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heyhannahrae's review against another edition
3.0
I've loved Chris Crutcher for years. That being said, I did not love this book. There were some things about it that I liked, though. For instance, it was sort of fun to read something told from a girl's perspective. Crutcher rarely includes main characters who are female, and Loser's Bracket not only includes a lead female, but Annie Boots is actually the narrator.
I also found it interesting to read about the connection a foster child may feel toward her biological family, even if that biological family is obnoxious and uneducated. I know that Crutcher has worked closely with foster children over the past several decades, so I do not doubt that much of what is written about the Boots family is based on actual events.
I think the thing that I'm falling out of love with regarding Chris Crutcher is his voice. I discovered his books when I was in my early twenties. Now that I'm in my mid-thirties, all of his characters seem overly sarcastic. Maybe they've always been overly sarcastic and I didn't notice, or maybe his voice has changed over the years. Now, I love sarcasm as much as the next person (maybe even more than the next person) but about two-thirds of the way through Loser's Bracket, I was just soooooooo tired of everything being spoken in such a snarky manner. And something else? There's a one-liner for everything. Like, for EVERYTHING. Sometimes it's funny, but a lot of times it seems forced. Also, both Walter and Wiz (two adult men in the novel) spoke in these choppy, unnatural fragments that I also wasn't crazy about.
I don't know... I just wasn't feeling this book. I guess that I'm glad I read it, and I'll probably give Crutcher another chance if he publishes something else down the road, but I didn't like Period 8 at all and I really wasn't a big fan of Loser's Bracket... so maybe I won't give him another chance. I have some time to decide.
I also found it interesting to read about the connection a foster child may feel toward her biological family, even if that biological family is obnoxious and uneducated. I know that Crutcher has worked closely with foster children over the past several decades, so I do not doubt that much of what is written about the Boots family is based on actual events.
I think the thing that I'm falling out of love with regarding Chris Crutcher is his voice. I discovered his books when I was in my early twenties. Now that I'm in my mid-thirties, all of his characters seem overly sarcastic. Maybe they've always been overly sarcastic and I didn't notice, or maybe his voice has changed over the years. Now, I love sarcasm as much as the next person (maybe even more than the next person) but about two-thirds of the way through Loser's Bracket, I was just soooooooo tired of everything being spoken in such a snarky manner. And something else? There's a one-liner for everything. Like, for EVERYTHING. Sometimes it's funny, but a lot of times it seems forced. Also, both Walter and Wiz (two adult men in the novel) spoke in these choppy, unnatural fragments that I also wasn't crazy about.
I don't know... I just wasn't feeling this book. I guess that I'm glad I read it, and I'll probably give Crutcher another chance if he publishes something else down the road, but I didn't like Period 8 at all and I really wasn't a big fan of Loser's Bracket... so maybe I won't give him another chance. I have some time to decide.
sarahstyf's review against another edition
4.0
For the first time in forever I just let myself fully enjoy a book. I am SO glad I stood in line to wait for Chris Crutcher to sign Losers Bracket while I was at NCTE last year. It is funny, emotional, and full of truth. Another Crutcher winner.
nerfherder86's review against another edition
4.0
Nice to read another new one from Chris Crutcher. Good solid realistic book with a main character you are rooting for to succeed despite her crazy family. Annie, a senior, lives with great foster parents and a supportive younger foster brother. She is an excellent athlete; her drug addict mom lost custody of her after years of bouncing her in and out of foster care, so Annie sneaks in visits when her mom shows up to watch her play tournament basketball, because it's a public place and because Annie still cares about her. She's still drawn to all of her "bio family," especially her five-year-old nephew Frankie. His dysfunctional mother Sheila, Annie's older sister, doesn't know how to care for him and frequently dumps Frankie with Annie's foster family whenever she wants to go on a bender and take off for days at a time. When Frankie suddenly goes missing from a public place, Annie feels like it is her fault, and she'll do anything to find him and get him in a safe home. This story is a realistic look at the foster care system and its flaws. There are great adult characters--Annie's therapist, her former social worker, her mom's Vietnam vet boyfriend--to counteract the troubled adults in Annie's life.
jbrooxd's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars. Fantastic characters! Loved everything about this. The family dysfunctions are clear w/out being too detailed or dragged the story into a pessimistic place. For all that Annie goes through, there is an optimistic thread throughout that she will press through and land on her feet.
emilydittmar's review against another edition
3.0
Chris Crutcher keeps it very real again. I like that he explored the pull of a bio family vs the foster family. A great book to pair with Hillbilly Elegy.
chelseaz's review against another edition
4.0
I received an ARC copy of Loser's Bracket through my local book club the Dymocks Joondalup YA Book club.
I went into this book blind, I didn't read the blurb prior to throwing myself into it, and if I'm honest I wasn't expecting much having had a recent downward spiral with books published under the '"YA"' moniker.
I was however pleasantly surprised by Chris Crutcher's novel. The story revolves around our protagonist Annie who is a foster child (teenager) and her struggles with finding a balance between the family that are unable to provide the love and support she so desperately craves from them with her new family and life of relative affluence and a dominating male character that she finds herself at odds with. This book would be perfect for young adults to read in a class setting and examine the familial relationships and portrayal of families and gender.
Perhaps my favourite element of this book was the complete lack of romance for our main character Annie, in a world where insta-love seems to be de jour this was exceptionally refreshing and something I'd commend the author on.This lack of romance for the protagonist also added to the authenticity of this character's story and struggles.
I'd highly recommend this one to anyone who enjoys contemporary YA novels and especially those who enjoy seeing grittier elements within the YA genre. Chris Crutcher is now a name I intend to keep my eyes out for to see how his writing develops with future works. (This was the author's 11th novel for those interested in looking into his backlist)
I went into this book blind, I didn't read the blurb prior to throwing myself into it, and if I'm honest I wasn't expecting much having had a recent downward spiral with books published under the '"YA"' moniker.
I was however pleasantly surprised by Chris Crutcher's novel. The story revolves around our protagonist Annie who is a foster child (teenager) and her struggles with finding a balance between the family that are unable to provide the love and support she so desperately craves from them with her new family and life of relative affluence and a dominating male character that she finds herself at odds with. This book would be perfect for young adults to read in a class setting and examine the familial relationships and portrayal of families and gender.
Perhaps my favourite element of this book was the complete lack of romance for our main character Annie, in a world where insta-love seems to be de jour this was exceptionally refreshing and something I'd commend the author on.This lack of romance for the protagonist also added to the authenticity of this character's story and struggles.
I'd highly recommend this one to anyone who enjoys contemporary YA novels and especially those who enjoy seeing grittier elements within the YA genre. Chris Crutcher is now a name I intend to keep my eyes out for to see how his writing develops with future works. (This was the author's 11th novel for those interested in looking into his backlist)
falconerreader's review against another edition
5.0
**This review and others on my blog, Falconer's Library**
How do I love Chris Crutcher? Let me count the ways. There's his foul mouthed, big hearted FB rants about the state of the country and the role of old white guys like himself. There's the humor that slides into even his darkest books. There's the way his work is all rooted firmly in eastern Washington/northern Idaho, just like he is. There's the way he populates that territory with diversity, and is honest about how challenging it is to live in the rural west if you don't look and act like a cowboy. There's his willingness to tell it like it is instead of how it should be. There's the way every single one of his protagonists is a high school athlete--no superstar future pro, but a dedicated, talented, hardworking team member.
There are books like this, that make you care so deeply about the characters, that show teenagers grappling with real life issues. Smart kids who are trying to grow up right, but don't have all the answers yet. Kids from crappy families who find their own mentors and support systems. As an adoptive mom, I was so in awe of the way he shows us all the reasons why Annie should cut her losses and count herself lucky to never see her bio family again, yet makes us understand why she's unwilling to do so. This is also one of those rare YA novels in which there's not a hint of romance, which is so refreshing. Annie has other shit to deal with, thank you very much.
I may have a tiny bit of a crush on Walter, and I'd like to kick Pop Howard in the teeth. Or possibly an easier-to-reach place.
How do I love Chris Crutcher? Let me count the ways. There's his foul mouthed, big hearted FB rants about the state of the country and the role of old white guys like himself. There's the humor that slides into even his darkest books. There's the way his work is all rooted firmly in eastern Washington/northern Idaho, just like he is. There's the way he populates that territory with diversity, and is honest about how challenging it is to live in the rural west if you don't look and act like a cowboy. There's his willingness to tell it like it is instead of how it should be. There's the way every single one of his protagonists is a high school athlete--no superstar future pro, but a dedicated, talented, hardworking team member.
There are books like this, that make you care so deeply about the characters, that show teenagers grappling with real life issues. Smart kids who are trying to grow up right, but don't have all the answers yet. Kids from crappy families who find their own mentors and support systems. As an adoptive mom, I was so in awe of the way he shows us all the reasons why Annie should cut her losses and count herself lucky to never see her bio family again, yet makes us understand why she's unwilling to do so. This is also one of those rare YA novels in which there's not a hint of romance, which is so refreshing. Annie has other shit to deal with, thank you very much.
I may have a tiny bit of a crush on Walter, and I'd like to kick Pop Howard in the teeth. Or possibly an easier-to-reach place.
rebeccaforstner's review against another edition
I had a hard time reading this. It was too close to my own children's upbringing (they're adopted from foster care). I will admit, it just seemed a little formulaic, like the author just changed up one of his plots by making it a female protagonist. I liked Whale Talk or Deadline better.