Greenwillow, 1991

Summary: Although all of the heroes and heroines in this collection of short stories are athletes, they face their greatest challenges coping with family problems, the death of loved ones, prejudice, and discrimination.

Level: RL: 6 IL: 7-12

Themes:

self-esteem

family relationships

prejudice and discrimination

death and dying

Activities:

1a. Compare/contrast the families in "A Brief Moment in the Life of Angus Bethune", "The Pin", "Goin' Fishin'", and "Telephone Man." Some terms used to describe families include the following adjectives: traditional, unconventional, and dysfunctional. First define these terms. Which term or terms apply to the families in these stories? Justify your response by giving examples from the story. [Thinking Skills: knowledge, comprehension, analysis/Information Skills: location, application]

1b. In your opinion, what is a good parent? Interview 5 adults and 5 students, asking them their opinion of the subject. Adults might include your guidance counselor, a member of the clergy, teachers, and your parents. From your research, create a list of characteristics of a good parent. Evaluate the parents in these stories using these characteristics. [Thinking Skills: analysis, synthesis, evaluation/Information Skills: gathering data, interpreting, applying]

2a. Why does Chris Byers become a wrestler? Why does she want to quit?

2b. Title IX helped to end sex discrimination is school sports. What is Title IX? How did it change school sports programs? To answer these questions, you might interview the athletic director, principal, and/or coaches at your school. [Thinking Skills: knowledge, comprehension/Information Skills: gathering and interpreting data]

2c. Some athletes argue that there is still discrimination of females in school and professional sports. Gather information on both sides of this issue. Then debate the topic in one of your classes. [Thinking Skills: knowledge, comprehension, evaluation/Information Skills: location, interpretation, application]

3a. "Telephone Man" and "In the Time I Get" deal with prejudice and discrimination. What is the cause of Telephone Man's racial prejudice? Will he ever be able to overcome this prejudice? Locate passages in the story to support your opinion. In his preface, the author says, I have fears in writing a story about racism. In fact, there are a significant number of people who ... believe when I use the word "nigger" or "spic" or any other of a million slurs, I am condoning the use of those words. They think kids should not be exposed in print to what they are exposed to in their lives. In your opinion, should racial and ethnic slurs be removed from Crutcher's story? Defend your position by giving specific reasons. Red about the controversy over the use of racial slurs and stereotypes in Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn. What reasons do people give for banning this book from school classrooms and libraries? Do you agree or disagree with their position. Write an essay defending your view of this controversial issue. [Thinking Skills: knowledge, comprehension, evaluation/Information Skills: location, interpretation, application]

3b. In his preface, Chris Crutcher says that Louie Banks must face the challenge of confronting his own bigotry. Define bigotry by looking it up in an unabridged dictionary. What choice must Louie Banks make? What consequences must he experience as a result of his choice? Explain why you approve or disapprove of his actions. [Thinking Skills: knowledge, comprehension, evaluation/Information Skills: location]

3c. What types of prejudice exist in your school or community? Role-play situations where students confront different types of prejudice. What solutions to the problem do these dramatizations suggest? [Thinking Skills: analysis, synthesis, evaluation/Information Skills: observation, application, interpretation]

4. In "Goin' Fishin'" and "In the Time I Get," teenagers cope with the death of a friend or family member. Describe how Lionel Serbousek and Louie Banks react to the death of someone close. Read about the stages of grieving. (See the citation for Death and Dying in the Resource section of this guide.) Has Lionel Serbousek experienced each of these stages? Support your answer with passages from the text. Predict how Louie Banks will react to Darren's death. [Thinking Skills: knowledge, comprehension, application/Information Skills: location, interpretation, application]

Works by Chris Crutcher with Characters Featured in Athletic Shorts

The Crazy Horse Electric Game, Greenwillow, 1987.
Willie Weaver is injured in a water-skiing accident and must learn to cope with brain damage. Telephone Man is one of the characters in this novel.

Running Loose, Greenwillow, 1983.
Football player Louie Banks, hero of "In the Time I Get," confronts racial bigotry when his coach orders an illegal hit on a black player from the opposing team.

Books about Death and Dying

Kerr, M. E. Night Kites. Harper and Row/Charlotte Zolotow Books, 1986.
When he learns his older brother Pete is dying of AIDS, Erick faces difficult choices. A good companion for In the Time I Get.

Mazer, Norma Fox. When We First Met. Scholastic/Point, 1985.
When Jenny's sister Gail is killed by a drunk driver, the family has problems coping - especially when Jenny falls in love with Rob, the son of the drunken driver who killed his sister. A good Companion for "In the Time I Get."

Richter, Elizabeth. Losing Someone You Love: When a Brother or Sister Dies, G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1986.
This nonfiction book contains interviews with teenagers dealing with the death of a brother or sister. Another good companion for "Goin' Fishin'".

Knox, Jean. Death and Dying. Chelsea House, 1989.
This nonfiction book discusses how people have viewed death through the ages. It also presents a number of issues associated with death and dying. Chapter 5 contains a section on the stages of grief.

Family Relationships

Husted, Darrell. A Perfect Family. British American, 1988.
This portrait of a dysfunctional family with its violent consequences is a possible companion for "The Pin."

Voigt, Cynthia. The Runner. Atheneum, 1985.
Bullet Tillerman is a cross-country runner. But most of the time he runs from his father's autocratic will. Another companion for "The Pin."

Prejudice and Discrimination

Hammer, Trudy J. Taking a Stand Against Sexism and Sex Discrimination. Franklin-Watts, 1990.
This book includes material on discrimination in athletics the work place, and the justice system.

For Teachers and Library Media Specialists Bushman, John H. and Kay Parks. "Coping with Harsh Realities: The Novels of Chris Crutcher." English Journal (March 1992), 82-84.

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Prepared by Marilyn Joyce, Sterns High School, Millincocket

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