Monday, September 12, 2011

King of the Mild Frontier: An Ill-Advised Autobiography

King of the Mild Frontier: An Ill-Advised Autobiography by Chris Crutcher, ISBN 978-0060502492, Greenwillow Books, 2003, 260 pages.
Teaser: Chris Crutcher writes his autobiography.
Plot Summary: The life of Chris Crutcher as he grew up in Cascade, Idaho and later became a famous author of young adult novels. Also see below for author information.
Critical Evaluation:  I love Chris Crutcher novels and reading his autobiography was a great way to see into the life of a great author.  I was able to notice that Chris Crutcher based a lot of his novels on things that had happened in his own life.  I was also pleasantly surprised to find that he grew up in Cascade, Idaho, which is a few hours from where I live in Boise, Idaho. 
Author Information: According to http://www.chriscrutcher.com/biography.html  "Crutcher was born on July 17, 1946 in Dayton Ohio to a WWII bomber pilot and a homeaker, Crutcher grew up in Cascade, Idaho, a logging town north of Boise.  He graduated from Eastern Washington State College -- now Eastern Washington University -- with a BA in psychology and sociology.  He later earned his teaching credential and taught primary and secondary school in Washington State and California.
He admits he was a popular teacher, but not a good one.  However, once offered the chance to direct a "last chance" alternative school in Oakland, CA, he thoughtfully served at-risk K-12 students for almost a decade before returning to the Pacific Northwest to write his first book.
RUNNING LOOSE was his debut novel for Greenwillow, published in the early 1980's.  Nine other novels -- STOTAN!, CHINESE HANDCUFFS, THE CRAZY HORSE ELECTRIC GAME, THE DEEP END, STAYING FAT FOR SARAH BYRNES, IRONMAN, WHALE TALK, THE SLEDDING HILL and DEADLINE-- as well as two short story collections -- ATHLETIC SHORTS and ANGRY MANAGEMENT-- and his autobiography, KING OF THE MILD FRONTIER -- followed. Other books, including more short stories and nonfiction as well as several motion picture projects are also in development.   
Crutcher's fast-paced fiction -- heavily influenced by his vast experience as a child and family therapist and child protection advocate -- is known for its expert balance of comedy and tragedy, as well as its unflinching honesty and authentic voice.
He has been honored with dozens of awards and honors including the CLA's 2005 St. Katharine Drexel Award, Writer Magazine's 2004 Writers Who Make A Difference Award, the ALA's 2000 Margaret A. Edwards Lifetime Achievement Award, the NCTE's 1998 National Intellectual Freedom Award and the ALAN Award.  And he takes great pride in landing on the ALA Freedom to Read Foundation's top ten banned books and authors lists, whenever it happens. 
A popular columnist (Voices from the Middle, Family Energy Magazine, the Signal Journal, iParenting) and public speaker, Crutcher lectures at universities, conferences, libraries, schools and bookstores across the United States and around the world more than 200 days a year.  He makes his home in Spokane, Washington.

Genre: Autobiography/Non Fiction
Age Group/Interest Level: 14+
Curriculum Ties: Biography/History
Booktalking Ideas:
Challenge Issues: Most of Chris Crutcher's novels have been challenged so I assume that his biography would be challenged also.   If the book was challenged I would go to, ALA's Strategies and Tips for Dealing with Challenges to Library Materials.
Why Included? I have read many Chris Crutcher books and I wanted to know more about the author and I found that he wrote an autobiography so I knew I had to include it.

No comments:

Post a Comment