Ironman

Crutcher, C. (1995). Ironman. New York: Greenwillow Books.

Bro Brewster has been at odds with his father for as long as he can remember. He struggles with anger management, which has led to confrontations with his football coach and English teacher. He decides he won’t talk to anyone but the one person he can trust to actually listen; Larry King. Bo writes to Larry describing his new pursuit of excellence with him making the rules. He will follow no more coaches or mind his father any longer. He is going to become a triathlete, an Ironman. In attending a before-school Anger Management group he meets and falls in love with Shelly who shares the same passion for physical challenge perhaps even more than Bo. Her dream is to become an American Gladiator. With the help of his new support group and Shelly, Bo is able to overcome the obstacles and accomplishes his goal to compete in the Yukon Jack triathlon. I recommend this book to readers in grades 8 and up who share a common goal with protagonist Bo. Athletes will surely find inspiration in reading this story as they too face obstacles in accomplishing their goals. The theme educators can draw out to use in the classroom is that of never giving up. This universal theme is common among other books, but what makes this book special is the fact that Bo battles inner conflicts as well as the physical barriers. Students who aren’t athletes will be able to relate to the inner conflicts Bo struggles with. Overall this book can serve readers who are developing emotionally and are learning to manage their emotions to form their character.