Present Regarding Books Running Loose
| Title | : | Running Loose |
| Author | : | Chris Crutcher |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | Deluxe Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 224 pages |
| Published | : | April 1st 2003 by Greenwillow Books (first published 1983) |
| Categories | : | Young Adult. Sports. Realistic Fiction |
Chris Crutcher
Paperback | Pages: 224 pages Rating: 3.78 | 1591 Users | 380 Reviews
Narrative Supposing Books Running Loose
[Note: Spoilers ahead.]Louie Banks's senior year of high school looks like it's going to be amazing. His love life hasn't been so stellar in the past, but now he has an amazing girlfriend, Becky, who loves him for who he is--much to his amazement. He's spent the past summer working out and is now starting on his high school football team, prepped to help lead them to another state championship. It seems like nothing could go wrong--and so, of course, almost everything does. When Louie protests against his coach teaching the team to play "dirty football," he is kicked off the team. Things go from bad to worse when (view spoiler)[Becky is killed in a freak accident. (hide spoiler)] Louie is able to make it through--and find the peace he needs--with the constant support of his parents, the mentorship of a grizzled barman named Dakota, and Coach Madison, who helps Louie find an outlet for his pent-up physical and emotional energy in the form of cross-country running.
Crutcher does do an excellent job of portraying life in the small town of Trout, Idaho--as I read, I really felt that I knew what it was like to live there. The style of the novel's language is a little simplistic at times--I think Crutcher was sometimes a little too earnest in trying to sound like a high schooler, something I could hear especially in Louie's descriptions of his parents and Dakota. Overall, though, the voice of the novel was very believable. The novel's writing could be accessible for readers as young as twelve, but because of mature content (see below) and the fact that the book centers around a high school senior, it would probably be more well-received by high school-age students.
There are some heavier themes in this novel--slightly-obscured references are made to Boomer Cowans's being abused by his father, for starters. Louie later has to come to grips with (view spoiler)[the sudden death of Becky. (hide spoiler)] Boomer tells several jokes and stories about sex and masturbation, most or all of which are probably fictional, but are still quite grotesque. There's a fair amount of swearing in the novel (think of a rural town, and you've got it). There's a very erotic scene in which Louie and Becky go up to a cabin to have sex, and while they don't end up doing it (juuuust barely), I still found that section offensive--I don't watch that kind of steamy junk on TV, so why would I want to read it in a book? Near the end of the book, (view spoiler)[Louie defaces a monument to Becky (mostly because it was more of a monument to his self-centered school principal, who put his own name on the plaque); afterwards, Louie lies about his actions and gets away scot-free. (hide spoiler)]
Ultimately, it is because of those last couple of scenes--the cabin and the defacing of public property--that I would not recommend this book to anyone. The book actually ends with Louie going back to the rebuilt monument to destroy it again! Obviously different readers have different tastes, but I personally find that conflicted morality to be distasteful. Louie's actions may be more realistic in some ways in portraying everyday teens, but if that's true, then that's what depresses me. He doesn't become a hood or start pushing drugs after (view spoiler)[his girlfriend dies, (hide spoiler)] and he actually is a great human being in some other ways (such as his defense of Washington, the rival football player)--but because he falls short in some key aspects of his personal integrity, the book left me feeling disappointed. And if I feel disappointed when I finish a book, then I do not recommend that book to other people.
Declare Books Toward Running Loose
| Original Title: | Running Loose |
| ISBN: | 0060094915 (ISBN13: 9780060094911) |
| Edition Language: | English |
Rating Regarding Books Running Loose
Ratings: 3.78 From 1591 Users | 380 ReviewsEvaluate Regarding Books Running Loose
I read the book Running Loose by Chris Crutcher. The book was very good and had a well laid out plot and storyline. The main character, Louis, basically had his senior year at Trout High School made until he makes a drastic decision that ends it all. Louis trained all summer to be able to start on the varsity football team. After the first game, he gets asked out on a date by the prettiest girl in his class, Becky. One of the teams in their conference was Salmon River. They had a newPersonal Response:I thought the book, Running Lose , by Chris Crutcher was a very good book. I could relate to a lot of this book especially because he was a high school student. Also, I could relate because I had a teammate who had almost the same life experiences. Plot:Louie had a life going for him, he had a good looking girlfriend and he also had a starting spot on their football team. Louie was an amazing athlete and tried his hardest in everything he had done. His friend, Carter, was also
The book starts out with two teenage boys, Louie and Carter, who play football for their high school. Trout High School has been winning all their games and then it came time to play the team Salmon River. The coach knew it was going to be hard to beat them because they were 2nd in state. Trout's coach put in a player named Boomer, a kid with a bad attitude and coach told him to hit the quarterback Washington, who was African American, as hard as he could. they ended up taking Washington to the
I absolutely loved this book. I would recommend it to high schoolers, escpecially those interested in sports. Louie is a high school senior that made it his goal to start on the football team in the fall. He reaches his goal and even gets the prettiest girl in high school to go out with him. Louie can't help but feel good about all that he has going for him. Then it all comes crashing down on him, and Louie must decide how to deal with his new found problems. Overall this book was great and
I really enjoyed the book Running Loose by Chris Crutcher. It tells the story about a high school senior named Louie who trains all summer for football. During one game against a very good player the coach tells Louie and the team to play dirty and try to hurt the opposing player. Louie doesnt like this and quits the team to spend more time with his girlfriend. Later in the book his girlfriend is killed in a car accident when her car drives off a bridge. A coach at his school convinces him to
While reading this book, I liked to get in a relaxing place and sit down and read. I would mostly read at night and during school if I had a break after a test. When reading, I make sure that it is very quiet around me. This makes it hard for me to find time to read because it is hard for me to read when there are distractions.The year started out pretty smooth. Probably would have ended that way too, if Becky hadnt stayed around or if I hadnt quit the football team and made myself look like the
This 1983 YA novel is set in a town of 900, where all the businesses shut down when there's a football game.The coach tells his team repeatedly to take out the new (black) kid on an opposing team. Our protagonist Louie feels uneasy about that, but only protests after it happens and the ref looks the other way.I like Crutcher's portrayal of a seventeen-year-old who has supportive parents, a good friend, a girl he's falling in love with, and who just isn't entirely sure how he should handle
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