Bryan Gillis - Chris Crutcher. A Stotan for Young Adults

Scarecrow Studies in

Young Adult Literature

Series Editor: Patty Campbell

Scarecrow Studies in Young Adult Literature is intended to continue the body of critical writing established in Twaynes Young Adult Authors series and to expand it beyond single-author studies to explorations of genres, multicultural writing, and controversial issues in young adult (YA) reading. Many of the contributing authors of the series are among the leading scholars and critics of adolescent literature, and some are YA novelists themselves. The series is shaped by its editor, Patty Campbell, who is a renowned authority in the field, with a forty-year background as critic, lecturer, librarian, and teacher of YA literature. Patty Campbell was the 2001 winner of the ALAN Award, given by the Assembly on Literature for Adolescents of the National Council of Teachers of English for distinguished contribution to YA literature. In 1989 she was the winner of the American Library Associations Grolier Award for distinguished service to young adults and reading.

Titles in the Series

1.Whats So Scary about R. L. Stine?, by Patrick Jones, 1998.

2.Ann Rinaldi: Historian and Storyteller, by Jeanne M. McGlinn, 2000.

3.Norma Fox Mazer: A Writers World, by Arthea J. S. Reed, 2000.

4.Exploding the Myths: The Truth about Teens and Reading, by Marc Aronson, 2001.

5.The Agony and the Eggplant: Daniel Pinkwaters Heroic Struggles in the Name of YA Literature, by Walter Hogan, 2001.

6.Caroline Cooney: Faith and Fiction, by Pamela Sissi Carroll, 2001.

7.Declarations of Independence: Empowered Girls in Young Adult Literature, 19902001, by Joanne Brown and Nancy St. Clair, 2002.

8.Lost Masterworks of Young Adult Literature, by Connie S. Zitlow, 2002.

9.Beyond the Pale: New Essays for a New Era, by Marc Aronson, 2003.

10.Orson Scott Card: Writer of the Terrible Choice, by Edith S. Tyson, 2003.

11.Jacqueline Woodson: The Real Thing, by Lois Thomas Stover, 2003.

12.Virginia Euwer Wolff: Capturing the Music of Young Voices, by Suzanne Elizabeth Reid, 2003.

13.More Than a Game: Sports Literature for Young Adults, by Chris Crowe, 2004.

14.Humor in Young Adult Literature: A Time to Laugh, by Walter Hogan, 2005.

15.Life Is Tough: Guys, Growing Up, and Young Adult Literature, by Rachelle Lasky Bilz, 2004.

16.Sarah Dessen: From Burritos to Box Office, by Wendy J. Glenn, 2005.

17.American Indian Themes in Young Adult Literature, by Paulette F. Molin, 2005.

18.The Heart Has Its Reasons: Young Adult Literature with Gay/Lesbian/Queer Content, 19692004, by Michael Cart and Christine A. Jenkins, 2006.

19.Karen Hesse, by Rosemary Oliphant-Ingham, 2005.

20.Graham Salisbury: Island Boy, by David Macinnis Gill, 2005.

21.The Distant Mirror: Reflections on Young Adult Historical Fiction, by Joanne Brown and Nancy St. Clair, 2006.

22.Sharon Creech: The Words We Choose to Say, by Mary Ann Tighe, 2006.

23.Angela Johnson: Poetic Prose, by KaaVonia Hinton, 2006.

24.David Almond: Memory and Magic, by Don Latham, 2006.

25.Aidan Chambers: Master Literary Choreographer, by Betty Greenway, 2006.

26.Passions and Pleasures: Essays and Speeches about Literature and Libraries, by Michael Cart, 2007.

27.Names and Naming in Young Adult Literature, by Alleen Pace Nilsen and Don L. F. Nilsen, 2007.

28.Janet McDonald: The Original Project Girl, by Catherine Ross-Stroud, 2008.

29.Richard Peck: The Past Is Paramount, by Donald R. Gallo and Wendy Glenn, 2008.

30.Sisters, Schoolgirls, and Sleuths: Girls Series Books in America, by Carolyn Carpan, 2009.

31.Sharon Draper: Embracing Literacy, by KaaVonia Hinton, 2009.

32.Mixed Heritage in Young Adult Literature, by Nancy Thalia Reynolds, 2009.

33.Russell Freedman, by Susan P. Bloom and Cathryn M. Mercier, 2009.

34.Animals in Young Adult Fiction, by Walter Hogan, 2009.

35.Learning Curves: Body Image and Female Sexuality in Young Adult Literature, by Beth Younger, 2009.

36.Laurie Halse Anderson: Speaking in Tongues, by Wendy J. Glenn,2010.

37.Suzanne Fisher Staples: The Setting Is the Story, by Megan Lynn Isaac, 2010.

38.Campbells Scoop: Reflections on Young Adult Literature, by Patty Campbell, 2010.

39.Donna Jo Napoli: Writing with Passion, by Hilary S. Crew, 2010.

40. John Marsden: Darkness, Shadow, and Light, by John Noell Moore, 2011.

41.Robin McKinley: Girl Reader, Woman Writer, by Evelyn M. Perry, 2011.

42. Immigration Narratives in Young Adult Literature: Crossing Borders, by Joanne Brown, 2011.

43. They Suck, They Bite, They Eat, They Kill: The Psychological Meaning of Supernatural Monsters in Young Adult Fiction, by Joni Richards Bodart, 2012.

44. Stephenie Meyer: In the Twilight, by James Blasingame Jr., Kathleen Deakin, and Laura A. Walsh, 2012.

45. Chris Crutcher: A Stotan for Young Adults, by Bryan Gillis and Pam B. Cole, 2012.

Chris Crutcher

A Stotan for Young Adults

Bryan Gillis

Pam B. Cole

THE SCARECROW PRESS, INC.

Lanham Toronto Plymouth, UK

2012

To my mom, Susan, who always believed that I could make

a difference in the world.B.G.

To my son, Taylor, who lives for the run.P.B.C.

We are grateful for many who helped us complete this book. Patty Campbell, series editor for Scarecrow Press, opened the door of opportunity and provided thoughtful and constructive feedback on each chapter. We are most appreciative of her commitment. Stephen Ryan, senior editor, kept us straight on production details and worked diligently with us on every aspect. Many others worked behind the scenes at Scarecrow to make this book a reality, and we are indebted to them as well.