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Crash
178 pages
A punchy, fast-paced journey inside the mind of a middle-school bully who slowly learns that vulnerability takes more strength than tackling people.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like sprinting down a hallway and suddenly slamming into a mirror. It kicks off with a brash, boisterous energy, propelled by the blunt, unapologetic voice of a kid who solves every problem by running it over. The prose is punchy and conversational, perfectly capturing the restless, cocky bravado of middle school athletics. But beneath the locker-room humor and relentless teasing, a quiet poignancy begins to take root. The mood shifts from loud and aggressive to tender and grounded as the narrator's worldview cracks open. It is a brisk, deeply empathetic read that delights kids who might usually avoid reading, offering a surprisingly moving exploration of what it actually means to be strong.
- Mood
- boisterous
- energetic
- poignant
- grounded
- Tone
- cocky
- humorous
- blunt
- earnest
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- unlearning toxic behavior · unexpected empathy · family illness · true friendship · shifting perspectives
- The writing
- Punchy, direct, and conversational, mirroring the restless energy of a seventh-grade athlete.
- The arc
- Starts with brash, unapologetic arrogance and slowly cracks open into vulnerability, empathy, and genuine connection.
- Who it's for
- Middle-grade readers who love sports, humor, and stories about flawed kids figuring out how to be better people.
Content notes
- bullying
- family illness
- aging relatives
About the book
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
Description from Open Library.
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