jordyn_alexx's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
3.75
EDIT:
After teaching for a few years, I feel like I have a greater appreciation for this book. It’s really a wonderful and impactful book.
It's a pretty quick read, kind of interesting. I think it's a good teaching book. it covers a lot of issues that many kids may be dealing with and ought to be discussed.
After teaching for a few years, I feel like I have a greater appreciation for this book. It’s really a wonderful and impactful book.
It's a pretty quick read, kind of interesting. I think it's a good teaching book. it covers a lot of issues that many kids may be dealing with and ought to be discussed.
harriet_toad_maradona's review against another edition
3.0
after rereading Ironman, i cannot explain why i originally assigned this novel two stars. seems mean and stupid and inaccurate. like, i'm a crutcher fan, so how did i miss how crutcher-y and great this novel is?! i'm glad i reread it, and i'm even more glad (what even is this pollyanna-ass sentence) that i just don't even rate books anymore.
logankreadsalot's review against another edition
5.0
This book was amazing i loved reading it. The characters in this book were so complex instead of just angry teenagers mad at the world. They had a bak story and Mr. nak gives them a chnce and a voice.
My favorite character had to of been Mr. S he was so likable. i felt like his relationship with Bo was also relatable. almost evryone has that one teacher they are very close to.
the plot was fast paced and kept me reading. all in all it was a good book.
bick_mcswiney's review against another edition
5.0
Chris Crutcher tells the story of a teenager dealing with anger directed at teachers and parents, and how he deals with that anger. With the help of his friends and mentors, Bo works hard to understand and realize his own dreams.
keyanaw's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book, and this author. Crutcher made Bo's story my own. This book will teach you how to push yourself mentally and physically to the limits. And it'll teach you just a little something about finding power within yourself to overcome anger through forgiveness.
joe_sock's review against another edition
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
youremyboychew's review against another edition
2.0
I, historically, LOVE Christ Crutcher. I highly recommend his novels Whale Talk and Deadline.
I didn't love this one, though.
Crutcher is and/or was a teacher and a child and family therapist, so he has LOADS of experience. His books typically deal with "issues" without becoming an "issue book." Whale Talk, for example, includes storylines about racism and domestic violence. But it isn't about either of those things.
Ironman focuses on Bo's relationship with his father, among other subjects. One of the reasons I think I didn't like Ironman as much is that it strays to the other side of that line -- it's almost too much of an issue book. It felt like Crutcher was trying to impart lessons on his audience rather than letting the character's development speak for itself.
The format of the book was also a little tricky. It was told in two perspectives. The first, which I loved, was when Bo was writing letters to Larry King. These really showed Bo's development and allowed the reader to get to know Bo.
The other perspective was a third person, omnipresent (is that the right word?) narration. These parts weren't so great for me. It was nice to see things happen and it helped move the story along, but that's where it felt like we were being taught. It was also frustrating to be taken from Bo's perspective, because the third person sections didn't show his development at all, and sometimes I felt like Bo's personality changed between the two perspectives.
Ironman is one of Crutcher's earlier books -- it was first published in 1995, I believe. This is obvious not only in the letters to Larry King, but also in the way certain subjects are handled. I think, if he were to return to this storyline, Crutcher would write some plotlines differently now, simply because of the ways the world has changed.
The saving grace of this book for me was what I always love about Crutcher's books -- he writes some awesome characters. They make this book worth reading. Unfortunately, the characters in this book really shine in the last few chapters. But man. They're as good as Crutcher's characters usually are.
I ended up giving Ironman two stars, though it had three before I changed my mind. I loved the characters, but the rest was just a let down compared to others of Crutcher's books.
I didn't love this one, though.
Crutcher is and/or was a teacher and a child and family therapist, so he has LOADS of experience. His books typically deal with "issues" without becoming an "issue book." Whale Talk, for example, includes storylines about racism and domestic violence. But it isn't about either of those things.
Ironman focuses on Bo's relationship with his father, among other subjects. One of the reasons I think I didn't like Ironman as much is that it strays to the other side of that line -- it's almost too much of an issue book. It felt like Crutcher was trying to impart lessons on his audience rather than letting the character's development speak for itself.
The format of the book was also a little tricky. It was told in two perspectives. The first, which I loved, was when Bo was writing letters to Larry King. These really showed Bo's development and allowed the reader to get to know Bo.
The other perspective was a third person, omnipresent (is that the right word?) narration. These parts weren't so great for me. It was nice to see things happen and it helped move the story along, but that's where it felt like we were being taught. It was also frustrating to be taken from Bo's perspective, because the third person sections didn't show his development at all, and sometimes I felt like Bo's personality changed between the two perspectives.
Ironman is one of Crutcher's earlier books -- it was first published in 1995, I believe. This is obvious not only in the letters to Larry King, but also in the way certain subjects are handled. I think, if he were to return to this storyline, Crutcher would write some plotlines differently now, simply because of the ways the world has changed.
The saving grace of this book for me was what I always love about Crutcher's books -- he writes some awesome characters. They make this book worth reading. Unfortunately, the characters in this book really shine in the last few chapters. But man. They're as good as Crutcher's characters usually are.
I ended up giving Ironman two stars, though it had three before I changed my mind. I loved the characters, but the rest was just a let down compared to others of Crutcher's books.
williamsdebbied's review against another edition
5.0
Thanks to a professor in an adolescent lit class, I first picked up this marvelous book. Being a consummate couch potato, the sports that permeate Crutcher's novels was initially a turn-off. However, once I read this book, I was hooked. Chris Crutcher has a background in psychology and his depiction of kids in crisis is always insightful and often heartbreaking. He is a master of the problem novel.
Beau Brewster is a 17 year old boy who gets into a power struggle with a teacher who is very much like Beau's dad (ie. extremely controlling and not willing to listen). After Beau calls this teacher an asshole (true, but, alas, not allowed at school) he is ordered to attend Mr. Nak's before school anger management group.
At first, Beau refuses to believe that he belongs in the group, but eventually becomes a willing participant and forms deep relationships with the rest of the "Nak pack." Beau's story is told mainly through his letters to his idol, Larry King.
Beau plans to compete in a triathalon. Though labeled a quitter by his father, Beau trains relentlessly for the triathalon, eventually finding support from a source he never expected, even as his jerk of a father actively attempts to sabatoge Beau's chances in the race.
Anyone who has a difficult relationship with a parent will find much to think about in Beau's story.
Beau Brewster is a 17 year old boy who gets into a power struggle with a teacher who is very much like Beau's dad (ie. extremely controlling and not willing to listen). After Beau calls this teacher an asshole (true, but, alas, not allowed at school) he is ordered to attend Mr. Nak's before school anger management group.
At first, Beau refuses to believe that he belongs in the group, but eventually becomes a willing participant and forms deep relationships with the rest of the "Nak pack." Beau's story is told mainly through his letters to his idol, Larry King.
Beau plans to compete in a triathalon. Though labeled a quitter by his father, Beau trains relentlessly for the triathalon, eventually finding support from a source he never expected, even as his jerk of a father actively attempts to sabatoge Beau's chances in the race.
Anyone who has a difficult relationship with a parent will find much to think about in Beau's story.
nillabeanie's review against another edition
4.0
I read this back when I was a freshman in high school. We had multiple reading groups in class and each group randomly selected a book titled from a bowl and that was our designated read for the assignments. I originally was pretty upset that my group got this book because based off the synopsis I thought I’d hate it. Turns out I really enjoyed this book and it was one of maybe five books I thoroughly read and finished in high school that I was assigned. All other books were skimmed and I got the gist of them. This book pulled me in and kept me reading, often times ahead of our stopping points for the group. While I don’t remember this book in crystal clear detail it has stuck with me throughout the years and is a book I’d consider rereading.