When Sarah is hospitalized in the mental hospital, apparently catatonic and unable to speak, their friendship meets its ultimate test. A dark, painful secret she reveals only to Eric threatens not only their friendship, but their very lives.
This novel has many of the elements that appeal to young adult readers, blending adventure, romance, sports, and issues involving body image. Sports fans will appreciate Crutcher�s understanding of competitive swimming, with training and swim competitions providing the backdrop for much of the story.
Adventure and suspense are other elements of the book that carry it to an exciting climax and conclusion. Both Eric and Sarah are drawn into individual quests, involving danger for both, that result in renewed independence, maturation, trust, and confidence in themselves and each other. Eric experiences romance for the first time in his life, and is rewarded for his courage by the love of a beautiful, desirable girl.
Crutcher�s protagonist is well-developed and multi-faceted. Although he struggles with obesity, Eric�s self-image is buoyed by his intelligence and his prowess in the swimming pool. Although he is unabashedly afraid of Sarah�s father, his devotion to his friend motivates him to call upon reserves of courage that he didn�t realize were there. Unlike many teens, he is devoted to his mother, whose trust in Eric�s maturity and judgment gives him the freedom and self-confidence to mature.
Sarah is not quite as well-rounded as Eric, with anger defining her character for the most part. She is prickly and defensive, and the reader realizes that this contributes more to her lack of friends than does her physical deformity.
The primary antagonist, Sarah�s father, is a soulless man totally without redeeming qualities. He is the personification of evil, and Crutcher successfully portrays him as menacing and dangerous.
Besides an exciting story, Crutcher includes meaty philosophical issues for his readers to chew on. The Contemporary American Thought (CAT) class is the setting for discussions involving religion, abortion, and other controversial subjects. Crutcher has a remarkable ability to distill weighty issues into terms that teens can understand: � . . . his own little view of the universe wasn�t the only view possible; that if there�s a heaven, decent people all over the world who have never even heard of Jesus Christ would get to go there. Even if they�d made mistakes. Even if they�d had abortions.� (p. 98) The reader is allowed to explore his own convictions and feelings vicariously through the non-threatening medium of the written word.
The serious problems and issues that the characters face in the book are not without moments of comic relief. Crutcher manages to write humor as effectively as he does drama, and the two combine to make a believable and thoroughly enjoyable story. The Crispy Pork Rinds publication that Sarah and Eric publish is a hysterically stinging commentary on their school society. The description of Ellerby�s �Christian Cruiser� that blasts out tuba renditions of �The Old Rugged Cross� is outrageously funny, as well.
Even though the protracted descriptions of swim team workouts become tedious and mind-numbing at times, they are more than compensated for by the suspense and humor in the story and the satisfying conclusion for the young protagonists. The School Library Journal (December 1, 2002) says �The exciting story has it all: intense examination of values, normal teen concerns with friendship and personal growth, sports, dates and, above all, interesting and likable characters who make readers laugh through all kinds of pain, suspense, and even danger.�
Awards
Young Reader Medal
Young Reader�s Choice Award (Nominee)
Joan Fassler Memorial Book Award for Best Medical-Related Children�s Book
California Young Reader Medal
South Carolina Young Adult Book Award
Margaret A. Edwards Award
Related Web Sites
About Crutcher: http://www.aboutcrutcher.com
TeenReads.com: http://www.teenreads.com/authors/au-crutcher-chris-2.asp
Teacher Resource File: http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/crutcher.htm
Author Feature: http://www.carmel.lib.in.us/ya/crutcher.htm
Source
Books in Print [database online]. Available from http://www.booksinprint.com. Accessed 10 October 2004.
School of Library and Information Studies
TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY