Chris Crutcher is an award-winning author, and his books revolve around the significant issues that teenagers cope with today. Nine of the fourteen books he has written depict teenage struggles that are often undermined or simply overlooked in society. In his books, Crutcher explores highly controversial topics like prejudice, abuse, poverty, and disability--as a result, his books are among the most frequently banned. Crutcher currently works as a family therapist and writer, while also touring around the world to speak in schools and universities.
Chris Crutcher spent most of his childhood in Cascade, Idaho, where he grew up with books. His father, being a voracious reader, was one of Crutcher's first literary influences. At a young age, he began tutoring his brother and also helped his family with their service station. The love and support he received from his family early on shaped his character and defined his values.
His mother, however, was an alcoholic, which exposed him to the trauma of addiction at an early age. In his high school years, he participated in football, basketball, and track. Sports would later be reflected in his stories as a way of bringing everyone together despite racial or physical differences.
Crutcher moved to Oakland, coaching kids who were expelled from previous schools. Then, he applied to the Spokane Community Health Center and Child Protection team, where he worked as a family therapist and counseled troubled families. Identifying several larger "collective" narratives of the kids, he would then weave the stories into the characters in his novels, making them relatable to real teenagers.
All of Chris Crutcher’s books have been censored due to mature content. One of his most acclaimed books, “Whale Talk,” deals with domestic and child abuse, forms of discrimination, bullying, gun violence, just to list a few. Another well-known book he’s authored, “Chinese Handcuffs,” revolves around sexual abuse, depression, and suicide.
In his books, Crutcher tries to recreate the harsh realities of an issue, mirroring it closely to real life. Coarse language is often something he uses for that purpose. Precisely because he tries to make every story as vivid as possible, his stories might make readers more than a little squeamish.
Yet, the banning of his books is something Crutcher takes incredible pride in. By writing about issues that afflict teenagers today, he’s giving voice to their struggles. More so, by challenging the general public of readers to confront the controversial issues in his books, he’s trying to teach young people the importance of acceptance. In his books, Crutcher doesn't downplay controversial content that is shunned by society because, as he claims, “discomfort is what makes people think." Maybe China can adopt his stance on things.
Although his honest portrayals of reality are often viewed as inappropriate for young adults, his novels have had a profound impact on broken and troubled teens. Acclaimed as an author who connects and helps people in need through his writing, he was presented with the Margaret A. Edwards Award from the American Library Association in 2000.
About the Margaret A. Edwards Award
“The Margaret A. Edwards Award, established in 1988, recognizes an author's work in helping adolescents become aware of themselves and addressing questions about their role and importance in relationships, society, and in the world.” -YALSA
Caroline Yang and Qinyi Ma
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| Photo via Wikipedia |
Chris Crutcher spent most of his childhood in Cascade, Idaho, where he grew up with books. His father, being a voracious reader, was one of Crutcher's first literary influences. At a young age, he began tutoring his brother and also helped his family with their service station. The love and support he received from his family early on shaped his character and defined his values.
His mother, however, was an alcoholic, which exposed him to the trauma of addiction at an early age. In his high school years, he participated in football, basketball, and track. Sports would later be reflected in his stories as a way of bringing everyone together despite racial or physical differences.
Crutcher moved to Oakland, coaching kids who were expelled from previous schools. Then, he applied to the Spokane Community Health Center and Child Protection team, where he worked as a family therapist and counseled troubled families. Identifying several larger "collective" narratives of the kids, he would then weave the stories into the characters in his novels, making them relatable to real teenagers.
All of Chris Crutcher’s books have been censored due to mature content. One of his most acclaimed books, “Whale Talk,” deals with domestic and child abuse, forms of discrimination, bullying, gun violence, just to list a few. Another well-known book he’s authored, “Chinese Handcuffs,” revolves around sexual abuse, depression, and suicide.
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| Photo via Banned Library |
In his books, Crutcher tries to recreate the harsh realities of an issue, mirroring it closely to real life. Coarse language is often something he uses for that purpose. Precisely because he tries to make every story as vivid as possible, his stories might make readers more than a little squeamish.
Yet, the banning of his books is something Crutcher takes incredible pride in. By writing about issues that afflict teenagers today, he’s giving voice to their struggles. More so, by challenging the general public of readers to confront the controversial issues in his books, he’s trying to teach young people the importance of acceptance. In his books, Crutcher doesn't downplay controversial content that is shunned by society because, as he claims, “discomfort is what makes people think." Maybe China can adopt his stance on things.
Although his honest portrayals of reality are often viewed as inappropriate for young adults, his novels have had a profound impact on broken and troubled teens. Acclaimed as an author who connects and helps people in need through his writing, he was presented with the Margaret A. Edwards Award from the American Library Association in 2000.
About the Margaret A. Edwards Award
“The Margaret A. Edwards Award, established in 1988, recognizes an author's work in helping adolescents become aware of themselves and addressing questions about their role and importance in relationships, society, and in the world.” -YALSA
Caroline Yang and Qinyi Ma
