Book Summary
Chris
Crutcher’s collection of short stories introduces readers to his characters found
in his novels to further explain their lives. Crutcher writes with authenticity,
where his characters are bravely dealing with conflict and pain. Bigotry, jealousy,
acceptance, loneliness are all present in these stories.
Reference
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Crutcher, C. (1991). Athletic shorts: Six short
stories. Greenwillow Books.
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Impressions:
Athletic Shorts is about athletes dealing with larger life issues
and the struggles of performance and friendship. There are six stories in the book. The book
contains bad language, talks about homosexuality and challenges parents who are
overbearing and bigoted. The small town setting and circumstance may seem
mundane but characters like Telephone Man and Johnny Rivers are really memorable.
There are no stereotypes in this book.
Professional Review:
Gr 8-12--A winning collection of stories, one of which has appeared in print before. Some of the characters from Crutcher novels pop up in these stories, often speaking in a colloquial and realistic first-person voice. As the title suggests, athletics are part of the selections; and Crutcher, as usual, is best at accurately portraying the world of high school teammates and coaches--readers can practically smell the sweat. In the first story--a monologue by a fat guy who manages to keep his dignity-the author seamlessly blends humor with more serious elements. Crutcher's fans expect almost operatic flights of emotion, and he more than delivers here. The short story format keeps the action focused and definitely packs a punch. The final entry, a gritty, no-holds-barred account of the fear surrounding AIDS, is especially effective. These Athletic Shorts will speak to YAs, touch them deeply, and introduce them to characters they'll want to know better.
Morning, T., Jones, T. E., Toth, L., &
Fleishhacker, J. (1991). Athletic Shorts: Six Short Stories (Book). School
Library Journal, 37(9), 278.
Library Uses:
Librarians
should use this book to introduce readers to Crutcher’s larger works since many
of the character in this story collection are written in novels. Librarians can
assign this book to mature readers who are seeking authentic text that uses
real-life presentations of teenage experiences. The notion of what it means to
be a “jock” is certainly challenged here. Librarians could invite readers to
create social media profiles about the characters in these stories and contemplate
the kind of reactions their status updates could receive.
