As Banned Books week comes to an end, I'd like to introduce you to an author who is not stranger to being challenged and banned, while writing books that have spoken to generations of YA readers. Chris Crutcher writes powerful books that deal with capital "I" Issues. From abuse, to disease, to lifestyles that might not reflect social norms, his characters live in a world that is real.
Whale Talk is one of the most powerful books Chris Crutcher has written, and may be a good starting point for readers just discovering the author. The often challenged book deals with a boy named T.J. Jones who starts a swim team at a school with out a pool, to prove a point about letter jackets, and maybe something bigger. That "something bigger" has to deal with race in a small town, multiculturalism, and family.
Other titles to start with would be his autobiography, King of the Mild Frontier or one of his newer titles, Deadline. Want to know more about Chris Crutcher? Check out his website biography, and other extras he has, including some pretty cool posters about banned books week!
I'll see you @ the library!
Katie
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