Ironman

Title: Ironman
Author: Chris Crutcher
Published: April, 1995
ISBN: 0060598409
Page number: 288
Price: $4.99
Genre: realistic fiction, sports fiction
Reading Level: 10th grade 
Interest Level: 9th grade and up
Awards: 
Plot Summary: Bo can't seem to please his father or his former football coach and now teacher. Ever since Bo quit football both father and his former coach can't seem to forgive him. Now, Bo is training for the grueling Ironman in which he will have to run, bike and swim his way to the finish line. He trains, maintianes good grades and even holds down a job but still can't seem to earn the approval of his father. Bo is sent to anger management after calling his former coach and asshole and is now forced to spend his mornings with what Bo thinks are the crazy kids of his school. But soon Bo learns that he isn't the only one with some issues in his past or less than perfect relationship with their father. It isn't long before Bo starts to realize that he has a lot of unresolved issues with his father that drive his anger. Will winning the Ironman finally get the approval he needs from his father or will he always be at odds with him?
Review: Ironman is far more than a sports story. While the story does feature Bo training and struggling to prepare for his race the bigger issues is that of his relationship with his father. Bo and his father struggle to communicate and as Bo gets older it only get worse and this manifests itself into anger for Bo which has him sent to anger management. It is here that the story shows how abuse, and difficult pasts can haunt and change a person. Each of the students has had a rough time and struggles to deal with their anger. The characters stories is what draws you into the story and become invested in what happens. The story also features letters written from Bo to Larry King about his life and current struggles. The letters act as a diary of sorts as Bo lays out his struggles to Larry. The ending of course is the race in which Bo has been training for and the support he receives from his anger management classmates is heart warming. I appreciate the fact the story doesn't end perfectly for Bo and his dad but instead ends with things far from perfect but improving. Bo and his dad can't fix their relationship over night but the story shows that things can get better if you work on it.
Reader's Annotation: Bo is training for a triathalon like no other, the Ironman. It will push him to his limits in running, biking and swimming. Bo manages to balance school, training, work and even helping care for his younger brother but none of that seems to make his father happy. Bo and his father have never seen eye but when Bo quits football it only gets worse. Then Bo flips out on his former football coach and gets himself sent to anger management. But does Bo really belong in a class with the schools delinquents? While winning the Ironman finally get Bo the approval he's always wanted? Or will Bo always be at odds with his father?
Issues Present: The book has foul language, ethnic slurs, violence and abuse. It also features a gay teacher.
Bibliotherapeutic usefulness: The story deals with Bo's strained relationship with his father and also the abuse issues with other characters. They all have had parents that have not always been loving and supporting and for some of them their parents have been abusive and neglectful. Readers with similar struggles can relate to the anger that the characters struggle with.
Book Talk Ideas: The letters to Larry King play a large role so I think the book talk should be in a letter format.
Main Themes: father and son relationships, anger, abuse, training, triathlon 
Read-alikes: Keeper by Mal Peet and Bullyville by Francine Prose
Author Website: http://www.chriscrutcher.com/
Professional Reviews: Publisher's Weekly
Kirkus Reviews
Why this book was chosen: The book while sports related is more about relationships with friends, family and even romantic relationships. It shows how the past can affect your present but also that it doesn't have to define you.