Chris Crutcher
Chris Crutcher
Chris Crutcheris an American novelist and a family therapist. He received the Margaret Edwards Award from the American Library Association in 2000 for his lifetime contribution in writing for teens...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionNovelist
Date of Birth17 July 1946
CountryUnited States of America
god heard last voice
I heard the voice of God saying, 'You have read your last book,'
amazing discussing juniors kids michigan reading seniors
(The Michigan district) used it as an all-school reader, ... Sophomores, juniors and seniors were reading it and discussing it and discussing it in different disciplines, and I was getting some amazing e-mails back from kids and teachers.
basically damage goes history hope kid learned math science start taking teaching time
By the time a kid goes to college, if he's taking math or science, at least he knows, or you hope he knows, some basics. But if you're teaching history in college, you have a lot of damage to undo. You basically have to start over because so much of what a kid has already learned is just wrong.
brilliant chosen decided far innovative rural town
In 2004, one of my books, 'Whale Talk,' was chosen as an all-school read in Fowlerville, Michigan, a rural town not far from Detroit. They had done what I thought was a brilliant and innovative thing: decided to teach the book in every discipline, sophomores through seniors.
characters realized topics writer
I realized that I wanted to be a writer and I had characters and topics all around me to write about,
bad good helps itself points
I want to look at this character from all points of view. I know I don't want to make them all good or all bad or all anything... the story itself often helps create the character.
lives thrown truth
The truth that comes out from those people's lives is skimmed off and thrown into my characters' lives,
against book death experience kids life perfect rub value
The value of a story like 'Deadline' is kids get to look at death at the perfect distance. They can put the book down. They can experience the story, rub up against it, but it's not real life.
awful biggest book gets happens language life meant problem scene
It's the scene in the book that probably gets the most attention, ... The biggest problem is that she is yelling, and in the book it's in big font. This is what happens all the time: They read the language and don't read the context. It's meant to let you know how awful her life is.
cared complaints designed emotional intent lied lies malicious people prevent spiteful
If I have any complaints about my youth... one is that many well-meaning adults lied to me. Not spiteful lies with malicious intent but lies designed to prevent emotional and psychological pain - lies told by the people who cared about me most: my parents, teachers, relatives.
deal
I don't see what the big deal is,
appear backs fear kids stories turn
The kids you turn your backs on when you take away their stories are the ones who lose, as well as you as a community of adults who may appear to fear their truths.