, 2011)

Selected Works Running Loose, 1983 Stotan!, 1986 The Crazy Horse Electric Game, 1987 Chinese Handcuffs, 1989 Athletic Shorts: Six Short Stories, 1991 The Deep End, 1991 Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, 1993 Ironman, 1995 Whale Talk, 2001 King of the Mild Frontier, 2003 The Sledding Hill, 2005 Deadline, 2007 Figure 5- (Halls, 2011) Figure 4 - (Halls, 2011) Figure 3- (Halls, 2011)

Why Chris Crutcher? 1.The characters he creates are real people. 2.His characters are the kids who walk the halls of today’s schools and read at public libraries. 3.Crutcher’s stories urge kids to have courage and to take responsibility for their lives, to become everyday heroes who stand up and do what is right. 4.His readers recognize themselves in his books, and realize that somebody else might just understand their crises after all.

Free Speech A champion for free speech, Chris Crutcher continuously fights for intellectual freedom. He loudly proclaims the rights of high school students to feel visible and to find and read the books they need most, in spite of censors. His books are frequently challenged and/or banned. Figure 6 - (Jenson, 2011), (Green Willow Books, 2010)

Questions to consider Dividing the class into two groups, we will have one group argue against censorship under any circumstances and the other argue that the desire to protect students outweighs their First Amendment right to receive information. Each group needs to answer these questions: Who determines what needs to be censored? Who should judge what is appropriate?censorship

Questions to consider Select one of Chris Crutcher’s challenged books and research the reasons that it was contested as well as the final results of the challenge. Then write a rationale for keeping the book on the library shelf and in the classroom. We’ll read your rationales to the class and then combine them in a booklet. (Geye, 2006)

Questions to consider Chris CrutcherChris Crutcher is proud to have repeatedly made the ALA’s annual list of top ten most frequently challenged books. Discuss why Chris Crutcher might be proud of this fact. Would it be better to be universally loved? Why or why not?

Researched Analysis Paper During this time that we’ve discussed Crutcher’s work, we’ve seen how him touch upon many themes while writing about kids who need to have courage and to take responsibility for their lives, to become everyday heroes who stand up and do what is right.. We’ve seen how censorship plays into how the general public responds to his writing. You will write a researched analysis paper on one of his novels we have read and it will be include everything we have learned during this time through our reading, note taking, discussion, and research.

Credits Geye, S. (2006, June). Guide to teaching challenged and banned books featuring the novels of chris crutcher. Green Willow Books. (2010). Ask chris crutcher: censorship [Web]. Halls, K. (2011). Author & consultant chris crutcher. Halls, K. (Producer). (2010). Chris crutcher. [Web Photo]. Halls, K. (Producer). (2011). Chris with students. [Web Photo]. Halls, K. (Producer). (2011). Running loose. [Web Photo]. Halls, K. (Producer). (2011). Staying fat for sarah byrnes. [Web Photo]. Halls, K. (Producer). (2011). Deadline. [Web Photo]. Hauschildt, P. (2008). Teaching the selected works of chris crutcher. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann. Jenson, K. (Producer). (2011). Banned books week poster. [Web Photo].