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lindzee's review against another edition
4.0
Not my favorite of Crutcher's work, but still very well-written with strong characters and a good plot.
bluebellkell's review against another edition
3.0
Category: REQUIRED AUTHOR
Overall, I liked this book but I wasn't completely sold. First of all, the voice of the protagonist sounded a LOT younger than a senior in high school. When I first started reading this, I thought it was about a middle school high school team... until it explicitly said that it wasn't. It was an interesting read, and I liked the issues that it addressed-- racism, loss, administration dynamics. Louie Banks is on the football team and has worked really hard but ultimately quits the team after the coach orders a low-ball hit on the opposing team's only black member. Off the football team, he still has some things going for him-- he's got a great girlfriend, Becky. In an unexpected twist near the end of the book, Becky dies in a car accident and Louie has a really hard time dealing with it. Eventually he goes into track and finds other ways to handle his grief. All in all, this was well-written, but I didn't really relate to it much.
Overall, I liked this book but I wasn't completely sold. First of all, the voice of the protagonist sounded a LOT younger than a senior in high school. When I first started reading this, I thought it was about a middle school high school team... until it explicitly said that it wasn't. It was an interesting read, and I liked the issues that it addressed-- racism, loss, administration dynamics. Louie Banks is on the football team and has worked really hard but ultimately quits the team after the coach orders a low-ball hit on the opposing team's only black member. Off the football team, he still has some things going for him-- he's got a great girlfriend, Becky. In an unexpected twist near the end of the book, Becky dies in a car accident and Louie has a really hard time dealing with it. Eventually he goes into track and finds other ways to handle his grief. All in all, this was well-written, but I didn't really relate to it much.
williamsdebbied's review against another edition
4.0
Louie Banks has it all--a spot on the football team, a supportive family, and an amazing girlfriend. However, when the coach orders his players to intentionally hurt the star player on an opposing team, Louie quits the team. Then his girlfriend dies in an accident and Louie struggles to deal with his grief.
jessicakashurst's review against another edition
4.0
A story from a boy's perspective. I haven't actually read a lot of stories with a male narrator. I didn't expect to like this book. I really actually loved it. I haven't read anything else from this author, but I imagine they're great.
peachpuff's review against another edition
3.0
This sports novel was not what I expected at all. The story focused more on the character and his struggles and beliefs. Although I got a little lost in the football plays and terms, the rest of the story was clear enough that it made up the difference. The story centers around Louie, who is conflicted about being on the football team. He loves football but his coach is condoning the players doing things that Louie cannot justify. As he makes big decisions he suffers the consequences, good and bad. This story is very important for young boys as it is from a point of view they can relate to, and deals with issues many of them will have to face one day.
kbeddes's review against another edition
2.0
Genre: sports, growing pains, relationships
Summary: Senior high school student Louie Banks endures a tumultuous year as he falls in love, stands up for what he believes in and grows up. Louie is a starter on the football team. During one game, his coach encourages the boys to play dirty and target a black kid who is the star player the opposite team. When the kid gets hurt, Louie is outraged, quits the team and becomes somewhat ostracized in his school for going against the principal and head coach. Louie does however, manage to fall in love with a cheerleader, who is actually smarter than you would first assume. Their relationship develops steadily throughout the novel until near the end, when she dies in a car accident. Then Louie must learn to adjust, deal with her death and his new place in the community. Louie was originally banned from participating in sports after his protest on the football field, but an assistant coach wrangles him a spot on the track team and Louie puts forth all his efforts into track and learning the lessons from the sport and applying them to life, hence the title, "running loose"
Response:I liked some parts. Others...I could very easily do without. It was a sport book, which I obviously associated with guys who don't typically read. While the book does address other, much more serious issues, the background is sports and sportsmanship. One of the pros (or cons, depending on how you looked at it) was how much the reader became a part of the main character. You were definitely in his head. It made me appreciate "jocks" a bit more, but it wasn't an entirely pleasant experience being stuck inside the head of a teenage boy. I have dealt a lot with death and funerals this semester, having an experience much like Louie did at his girlfriend's funeral. He stood up and blasted everyone there, accusing them of not really knowing her, telling everyone a bit more information than they probably would have liked to have known. Similarly, at my dad's cousin's daughter's funeral (I know it's a bit of a stretch, but it's family), her best friend was asked to speak, and proceeded to trot out in front of the family, many deeds and alcoholic escapades that, although good memories for this friend, were not what the family wanted her to remember her as. This book helped me gain a little insight as to why a person would do that, that people grieve and remember people differently which is a good thing to take into consideration. So, again, to reiterate, some parts were good, other parts...I could have done without.
Summary: Senior high school student Louie Banks endures a tumultuous year as he falls in love, stands up for what he believes in and grows up. Louie is a starter on the football team. During one game, his coach encourages the boys to play dirty and target a black kid who is the star player the opposite team. When the kid gets hurt, Louie is outraged, quits the team and becomes somewhat ostracized in his school for going against the principal and head coach. Louie does however, manage to fall in love with a cheerleader, who is actually smarter than you would first assume. Their relationship develops steadily throughout the novel until near the end, when she dies in a car accident. Then Louie must learn to adjust, deal with her death and his new place in the community. Louie was originally banned from participating in sports after his protest on the football field, but an assistant coach wrangles him a spot on the track team and Louie puts forth all his efforts into track and learning the lessons from the sport and applying them to life, hence the title, "running loose"
Response:I liked some parts. Others...I could very easily do without. It was a sport book, which I obviously associated with guys who don't typically read. While the book does address other, much more serious issues, the background is sports and sportsmanship. One of the pros (or cons, depending on how you looked at it) was how much the reader became a part of the main character. You were definitely in his head. It made me appreciate "jocks" a bit more, but it wasn't an entirely pleasant experience being stuck inside the head of a teenage boy. I have dealt a lot with death and funerals this semester, having an experience much like Louie did at his girlfriend's funeral. He stood up and blasted everyone there, accusing them of not really knowing her, telling everyone a bit more information than they probably would have liked to have known. Similarly, at my dad's cousin's daughter's funeral (I know it's a bit of a stretch, but it's family), her best friend was asked to speak, and proceeded to trot out in front of the family, many deeds and alcoholic escapades that, although good memories for this friend, were not what the family wanted her to remember her as. This book helped me gain a little insight as to why a person would do that, that people grieve and remember people differently which is a good thing to take into consideration. So, again, to reiterate, some parts were good, other parts...I could have done without.
afharker's review against another edition
4.0
This book packed in a lot of character-building lessons while also focusing a lot in sports, just like any good sports novel should. A great read for any adolescent who is passionate about sports and who has used sports to help them through tough times of their life.
claudiaswisher's review against another edition
5.0
Louie Banks started something wonderful. This is Crutcher's first book, and the one I recommend first to my reluctant guys. They'll roll their eyes and take the book, only to humor the old woman in the room. I never gloat when they find themselves sinking into this book and Louie's strong sense of right and wrong. This is a hallmark of all Crutcher's books, and we were all so excited to see Louie return as an English teacher (!) and coach. He IS the coach he needed as a student.
Louie never lets me down when I give this book to a student. Every guy I've ever given this to comes back, asking for another one.
Louie never lets me down when I give this book to a student. Every guy I've ever given this to comes back, asking for another one.
lookingforwonder's review against another edition
2.0
Required
Running Loose by Chris Crutcher follows Louis Banks's senior year. Louis is first-string in football with an amazing girlfriend, but over the course of the year, all of that changes.
Crutcher has a very realistic teenage voice that has withstood these almost thirty years. I feel that most everything else though needed to be fleshed out more. The story seems to have two plots splitting the novel in half, rather than it all being one cohesive story. Also, Louis is constantly telling us what's going on in his life rather than showing us through scenes. This undercuts on a lot of emotion. Because of topics like sex, this book is best suited for boys in their upper teens.
Running Loose by Chris Crutcher follows Louis Banks's senior year. Louis is first-string in football with an amazing girlfriend, but over the course of the year, all of that changes.
Crutcher has a very realistic teenage voice that has withstood these almost thirty years. I feel that most everything else though needed to be fleshed out more. The story seems to have two plots splitting the novel in half, rather than it all being one cohesive story. Also, Louis is constantly telling us what's going on in his life rather than showing us through scenes. This undercuts on a lot of emotion. Because of topics like sex, this book is best suited for boys in their upper teens.
emilym88's review against another edition
3.0
This novel uses football and sports as a way to tell a coming-of-age story. At the beginning of the story, Louie is feeling really good about his life--his spot on the football team, his new girlfriend, etc. However, his life turns upside down through the school year, and he has to decide to learn from it and move on, or use his tragedies as an excuse for a crappy life.
What I liked about this book was that it tackled a lot of different topics, such as standing up for what is right, racism, dealing with authority, death, and grieving. The novel ended quite hopeful, and we get to see Louie grow up a lot.
What I liked about this book was that it tackled a lot of different topics, such as standing up for what is right, racism, dealing with authority, death, and grieving. The novel ended quite hopeful, and we get to see Louie grow up a lot.