Blog Response #3
Stotan!, Chinese Handcuffs, Running Loose, and Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes all involve intense topics that add to the plot. Talk about the point in which you became hooked into your book. What did Chris Crutcher do to hook you? Describe any moment or moments in the book where you didn't want to put the book down. What will you always remember about this book?
In the book Running Loose, the point that really got me hooked to the book is towards the end of the book when Becky unfortunately passes away. Becky is Louie's girlfriend, they had a really deep connection and when she ended up passing away, it completely changed Louie's attitude and personality for the remainder of the book. It really hooked be because it's a real thing that happens in the world. It's not uncommon to lose at least 1 person close to you throughout your teenage years. I think Chris did a great job at showcasing how a death of someone close can completely change your personality.
ReplyDeleteI get where you are coming from and I agree with you, when Becky passes away you can really notice a big change in Louie's emotions and actions, the good and bad.
DeleteI agree with you, when Becky died Louie completely changes as a person for the rest of the book. As the character Louie seems to be like he some does crazy things that he usually wouldn't do
DeleteIn Stotan, something similar happens, one of the main characters, Jeff, comes down with a severe blood disease that hospitalized him, While he did not die in my story his condition brought down the entire teams morale
DeleteBecky passing away was a very big part and twist in the book I never saw coming. At the start of the book I thought they would both last together until the end so it really shocked me when she passed.
DeleteI felt the same way with Stotan! but for me it was during Stotan Week. When the guys started pushing past their limits and you see all the pain they’re hiding, that’s when I got hooked. Crutcher made it feel real, like these things could happen to anyone, and it grabbed me the same way Becky’s death grabbed you in Running Loose. It’s the moment that sticks with me the most.
DeleteIn Staying fat for Sarah Byrnes there was a large section on the book about pages 116 to 130, all about the morals and rights and wrongs about abortion. that was the point i didn't wanna put it down but that was a part i wanted to get through in one sitting. it's an important topic about woman's rights and about the idea on getting the choice or not about what to do with their own bodies. in the book there was a lot of differing opinions, and god ended up being brought up a lot about ladies that end up creating a baby is god's will for her to carry it to term. what i will always remember about this book is the amount of personal feelings that i did not want to re-experience through reading literal fiction. It's a book i wanted to put down more than actually keep reading.
ReplyDeleteI am reading the book Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes. The point in the book that I started to really enjoy the book was during chapter 7. During this chapter we start to learn about what really happened to Sarah Byrnes and how she got her scars. Another very interesting part that Chris Crutcher added was the letter Sarah wrote in the mental hospital to Eric. In this letter she added more information about her bad home lifestyle and she puts herself back in the shoes of the three year old girl that got burned. She also talks about how many other people in the mental hospital have it worse, and learning about their backstory made her feel like her issue was small. I will always remember the way Chris Crutcher wrote the plot of the book leading you to the whole story, and I am excited to finish it, and see how he ended the book.
ReplyDeleteI think that the development of Sarah's character in both the letter to Eric and learning about the history of her scars made it much more difficult to put the book down. The way that Chris wrote the book made her story feel relatable and feel as though we were actually in the story. I think that a great point that Chris made in the book was how people had it worse than her. Sometimes when we are in a situation that seems unfair all we can see are the issues that we have and we are no longer able to see past our feet.
DeleteOnce you start learning what actually happened to Sarah, everything feels more real and serious and it’s easier to get invested. The letter she wrote to Eric stands out to me too because it gives such a deeper look into her thoughts and what she’s been through. It’s powerful how she reflects on her past and compares her struggles to others in the hospital it shows a lot of perspective. I also agree with what you said about how Chris Crutcher slowly reveals important details which makes you want to keep reading.
DeleteIn the book running loose, I really got hooked when football became active in the book. This really got me attracted to the main character Louie. When I got hooked on Louie, it really made me care about him as a character so anything that followed his story was meaningful. I haven't really wanted to put the book down much at all. This is the first book in a while that's been a page turner for me. Most books seem uninteresting but this one is really good and interesting for me. Crutcher really makes a good effort to make things interesting and hook you in the beginning. One thing i will always remember about this book is how Louie, the main character, pulled the best looking girl from his school.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way you do about Crutchers books being page turners i haven't been able to put down my book stotan!
DeleteYour reaction makes sense, because once football picks up in Running Loose, Louie becomes easier to root for. Chris Crutcher uses sports and relationships to show Louie’s growth and values. That’s what makes the story feel real and keeps it engaging.
DeleteIn our book Stotan! i also got pretty hooked when they went into Stotan week. I think when he introduces sports into the book it makes it enjoyable to read because it is easier read and connect to.
DeleteIf you're a person who likes sports, you'll easily be hooked by crutchers books. many of them include sports in some way with stotan! including a swim team and football in Running loose. while they might not have resonated with me as much i still enjoyed the book for the most part.
Deletein my book Stotan! i also did not really get hooked into the book till they introduced Stotan week. when he brought the sports into the book it made it easier to read because sports is something i like to do and i can connect to the book then.
DeleteIn Stotan!, I really got hooked when the story got into Stotan Week. At first it just felt like a normal sports book about a swim team and hard practices, but once that week started, it got way more intense. The workouts were brutal, but what really pulled me in was how the guys started opening up about their lives and what they were dealing with. The part I couldn’t put down was when they were all sitting around late at night, completely exhausted, and started talking about their personal problems. That’s when it stopped feeling like just a sports story to me and became more real and emotional, which made me want to keep reading.
ReplyDeleteI agree this was a good part of the book to read and was hard to put down. I think this will continue throughout the book and make it enjoyable to finish reading this week.
Deletei agree with this also stotan week has changed them into better swimmers and athletes during the week i couldn't put the book down you didn't know what was gonna happen the suspense kept the book in my hands.
Deletei also feel as if this was a good part of the book the erge to know kept me reading
DeleteOne point that I got hooked in the book Stotan! is when problems started getting introduced. This got me hooked because i knew that they would develop into bigger and more problems. For example the first one that got me hooked was when Nortie got beat by his dad. This got my attention because i knew it would be a issue. This developed into a problem when Nortie was at work because his emotions got the best of him and he slapped a kid. I will always remember this book by a group of kids who have struggles outside of school and their sport and take out their frustration/ problems in the pool and it pushed them to be the best.
ReplyDeletei really thought the part of the book where Nortie slapped the kid was very interesting and i did not see it coming.
DeleteYour response about Stotan is similar to the book running loose. In both books the main characters deal with serious problems outside of sports that affect their actions and emotions. For example, Nortie struggles with abuse, Louie Banks faces injustice and personal loss that shape how he reacts to the world.
DeleteEverything happening with Nortie also got me hooked to the book. It made me want to keep reading because I wanted to know what the boys were going to do about it to help him and in the long run they did the right thing and I was really happy with the turnout.
DeleteI got hooked into Running Loose pretty early, but the moment that really pulled me in was when Louie realizes how unfair and corrupt the football system around him is, especially with what happened with the player from the other team and how the coach pressures his team to stay quiet. Chris Crutcher hooks the reader by building tension between loyalty, morality, and authority, making you feel Louie’s frustration and helplessness as things spiral. From there, I couldn’t put the book down during the escalating conflicts with the coach and the school, because it felt like everything Louie cared about, his integrity, his team, and his identity, was on the line. What I’ll always remember most is how the story forces you to think about doing the right thing even when it costs you everything, and how standing up for what’s right can feel isolating but defines who you are.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Blaine, Louie realizing that he doesn't want to be a part of a cheating and unfair football team is a big turning point in the book. Chris Crutcher really does do a great job expressing how the character feels throughout the entire story.
DeleteI was also hooked on how he stood up for himself and Washington even though he was advised not to. He threw his whole football career away for standing up for what he believed was right which was very powerful in a predominately white community.
DeleteThe part in my book, Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, that made me not want to put it down was after chapter seven because that's really when things started getting interesting. They had topics started in the Contemporary American thought class (CAT) that they have going over religion and abortion so far, but every subject was interesting making me want to read more. Every conflict that has happened too has me wanting to keep reading. I'll never forget when Sarah told Eric what really happened to her face.
ReplyDeleteYour experience with Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes shows how Chris Crutcher uses serious topics and big moments to keep you interested. In Running Loose, he does the same thing with Louie’s problems and tough choices. Both books pull you in once things start getting intense.
DeleteI agree! I also reading Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes and the CAT class ran by Coach Lemry in the book is a major subject brought up time and time again and kept me on my toes to continue reading as well!
DeleteI agree with everything you said about Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes. CAT class is very interesting especially when Mark and Jody get into it about her abortion. This was interesting because Jody laid out the whole truth which was completely against everything Mark had said ironically. Also the Sarah burn situation will definitely be one to remember.
DeleteChris Crutcher talks about getting over a close persons suicide. This book keeps me on my toes and wanting to always keep reading. You never know what's going to happen next in the book and that's what I like about it. I didn't want to put the book down when the gang stopped Dillon. It was very interesting.
ReplyDeleteits always been a fascinating subject to see how many different ways there are to process grief. its one of the many wonders of the human brain. its so different for everyone that there should be more studies about it.
DeleteI agree, Chris Crutcher does a really good job keeping the story intense and unpredictable. The way he talks about serious topics like suicide makes it feel real and emotional. I also thought the part when the gang stopped Dillon was really interesting because it added a lot of tension and made me want to keep reading too.
DeleteIn my book Running Loose I became hooked after Louie's football coach demanded his team to injure the other teams quarterback out of the game. The entire time up to their game after that point had me nose deep wanting to find out what was going to happen. What he did to hook me was just keep feeding you a little more drama so you don't want to stop. Chris Crutcher does a very good job at keeping the story tense in every chapter so you want to keep reading, when the game came around I read until the end of it. The one thing I will always remember from this book is Louie getting his teeth knocked out in the locker room.
ReplyDeleteThat moment with the coach is crazy and makes the story way more intense. It really shows how far things can go in sports and when people care too much about winning. I agree that Chris Crutcher does a great job building tension, especially by adding more drama bit by bit so you don’t want to stop reading.
DeleteI think this moment in the book really got Louie rattled because he probably never thought he would be told to injure another player on the opposing team. I will also agree that Crutcher constantly keeps things interesting to keep the read engaged in the story.
DeleteIn the book running loose. there were many different problems to get me hooked. When Crutcher kept adding the problems it made me want to keep reading the book and see if there was anymore problems. The main point that got me hooked the most was when all of the drama started on the football team. It was was between Boomer, coach Lednecky, and Louie. When the drama started it just kept on going through out the book. Then Louie's girl friend Becky dies and it just keeps going down hill for Louie.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that the problems Louie encountered made me want to keep reading, especially the problems within the football team because it was always interesting to see how Louie would handle it.
DeleteI got hooked into Stotan! right after the beginning because the guys start training hard and you can feel how serious Stotan Week is going to be. Chris Crutcher pulled me in by showing how tough the workouts were and how the team had to push through pain together. There were parts I didn’t want to stop reading, like when the boys started opening up about their personal problems and you could tell things were getting heavy. What I’ll always remember about this book is how the team stuck together and how each guy was fighting his own battles while still trying to be strong for each other.
ReplyDeleteThe book our group read, Staying Fat For Sarah Byrnes, sounds fairly similar to yours when it comes to sports and training for them. In Staying Fat For Sarah Byrnes, Eric, the book's narrator who is a competitive swimmer, talks about the workouts they do for swim practice. They are intense, requiring both him and his teammates to uplift each other to get through them. Swimming is a truly tough sport, and I think both Staying Fat For Sarah Byrnes and Stotan! prove that.
Deletethis sounds like Chinese handcuffs. it started out intense with my character competing in a race and then later they talk about his personal problems and other characters.
DeleteI can relate to this. I'm currently reading Running Loose and very similar things happened with the main character, Louie. After his girlfriend passed away, he went to track as a way to cope with his emotions. He worked with his coach day in and day out, running miles upon miles each day to eventually win a track meet against their rival school, Washington.
DeleteThe point in the book that truly hooked me was around the time Coach Lemry and Sarah Byrnes went looking for her mom in North Dakota. This was the point in the book where I feel the climax began, with Virgil Byrnes losing control and attacking Eric to obtain info as to where his daughter is. This point in the book is truly scary/worrying since Virgil literally stabs Eric in the back at one point, though Eric luckily escapes his wrath and is eventually taken to the hospital. I simply felt like I couldn't stop reading at this point due to how crazy the story had became, and is also a reason why I am sure our teacher assigned this as a book option. One thing I will always remember is the crazy climax at the end, which was a major point in the book where I simply couldn't put it down.
ReplyDeleteI wrote about this exact part in my initial blog. This part had me seriously hooked. I could not stop reading during the chase. It had me massively worried for both Eric and Sarah, despite knowing I am reading a fictional book. I think that is what Crutcher masters when it comes to his book, even though I could never say I am a total fan. He seems to make fleshed-out characters who you genuinely feel for. Like Eric when he's being chased by Virgil, it created almost a sense of panic because a character you've grown to learn so much about is in huge danger.
DeleteIn Chinese Handcuffs the part that hooked me right away was toward the beginning of the book when Chris Crutcher started writing about the struggles with the grief of someone who took their own life. A part where it was hard to put the book down was when Jennifer started revealing her past abuse to Dillion, its a hard read but its very emotionally pulling. I will always remember the struggles that an everyday person goes through or has already gone through and overcame the adversity.
ReplyDeleteI agree with how hard these heavy topics are to read, especially since some issues can hit pretty close to home sometimes. That or they are realistic world issues that create sympathetic feelings from the reader. In my book, Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, reading about topics like abuse, suicide, and domestic violence was really hard for me to read. However, I will always remember how those parts made me feel.
DeleteI can relate to this post to because in the book stotan week jeff also has an illness the eventually made him end up in the hospital as well.at that point in the book i was fully hooked into the book.
DeleteThis is very well said. I agree with everything you just said.
Deleteit truly is a really hard hitting book at the start holding no punches and throwing your straight into the mind and mental state of Chinese handcuffs, and to think that someone somewhere really went through all this pain and despair breaks my heart
DeleteWhat hooked me in Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes was the constant questions that always popped into my head. What will happen to Sarah next? Will her and Lemry find Sarah's mother? Will she come back to talk about what happened to her and Sarah as a result of abuse? I couldn't put the book down during the random burst of suspenseful action when Eric was being chased down by Sarah's father. I physically couldn't put the book down during that part. It had me not wanting to put the book down until I knew that Eric was going to be okay. I think that is another thing that hooked me about Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, how Crutcher writes his characters so that the reader becomes attached. His characters are either relatable, a bit realistic, or sympathetic. Even though I can't relate to every character, they still stand out as characters you can sympathize with. That is also why the characters will be what I will always remember from this book.
ReplyDeleteone thing i didn't like as i went through the plot was how theres no time to breathe between scenes. bro really needed to work on his transitions before publishing these kinds of works.
Deleteconstant questions also pop in my head when i read Chinese handcuffs, there's lots of questions about other characters feelings and what there thinking its really hard to know what there going say or do next
DeleteIn the book Staying Fat For Sarah Byrnes I was hooked when Mr. Byrnes was looking for Sarah and was demanding that he take her home. Then he was on to Eric and threating him to tell him everything and get her out of the hospital and continued to follow him around not letting Eric out of sight. During this part of the book I was really wondering like what will happen next or who will do something crazy and what kind of plan will they make to lose Mr. Byrnes.
ReplyDeleteI was also hooked at the point of Mr. Byrnes looking for Sarah, I was continuing to wonder what would happen if he didn't tell him. I feel like Sarah's dad definitely made irrational decisions and was very harmful just from what we had been told, so even when he was first introduced I was curious what would happen. I was wondering as I read these parts why he was never reported as his behavior was always overbearing and suspicious,.
DeleteThis part of the book definitely got me hooked. There was so much happening and I was on my toes the whole time trying to figure out how Eric was going to get away from Virgil. Eric is a very smart kid, and Virgil is even smarter because he hides ad covers up all the terrible things he has done. Virgil is a manipulative character and I am excited to see what happens to him in the end.
DeleteI'm reading the book Stotan! and to be honest there wasn't really a single big part in the book that got me hooked. Yes i enjoyed the book for the most part but it felt a little bit boring at many times. The most interesting parts of the book are when the guys actually aren't swimming for me because I relate to them more when they are living their normal lives instead of swimming.
ReplyDeleteFor me it was actually the opposite but it is probably because I swim, I was alot more entertained when they were talking about swimming and stotan week and everything like that. When it got to their lives at home, I was still interested but not as much as the swimming parts. Along with that, it is the life of boys so that is probably also why I wasn't as into the normal parts of the book.
DeleteRunning Loose really pulled me in because it takes place in a high school setting, which made it feel realistic and easy to connect to. The way Louie deals with friendships, sports, and personal struggles felt relatable, like situations I’ve seen or experienced myself. The story felt like something that could actually happen in real life, which kept me interested the whole time. The emotions and challenges the characters go through made me think about how people handle pressure and loss, especially at a young age. Because of that, I found myself more invested in the story and wanting to keep reading to see how everything would turn out.
ReplyDeleteSince it takes place in a high school, it feels more real and easier to relate to. Louie dealing with sports, friends, and personal problems is something a lot of people can understand. I also agree that the emotional parts stand out, especially how it shows pressure and loss at a young age. It makes the story much more meaningful.
DeleteChinese Handcuffs is also in a high school setting, so it played a big role in how i was able to connect to it just like running loose.
DeleteThe moment I got hooked in the book Running Loose was the moment when Becky crashed. Up until then, the story was pretty good, but that part in the book made everything feel way more serious. Chris Crutcher makes it happen out of the blue, and it honestly caught me off guard. One minute everything seems kind of normal, maybe tension building up a little bit and then Becky passes away, and it completely changed the entire story story. After that moment, I didn’t want to put the book down because everything felt more intense. The characters had to deal with a lot more challenges and I wanted to see how it would all turn out. One thing I will always remember about this book is how sudden Becky’s death was and how it changed everything right away. It made the story feel a lot more serious.
ReplyDeleteI agree when Becky died the whole book got better.
DeleteI like how you pointed out that shift with Jeff, that’s when it got way deeper than just swimming for me too. And I agree, the end of Stotan Week was super intense because of everything they were going through. It really does show that strength is more than just being physically tough.
DeleteStotan stands out because it dives into intense topics like abuse identity and emotional struggle which added realness to the plot and characters. I became fully hooked when Walker begins to realize the truth about Jeff’s home life, because that moment shifts the story from just being pretty boring just about swimming to something much more serious and emotional. From there, it was hard to put the book down, especially during the final days of Stotan Week when the characters are pushed to their physical and mental limits at the same time, creating nonstop tension. The combination of their exhaustion and personal struggles made every scene feel important and gripping. What I’ll always remember most about this book is how it shows that true strength isn’t just about being tough or winning, but about honesty, loyalty, and having the courage to face difficult truths.
ReplyDeleteI also became fully hooked when my book started talking about one of the characters home life.
DeleteA character in my book experiences abuse at home so I know what you mean when you say the book gets intense
Deletethe book also hooked me and kept me hooked as the writer slowly brought out each character past which explains why they act the way they do
Deletei also became really hooked into my book when it dove into abuse topics because of the details and description that made it feel real. The intensity made me not want to put the book down aswell
DeleteI felt the same way when it started talking about jeffs home life.
DeleteThroughout Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, there were moments where I really enjoyed the book and others where I was bored with the story. I think that I began to be more hooked in the part where they introduced Dale Thornton in. This was one of the first times that they were able to up the plot and create a more interesting story that I was able to follow. After this part in the book, they also began to give you more details about the main characters background that continued to pull me back in as they developed out the character. I believe that the main thing that Chris did to help me like the story better was the character development. Before this point they were just people and their story did not mean much to me, but as we learned more about them, I bought into the book more and wanted things to go their way. I will always remember how strong they made Eric, even when he wanted to break or give up he wouldn't. There were times where I would not have been able to be as strong as he was, but he stood by people's side when it mattered the most. I had a very difficult time putting the book down whenever Sarah's dad was in the story, or when Sarah was describing what had happened to her. This was also the case when Mark Brittain was arguing with Eric and Ellerby as I knew that there would always be a good comeback, and something funny said.
ReplyDeleteI felt the same way at the beginning, it’s harder to care because you don’t fully understand the characters yet, but once their backgrounds and struggles were revealed it makes more sense. Also I agree with there being some very boring parts in the story but as the story went on and more characters were introduced it seemed to actually start to come together.
DeleteI agree with you, Stotan Week was definitely one of the best parts of the book—it made everything feel more intense and real. I also liked how they stood up for Nortie, that part really showed what kind of people they were. I get what you mean about the Jeff part too, it did slow things down a bit compared to the rest.
DeleteI am reading the book Stotan! and what hooked me the most was when Chris introduced the start of Stotan week, I really enjoyed reading about what they did to push themselves and it made it even better that I understood what certain things felt like. I was excited to read this book and am very glad I got to. One thing I will always remember about this book was how the boys cared for Nortie and his mother when they saw what his father had done to them. The fact that they stood up to an old guy was amazing and it definitely put a smile on my face when I read about it. One thing that lost my interest in the book was when Jeff was stuck at home sick, I did not like reading about it because it just moved slowly and wasn't an attention grabber, I think it is super cool how Chris incorporated that into the story but I don't think he needed to go as in-depth as he did. Overall when I was reading any part of the book that was funny or about stotan week itself, I was into it.
ReplyDeletei also agree with how stotan week pulled the reader in showing the training and the building of friendship outside of training at lions apartment
Deleteim reading the book Chinese handcuffs and so far its been pretty intense, the feeling of dread is spread through out every character, there's concern and hate throughout every character and all of them are scared of reality and there future, Dillon is trying to be brave and tough, and he spills his heart out in his letters to Preston, and the parents are either evil or grieved unable to show emotion, so far really exited to see how they can improve and learn if they even do at all, cant wait to read it and recommend it.
ReplyDeletei agree it is intense, i enjoy it and I'm also excited to see what happens in the rest of the book.
DeleteI also agree I can't wait to see how this story ends, I feel bad for Dillon's character dealing with all the grievances he has faced.
DeleteI'm reading Chinese Handcuffs and the moment that hooked me was actually in the very beginning when Preston and Dillon decide to corner and kill Charlie the cat. It kept me reading and made me wonder just how much worse the rest of the book was going to be and what kind of ending would ensue for the characters if the first chapter was already that dreadful. It also made me wonder what kind of significance that scene might have later on.
ReplyDeleteThe beginning is super shocking and hard to forget. The book starts in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable, but also makes you want to keep reading. Chris Crutcher uses that scene to show right away that the characters have some serious problems. I like how you said it made you wonder if it would be important later, because it really feels like it sets up the rest of the story.
DeleteThe beginning also hooked me for the same reasons, it started out displaying a dark and deranged behavior that really made me wonder how dark the themes of this book would really be. This holds true because the book continues this theme, diving into tough topics again and again.
DeleteI got really interested when Dillon started acting more serious about leaving and was clearly struggling with his life. This book got my attention because Chris Crutcher writes about real and tough problems like abuse and feeling stuck. One part I couldn’t stop reading was when Dillon called late at night and you could tell something was really wrong. What I’ll always remember is how the book shows that even people who seem okay can be dealing with a lot inside.
ReplyDeleteI agree i also got very hooked when the book started talking about dillion and leading up to it. The book talks a lot about mental health which also made me more interested in the book making me want to read more.
DeleteI agree completely. This book is real senarios that happen in real life.
DeleteI am reading chinese handcuffs and i became hooked about half way through the book when more stories were being told about jennifer and stacy. I like how Chris Crutcher talked about more than one persons story throughout the book, when he brought in more information about stacy and jennifers life the book got better because it added more suspense making me want to read more. I didnt want to stop reading when it was about jennifers full story telling dillion and stacy admitting that the baby is dillions brothers. I will remember how the book shows how peoples lifes can be very bad but they hide it and still act happy while having a lot going on.
ReplyDeletewhat caught my attention or got me hooked was at the beginning of the book where dillion started out in a race and talked about how he wanted to make the race in Hawaii. it started out intense and you wanted to see how he was gonna do. But what kept me hooked is how you never know what's gonna happen next in the book and when jennifer started talking about her past.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. I was wondering what the first part would be. But to go along with Jennifer's story, I was also hooked. It was awful to hear about her past, but it was interesting.
DeleteI agree with Kobe because that is also something that definitely caught my attention
DeleteI agree with Audrey a lot because when we got halfway through the book Ella cheering about the different stories about Jennifer and Sarah
DeleteI really got hooked in Running Loose when everything started going wrong for Louie especially the conflict on the football team and when Boomer slammed a kid on the bench. That moment showed how serious things were getting, and it made me want to keep reading to see what Louie would do. The part I absolutely couldn’t put down was when Louie and Becky went to the cabin. because Louie wasn’t ready, and Becky respected that. Then right after that, Becky’s death in the car accident made everything way more emotional and shocking. That moment completely changed the story and made it hard to stop reading. Another intense part was when Louie lost control at Becky’s service and yelled at the preacher. That showed how much pain he was in and made the story feel very real. Later, when he destroyed Becky’s plaque, it showed how angry and confused he still was What I’ll always remember about this book is how real everything felt grief.
ReplyDeleteI understand the same thing you do about the grief. I was hooked to the book in the same way how the beginning all the conflicts were happening and how crazy it was.
DeleteStaying Fat for Sarah Byrnes really hooked me around chapter six with the first mention of Sarah Byrnes's father Virgil. Chris Crutcher does such a great job at painting Virgil as a very imposing and foreboding character. Crutcher does a truly amazing job at creating a strong sense of dread whenever this character is mentioned, and it definitely made it even harder to put the book down. I truly believe I will always remember Virgil Byrnes's presence and actions.
ReplyDeleteI agree, that part definitely makes the book way more intense. Even without seeing Virgil a lot at first, you can still feel how scary he is just from how he’s described. It really makes you want to keep reading to find out what he’s done and how it affects Sarah.
Deletein the book Stotan the part that hooked me was when we learned about norties past with his dad and his family troubles. which adds layers to his character and shows why he acts the way he does and his devolopment
ReplyDeleteI didn’t think Stotan! by Chris Crutcher would hook me that fast, but it really did once Stotan Week started. That’s when everything got super intense, not just with swimming but mentally too. The workouts were crazy, and you could tell the characters were being pushed to their limits. That’s when I actually got interested because it felt real, not just like a normal sports story.
ReplyDeleteOne part where I didn’t want to put the book down was when Walker and the others were dealing with their personal problems while also trying to survive practice. It showed that they weren’t just athletes, they were actual people going through stuff. It made it more relatable and not boring.
What I’ll remember most about this book is how real it felt. It’s not just about being strong physically, but also mentally and dealing with things in your life. That’s what made it stand out to me.
I became hooked on Running Loose after Becky dies because the story suddenly becomes much more emotional and intense. Chris Crutcher shows Louie’s grief and anger in a very real way, and also talks about how Louie decides to move on.
ReplyDeleteI got really truly hooked in the book running lose when the whole conflict started on the football team and all of the conflicts. It showed me how serious things got and how Louie wouldn't back down and that's when I really became to love the book because I care for people who hold there ground and stand up for themselves. Towards the middle to end of the book it started to get boring until Becky got into a car crash. I really felt emotional and I could truly feel how Louie was feeling and it kind of made me upset even though its not real it still made me upset because it was a major turning point in the book. When Louie lost all emotions and yelled at the preacher you could truly feel it all without even being in the situation. I think the biggest part that kept me reading is all of the turning points in the book and when it got boring I knew there would be a major turn of events coming soon. I will never forget how much this book felt real and how much you could feel all the emotions.
ReplyDeleteI didn’t read Running Loose, but I get what you mean about getting hooked when things get serious. That’s how I felt in Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes when Sarah ends up in the hospital and everything starts to feel more real and intense. The emotional parts are what really keep you reading.
DeleteThroughout the book, Chinese Handcuffs, I feel that the most intense topic that was involved was Preston's suicide right in front of Dillon. I became hooked because it became very interesting between the relationships with Dillon and Stacy. Not just that, but all the events that happened with Jennifer and her relationship with her family and Dillon. Chris Crutcher's play of words really dragged me in. The way he worded things and the way he had his letter format. I didn't want to put the book down during Preston's death, the scene when they went to the cemetery. I will always remember that in this book, I feel like it is in the title, I feel it resembles all the troubles the children have either with friends or family like Jennifer with her stepdad, Dillon and Preston, Stacy and Preston.
ReplyDeleteIn Stotan!, the moment that really pulled me in was when the story reached Stotan Week. Early on, it seemed like a typical sports story about a swim team pushing through tough practices. But once that week began, everything felt more intense and meaningful. The physical challenges were extreme, but what stood out most was how the teammates began to open up about their personal struggles. One scene that stuck with me was when they sat together late at night, completely drained, and shared what they were going through. That moment shifted the story from just being about sports to something deeper and more emotional, and it made it hard for me to stop reading.
ReplyDeletein Staying Fat For Sarah Byrnes i got hooked when sarah finally starts to open up about her past, especially the truth about her father. that moment made the story feel real and intense. Chris Crutcher uses serious topics and strong emotions to pull the reader in. What ill always remember is how Sarah and Eric grow and learn to face their fears instead of hiding from them.
ReplyDeleteI got hooked into Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes when Sarah ends up in the hospital and refuses to talk. That’s when the story got way more serious and made me want to keep reading. Chris Crutcher hooked me by making Sarah seem tough and mysterious at first, then showing that something deeper was going on. It made me curious to figure out what really happened to her. One part I didn’t want to put the book down was when Eric starts learning the truth about her dad. That part was shocking and explained a lot about Sarah. Another moment was when Sarah finally starts opening up again. What I’ll always remember is how the book shows real issues like abuse and bullying. It also shows how important it is to stand up for people.
ReplyDelete