I've written before about Chris Crutcher, but I can't stop reading his books! This text contains three novellas, each dealing with characters from his earlier books. If you have read Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes or Whale Talk, you will love Angry Management. The novellas are organized around Mr. Nakatami's "Angry Management" group, so each of the characters are part of his group.
The first story is about Angus Bethune and Sarah Byrnes at the time when they meet. Crutcher's characters are amazingly memorable, starting with their names. Angus (like the cow) is overweight and Sarah Byrnes ("burns") was left terribly scarred by abuse at the hands of her stepfather. Angus and Sarah find a much needed friend in eachother and together, they attempt to find Sarah's mother, who abandonded her after she was scarred.
The second novella involves Montana West, who writes provactive articles for her school newspaper. Montana often frights censorship from her adoptive father, who is the head of the school board. From medical marijana to runaway children, this novella is charged with emotions and controversy.
Finally, there is the story of Marcus James, a gay, African American student who finds a pink noose on his locker left by the school's athletic stars. His only advocate is Mark Miller, who tells the truth because, "what would Jesus do?" This tale is truely surprising, enraging, heart-breaking and heart-warming. I cried while reading for the first time in years.
I think it would be best to read Angry Management after reading a few of Crutcher's other texts. While it stands alone in its own right, I believe the reader will be more involved with the characters with prior knowledge.
ISBN: 9780060502478
Avalible at Amazon and Barnes & Noble
