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Crash

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Take a look behind the bully in this modern classic from Newbery medalist Jerry Spinelli that packs a punch. And don't miss the highly anticipated new novel, Dead Wednesday.

Cocky seventh-grade super-jock Crash Coogan got his nickname the day he used his first football helmet to knock his cousin Bridget flat on her backside. And he has been running over people ever since, especially Penn Webb, the dweeby, vegetarian Quaker kid who lives down the block. Through the eyes of Crash, readers get a rare glimpse into the life of a bully in this unforgettable and beloved story about stereotypes and the surprises life can bring.

"Readers will devour this humorous glimpse of what jocks are made of." --School Library Journal, starred review
© Elmore DeMott
JERRY SPINELLI is the author of many novels for young readers, including Dead WednesdayThe Warden's Daughter; StargirlLove, StargirlMilkweedCrashWringer; and Maniac Magee, winner of the Newbery Medal; along with Knots in My Yo-Yo String, the autobiography of his childhood. A graduate of Gettysburg College, he lives in Pennsylvania with his wife, poet and author Eileen Spinelli. View titles by Jerry Spinelli
My real name is John. John Coogan. But everybody calls me Crash, even my parents.

It started way back when I got my first football helmet for Christmas. I don't really remember this happening, but they say that when my uncle Herm's family came over to see our presents, as they were coming through the front door I got down into a four-point stance, growled, "Hut! Hut! Hut!" and charged ahead with my brand-new helmet. Seems I knocked my cousin Bridget clear back out the doorway and onto her butt into a foot of snow. They say she bawled bloody murder and refused to come into the house, so Uncle Herm finally had to drag his whole family away before they even had a chance to take their coats off.

Like I said, personally I don't remember the whole thing, but looking back at what I do remember about myself, I'd have to say the story is probably true. As far as I can tell, I've always been crashing--into people, into things, you name it, with or without a helmet.
  • WINNER | 2000
    Wisconsin Golden Archer Book Award
  • WINNER | 1999
    Minnesota Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award
  • WINNER | 1999
    South Carolina Children's Book Award
  • WINNER | 1999
    Maryland Children's Book Award
  • WINNER | 1999
    Iowa Children's Choice Award
  • WINNER | 1999
    Iowa Teen Book Award
  • WINNER | 1999
    Minnesota Maud Heart Lovelace Award
  • WINNER | 1998
    Virginia Young Readers Program Award
  • WINNER | 1998
    Wyoming Indian Paintbrush Award
  • WINNER | 1997
    Pennsylvania Keystone State Reading Association Book Award
  • WINNER | 1997
    Nevada Young Readers Award
  • WINNER | 1997
    Massachusetts Children's Book Award
  • WINNER | 1997
    ALA Best Books for Young Adults
  • WINNER | 1997
    Kentucky Bluegrass Award
  • WINNER | 1997
    Kentucky Bluegrass Master List
  • WINNER | 1997
    Maine Student Book Award
  • WINNER | 1997
    Maine Student Book Master List
  • NOMINEE | 2002
    Illinois Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Award
  • NOMINEE | 2002
    Illinois Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award
An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
An IRA-CBC Children’s Choice
A Child Magazine Best Book of the Year
A New York Public Library Book for Reading and Sharing
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
Winner of Ten State Children’s Choice Awards
 
“Just about everyone knows someone like Crash Coogan, a big jock since he started to move on two feet. He learns some hard lessons about bullying in an entertaining novel.” —The New York Times
 
“Readers will devour this humorous glimpse of what jocks are made of.” —School Library Journal, Starred
 
“Spinelli packs a powerful moral wallop, leaving it to the pitch-perfect narration to drive home his point.” —Publishers Weekly
 
“Great fun to read.” —The Horn Book Magazine
 
“Fast-paced and funny.” —Booklist

About

Take a look behind the bully in this modern classic from Newbery medalist Jerry Spinelli that packs a punch. And don't miss the highly anticipated new novel, Dead Wednesday.

Cocky seventh-grade super-jock Crash Coogan got his nickname the day he used his first football helmet to knock his cousin Bridget flat on her backside. And he has been running over people ever since, especially Penn Webb, the dweeby, vegetarian Quaker kid who lives down the block. Through the eyes of Crash, readers get a rare glimpse into the life of a bully in this unforgettable and beloved story about stereotypes and the surprises life can bring.

"Readers will devour this humorous glimpse of what jocks are made of." --School Library Journal, starred review

Author

© Elmore DeMott
JERRY SPINELLI is the author of many novels for young readers, including Dead WednesdayThe Warden's Daughter; StargirlLove, StargirlMilkweedCrashWringer; and Maniac Magee, winner of the Newbery Medal; along with Knots in My Yo-Yo String, the autobiography of his childhood. A graduate of Gettysburg College, he lives in Pennsylvania with his wife, poet and author Eileen Spinelli. View titles by Jerry Spinelli

Excerpt

My real name is John. John Coogan. But everybody calls me Crash, even my parents.

It started way back when I got my first football helmet for Christmas. I don't really remember this happening, but they say that when my uncle Herm's family came over to see our presents, as they were coming through the front door I got down into a four-point stance, growled, "Hut! Hut! Hut!" and charged ahead with my brand-new helmet. Seems I knocked my cousin Bridget clear back out the doorway and onto her butt into a foot of snow. They say she bawled bloody murder and refused to come into the house, so Uncle Herm finally had to drag his whole family away before they even had a chance to take their coats off.

Like I said, personally I don't remember the whole thing, but looking back at what I do remember about myself, I'd have to say the story is probably true. As far as I can tell, I've always been crashing--into people, into things, you name it, with or without a helmet.

Awards

  • WINNER | 2000
    Wisconsin Golden Archer Book Award
  • WINNER | 1999
    Minnesota Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award
  • WINNER | 1999
    South Carolina Children's Book Award
  • WINNER | 1999
    Maryland Children's Book Award
  • WINNER | 1999
    Iowa Children's Choice Award
  • WINNER | 1999
    Iowa Teen Book Award
  • WINNER | 1999
    Minnesota Maud Heart Lovelace Award
  • WINNER | 1998
    Virginia Young Readers Program Award
  • WINNER | 1998
    Wyoming Indian Paintbrush Award
  • WINNER | 1997
    Pennsylvania Keystone State Reading Association Book Award
  • WINNER | 1997
    Nevada Young Readers Award
  • WINNER | 1997
    Massachusetts Children's Book Award
  • WINNER | 1997
    ALA Best Books for Young Adults
  • WINNER | 1997
    Kentucky Bluegrass Award
  • WINNER | 1997
    Kentucky Bluegrass Master List
  • WINNER | 1997
    Maine Student Book Award
  • WINNER | 1997
    Maine Student Book Master List
  • NOMINEE | 2002
    Illinois Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Award
  • NOMINEE | 2002
    Illinois Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award

Praise

An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
An IRA-CBC Children’s Choice
A Child Magazine Best Book of the Year
A New York Public Library Book for Reading and Sharing
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
Winner of Ten State Children’s Choice Awards
 
“Just about everyone knows someone like Crash Coogan, a big jock since he started to move on two feet. He learns some hard lessons about bullying in an entertaining novel.” —The New York Times
 
“Readers will devour this humorous glimpse of what jocks are made of.” —School Library Journal, Starred
 
“Spinelli packs a powerful moral wallop, leaving it to the pitch-perfect narration to drive home his point.” —Publishers Weekly
 
“Great fun to read.” —The Horn Book Magazine
 
“Fast-paced and funny.” —Booklist

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