Ironman

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: 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.