Ironman

Title - Ironman

Author- Chris Crutcher

ISBN- 0060598409

Publication Information- Harper-Collins, New York: 1995

Plot Summary- Bo Brewster is forced to attend Anger Management classes after blowing up at his teacher. At the same time, he is training for an Ironman competition. Bo discovers that he is talented but very angry. As he works his way through the class, we learn that he has long standing issues with his father to resolve. While that should be enough for any boy to deal with, he also has to deal with his new girlfriend, the rest of the anger management class, a group of college students that dislike him for his talent, and his teachers. Along his journey of self-discovery, he is also physically challenged with one of the hardest of all possible competitions.

Critical Evaluation- This book is an interesting dichotomy. Bo's problems are all very real for many teenage boys today: conflict with authority, approaching girls, and adjusting to new groups. However, this protagonist is also training for an ironman triathlon. This is not realistic for most teens and many will not relate to this level of commitment. This could have been easily resolved by involvement in a single activity, which many boys can understand. Some may object to the novel's liberal use of language and the disturbing situations that many of the kids find themselves in, but that is what will make it interesting for teen boys; it's real with real situations and real language. This book has become a staple amongst many teachers in high school especially with reluctant readers because it addresses sophisticated themes in an engaging manner. Like many other authors, Crutcher employs a journalistic approach to a portion of the book writing to Larry King- or Lar as he is referred to- about the events of his life. This is in opposition to the regular narrative and functions to allow the writer to use both 1^st and 3^rd person perspectives effectively. Readers often see an even happen and then see Bo's reaction to that event later in his journal.

Reader's Annotation- So you cussed out your English teacher again. Do you really have to sit in an Anger Management class? How is dealing with "anger issues" going to help you be a better triathlete?

Author Information- Chris Crutcher has written several novels with a similar story structure: troubled teenage boys offset by some athletic competition. Crutcher was a secondary school teacher who taught at-risk students for many years and he holds a psychology degree. These two important elements explain the realistic yet insightful qualities of his novels.

Curricular Ties- Physical Education, English (strong thematic component in this text)

Genre- sports, psychology

Book talking ideas- How do we deal with situations that make us angry? Is the book's use of a Ironman competition effective?

Challenge issues- Language, homosexuality, violence

1. Re-read the text to familiarize myself with the story
   
2. Ask parents for their specific objections (they are required to file that with our school district)
   
3. Review approved books list from California Department of Education for similar materials
   
4. Review approaches from ALA
   

Interest Age- 15-18

Why I selected this piece- This piece was taught in our school for several years. I was interested in reading it then because the teachers felt so passionately about this book.