Rating: 
Summary: One great book!
Review: This book is very intense, and is a good book for readers 12 and older. Not suitable for children under 12. This is a great book, it's fun and exciting! I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read, and those who don't really like to, because this book will change their mind!
Rating:
Summary: Really great book!
Review: This book was extremely interesting! I was so absorbed in it, that I finished it the day after I found it! I am really glad I did find it, and am sorry I even hesitated to read it in the first place. Crutcher puts you right in Bo's shoes, and you feel like you have to stand by him right until the last words.
Rating: 
Summary: For teens who have had problems and overcome them...
Review: This book, as many people have stated, is about teen angst and a young man training for a modified triathalon. Bo is the young man in this book and the books starts with him telling his coach to take a flying leap (in not so many words!). For his actions he's told he has to attend Mr. Naks anger management class every morning. At first he thinks this is a bunch of losers, but over time he begins to think differently of them. Overall a great book. If you've read Stotan by Crutcher you'll notice some characters from that book in this book. I enjoyed seeing what happened to one of the characters in Stotan. I'll be looking for another Crutcher book shortly!
Rating:
Summary: For teens who have had problems and overcome them...
Review: This book, as many people have stated, is about teen angst and a young man training for a modified triathalon. Bo is the young man in this book and the books starts with him telling his coach to take a flying leap (in not so many words!). For his actions he's told he has to attend Mr. Naks anger management class every morning. At first he thinks this is a bunch of losers, but over time he begins to think differently of them. Overall a great book. If you've read Stotan by Crutcher you'll notice some characters from that book in this book. I enjoyed seeing what happened to one of the characters in Stotan. I'll be looking for another Crutcher book shortly!
Rating:
Summary: Dark and fun at the same time
Review: This is an entertaining book, though Crutcher has the habit of throwing in every possible problem known to humankind because it's a young adult novel. Plus, how the heck did Larry King's voice get on that tape? And why does the teacher just sort of ride off into the sunset at the end? However, the anger management theme is a good one, and this reads rather well.
Rating:
Summary: Ironman
Review: This is an Increadible book that deals with teen problems along with finding ways to deal with them. It's characters deal with backstabbing, Love and learn about the powerful bonds of true friendship that are so very rare and wonderful in the world today. It is a terrific book that I would recommend to people that like teen issue books, books that show a lot of feeling.
Rating:
Summary: Ironman
Review: This was an excellant book written for all ages, male and female. It was clever and witty, keeping me entertained the entire time. It's odd set of character and plot make it a book completely unlike any other. I highly suggest that you give this book a try, you might be surprised, like I was.
Rating:
Summary: Ironman: by Chris Crutcher
Review: Title: Ironman
Author: Chris Crutcher
Classification: Young Adult
Plot: Bo, who is the main character, is having trouble with his family and he is anger managment, which is a class to help him with his anger problems. While in anger managment he meets a girl named Shelly who completely changes his life. He is traning to be in Yukon Jacks, a triatholon race, and is trying to beat his competition Wyrack.
Comparison: This book is kind of like "Stotan" It has basically the same genre. In each of the books schools have a group of kids competing is some sort of sporting event. The characters in both books went to a big race to compete in was swimming or a triatholon. In "Ironman" Bo writes to Larry King, a tv host, telling him what is going on in his life or the problems that he is facing.
Personal Reaction: This book, "Ironman," really touched me. It just shows the different life styles people live in. Such as Bo's. His parents are divorced, he is anger managment,he has problems with his dad, and also has trouble getting along with friends at school. Shelly, who is Bo's girlfriend cares for him. Bo has never really had anyone this close to him before. It touches me because just one person completley changed the way he looks at things. I think because of Shelly Bo continued and worked really hard to compete in Yukon Jacks. On page 165 shelly, Bo's girlfriend is giving Bo his valentine she said "She had never considered loving anybody before....." To me that is showing how much Shelly really cares for Bo, and how important he is in her life. Those words on the card could have changed the way he looks at life. He realized that there is someone that really cares for him. To me this book his very touching.
Reaction: This book is a great book. I loved it. It relates to some kids that I know. Some people though could get offended because it is about someone that is anger managment, and this kid that is having trouble with his dad. The language at time is pretty horific which could potentionally be a draw back.
Rating:
Summary: "Ironman" By Chris Crutcher
Review: Title: Ironman Author: Chris Crutcher A Young Adult Book Summary-Young Beuregard Brewster must overcome adversity to win his dream event-the Yukon Jacks. He can't do it alone, but he doesn't have to, as he befriends many along the way. In the end, hard work and dedication pays off as he fulfills his goal. Comparison-Ironman plays out like many of Crutcher's other books. The main character is somewhat of a hothead, and because of that, he is demeaned by authority. His teacher sees him as a quitter and a fungus on society, and nothing Bo does seems to convince him otherwise. Bo is therefore doomed to be prejudiced and is deemed a "quitter" because of his failure to commit. The resentment and mistreatment of authority, evident in this book as well as many of his other books, is always something the main character needs to overcome.
The book will play out like a typical athletic movie or book, with the main character realizing his dream of becoming a star athlete. Like all star athletes, he works diligently and is driven by the internal passion that one must possess to be successful. He thrives on passion, and he forges this passion into success.
Some people may steer away from Crutcher because of this recurring theme(standing against authority) while others will revel in it. If you like sports books and books based on the teenage lifestyle, then give this book a chance. On the other hand, if you find the adolescent life of young Bo Brewster unappealing, this may be one of the books you should steer away from. No book is for everybody. Personal Reaction-Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed the vivid description Crutcher uses when he describes Bo's lifestyle. He doesn't give the main character a completely one sided, happy life. He gives the main character a realistic feel that the common reader can relate to, which is a good thing. He also gives the main character a nice set of interesting conflicts to overcome, which he does quite well.
The unique way that the main character meets and interacts with the Anger Management will especially catch the reader off guard. At first the reader is made to fear the different assortment of individuals, but then Crutcher throws a monkey wrench into this perspective and the group becomes endearing to the reader. The reader will laugh at the happy times explained in the book, and you will weep like a willow when you hear the tragic tale of Mr. Nak. The reader will grow to love the group, and if the reader can come that far into the book, then the book has hooked them.
Maybe I just like happy endings too much. The ending, while definitely on a positive note, doesn't leave you with a complete warm feeling inside that you usually get. Rather, it leaves you with a confused feeling and leaves quite a lot to the imagination(not always a bad thing). Some people resent ambiguity, and if you are one of these people then the book may not be worth your time. The book contains some very mature themes, such is the burdern of a teenage life. This kind of book may not be suitable for the younger readers, and if you're looking for a good book by this author anyway I recommend "Stotan" by Chris Crutcher. However, again, if you like books about sports and the normal life of a normal teenager, then this book deserves a chance.
And if the reader gives this book a chance, I can almost guarantee some satisfaction. The satisfaction of a good book, the satisfaction of a positive romance, or the satisfaction of success...
"Larry King theme music fades, and Bo Brewster, laughing like a maniac, grabs a banana and his goggles from Shelly, takes a long swig of Shuja's Gatorade, pulls the plug on the earphones as he drops the tune belt to the dirt, sails the Stotan hat toward his father-standing near the shore beside Keith Redmond-and charges into the Columbia River in pursuit of Ian Wyrack, who's about to fall five hundred green ones into debt"-p. 175 of "Ironman"
So if you want to read about the amazing feats of Bo Brewster, the "Ironman", then this book is for you.
Rating:
Summary: Moving book about teens with anger and/or family problems
Review: What a terrific book!
I started this book and almost abandoned it unread, because the first three chapters were sort of disjointed and uninteresting. The "letters to Larry" parts seemed distracting. But, I had previously read another book by Chris Crutcher, and so hung in there.
About the fourth chapter, everything came together. Letters to Larry were a nice additional reflection. The plot is interesting and well-done.
Each character is well-defined, and is "seen" through multiple points of view. Teens (and adults) reading this book will have a renewed ability to think about others in their totality -- to consider how that person got his/her behavior, and to look at others' points of view.
I believe this book will be beneficial to all teens, and especially those who are having trouble controlling their anger, or are going through difficulties or abuse in their lives -- particularly difficulties with parents and authority figures. The author, through his characters, offers advice on how to deal with anger problems.
I highly recommend this book for those in the appropriate age levels.
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