Athletic Shorts Six Short Stories Author:Chris Crutcher Open this book and meet Angus Bethune, the fat kid who is quick on his feet; Johnny, whose father makes him do ten push-ups every time he hears a word he doesn't like; Petey, who gets volunteered to wrestle the toughest opponent around; and Lionel, a good swimmer and an orphan. These and other quirky, sometimes lovable, sometimes bitingly sarcas... more »tic teenage athletes and their deeply touching, sharply humorous stories are waiting to talk to you.
These six powerful short stories chronicle bits of the lives of characters, major and minor, who have walked the rugged terrain of Chris Crutcher's earlier works. They also introduce some new and unforgettable personalities who may well be heard from again in future books. As with all Crutcher's work, these are stories about athletes, and yet they are not sport stories. They are tales of love and death, bigotry and heroism, of real people doing their best even when that best isn't very good. Crutcher's straightforward style and total honesty have earned him an admiring audience and made readers of many non readers.« less