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The Crazy Horse Electric Game
Willie is a top athlete, the star of the legendary game against Crazy Horse Electric. Then a freak accident robs him of his once-amazing physical talents. Betrayed by his family, his girlfriend, and his own body, Willie's on the run, penniless and terrified on the streets, where he must fight to rebuild both his body and his life.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
39 people are currently reading
419 people want to read
About the author
Chris Crutcher
35 books808 followersChris Crutcher's writing is controversial, and has been frequently challenged and even banned by individuals who want to censor his books by removing them from libraries and classrooms. Running Loose and Athletic Shorts were on the ALA's top 100 list of most frequently challenged books for 1990-2000. His books generally feature teens coping with serious problems, including abusive parents, racial and religious prejudice, mental and physical disability, and poverty; these themes are viewed as too mature for children. Other cited reasons for censorship include strong language and depictions of homosexuality. Despite this controversy, Crutcher's writing has received many awards.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
November 7, 2011
I didn't like this book. I read it because I am teaching it in my highschool Paperback Lit. class. I actually started teaching it before I had completely read the book, which was a mistake. Other teachers recommended it, and it was part of the curriculum for this class that I am teaching for the first time this semester, so I decided to continue using the book in the class. However, I found the book to be dated and depressing. I guess the message of the book is that difficulties can be overcome, but the main character in this book never really overcomes all his problems. He runs away from his problems, which causes more problems and in the end, the only thing he resolves is that he regains the athletic prowess he lost in a water skiing accident. None of the characters int he book seem to gain any wisdom. They are all predictably and stereotypically drawn, from the popular high school sports hero, who is the main character, to the African American Pimp who "saves" him, to the teenage whore who refuses to leave the pimp who beats her up even when the disabled sports jock falls for her. The book is filled with deplorable language throughout and without any apparent purpose. There is frequent reference to casual sex, drug use, sexual abuse and wanton violence. Seems like the perfect book to give high school students to read, right? I won't teach this book again, despite the recommendation of my colleagues.
May 18, 2009
This book was NOT the best book i've ever read, i mean it was good at points but others is was just flat out boring. At the begininng it started out steady, he had a good life, playing baseball, had a girl friend, and him and some buddies went to go ask if he could get their team logo changed from a flower, but of course the sponsor denited it.. As the book started to get closer to midway through it became very confusing, nothing made sense, Chris Cutcher is by far one of my favorite authors, but this is defenatly not one of his best books, I honestly do not reccomend it to anyone, but if you really do like baseball, and can follow events pretty well this may be the book for you, there was too much flip-flopping of events, and what not for me to be able to follow at all.
January 22, 2015
Crazy Horse Electric Game
In Oakland, California, Willie Weaver is a typical teenage boy with an amazing talent for baseball. Willie is a baseball hero and can pitch the best ball in the county. His controlled pitching and outstanding final catches take the championship away from the three-time winning team, Crazy Horse Electric. Willie is a superstar player for "Samson Floral," and is a town hero. However, Willie’s life changes in the blink of an eye. All of Willie’s hopes and dreams fade away as he takes part in a waterskiing accident, paralyzing the left side of Willie’s body. This accident leaves Willie with impaired speech and movement. Lost in a world he no longer knows, or in a body he can no longer control, Willie tries to ease his pain, frustration, and confusion by playing racquetball and managing the girls’ basketball team. He also includes his friend's his daily life as well. Willie is still devastated by his life and decides to enroll into another school. At this school, Willie meets some students and staff that have changed him and his negative thoughts. Willie realizes being disabled is a minor obstacle in his life, and it does not hold him back.
In this novel, Willie Weaver is the main character. Willie is a sixteen year old high school athlete that has a strong passion for baseball. He has the perfect life. Willie is popular, he has the right friends, and he has a dream girlfriend. Willie’s feeling change throughout the book, especially after the accident. At first, Willie is a strong, independent, and confident young boy with hopes and dreams for baseball. Those feelings fade away after Willie’s tragic accident.
I recommend this book young adults, with a love for sports. I believe if athletic people read this book, they will be able to relate with some of the feelings that take place. I also recommend this book to boys and girls. Even though this book has to do with sports, there is also some drama behind it.
I rate this book a four because I enjoyed the plot of this book. This novel has a lot of exciting and disappointing moments which makes the reading interesting. There is always something happening in this book. There is no boredom or shame while reading this book.
January 19, 2018
Joshua Goldman Period 5
The novel The Crazy Electric Horse Game is a well written novel with an important messages throughout the book. This book was written by Chris Crutcher. The book covers many important characters,themes and plots throughout the 300 page novel. The reason for this is that Chris Crutcher is very talented writer and as a result was able to produce a very strong inspirational book.
Willie Weaver lives in a small town called Cohoto. He is the son of Willie Weaver senior who was a very talented athlete in his time. Willie is the star pitcher for his baseball team and has everything anyone would ever want. But one day he has a horrible accident leading toward Willie developing as a character. Once recovered from this injury, Willie feels as if the whole town of Cohoto has pity for him. As a result of his family life, social life and his frustration with his body Willie gives up. Willie sets out on a journey to have a new start. In the beginning of his journey he knows nothing. He gets mugged and all he has left was a walking stick that was given to him by his best friend. He continues with his journey meeting a bus driver named Lacey. Lacey took willie under his wing for a reason that will be read about later in the novel. Willie restart his life in this new town and meets many people restart his life. Willie eventually goes back to school and learn a new way to live without being a star athlete. Willie eventually does go back to Cohoto and sees that life has changed drastically. His father became a shell of the man he once was and the girl of his dreams could barely look Willie in his eyes. The novel ends with the relationship between willie and his girlfriend on bad terms and him trying to repair the broken relationship with his father.
There are many dynamic characters in this novel. This includes the main characters but also the side characters who help willie rediscover himself. Willie start out as one of the best baseball players in all of the west coast. He dominated every hitter that step up to bat. But once the accident happened Willie had to rediscover himself. After feeling enough self pity willie was able to start rebuilding to where he once was. With the help of friends in his new town he was able to recover as best he could and be the best person he could be. In addition to Willie one of the most dynamic characters is his Willie’s father. In the beginning of the novel, Willie senior can be seen as a very strong minded man. But after the lost of his wife, and son he loses his strength and becomes a drunkie. He feels that all he could do is drink. He felt that he was so broken he did not deserve his wife back. When Willie eventually does see Willie senior, Willie senior reaction was to shut willie out of his life. He felt that willie betrayed him by leaving and not telling. In conclusion there were many dynamic characters.
In addition to the many characters, the themes of this novel are very relevant and important messages. One of the most important themes is that one can never give up. Willie can be seen giving up in the beginning and the author shows that feeling defeat gets that person nowhere. By the end of this novel Willie can be seen using his crippled body to do things he could never thought possible. By the time he graduated, he was a new person who showed that determination is everything.
In conclusion this book is a well written novel that was able to connect sports life in to the pressure of being a teenager. Chris crutcher was able to show that determination and finding one inner self is one of the most important things someone can do. The reason for this is that anyone could be lucky and be talented at a sports. But it's the people who never give up and continue to give everything are the people who continue their life the best.
The novel The Crazy Electric Horse Game is a well written novel with an important messages throughout the book. This book was written by Chris Crutcher. The book covers many important characters,themes and plots throughout the 300 page novel. The reason for this is that Chris Crutcher is very talented writer and as a result was able to produce a very strong inspirational book.
Willie Weaver lives in a small town called Cohoto. He is the son of Willie Weaver senior who was a very talented athlete in his time. Willie is the star pitcher for his baseball team and has everything anyone would ever want. But one day he has a horrible accident leading toward Willie developing as a character. Once recovered from this injury, Willie feels as if the whole town of Cohoto has pity for him. As a result of his family life, social life and his frustration with his body Willie gives up. Willie sets out on a journey to have a new start. In the beginning of his journey he knows nothing. He gets mugged and all he has left was a walking stick that was given to him by his best friend. He continues with his journey meeting a bus driver named Lacey. Lacey took willie under his wing for a reason that will be read about later in the novel. Willie restart his life in this new town and meets many people restart his life. Willie eventually goes back to school and learn a new way to live without being a star athlete. Willie eventually does go back to Cohoto and sees that life has changed drastically. His father became a shell of the man he once was and the girl of his dreams could barely look Willie in his eyes. The novel ends with the relationship between willie and his girlfriend on bad terms and him trying to repair the broken relationship with his father.
There are many dynamic characters in this novel. This includes the main characters but also the side characters who help willie rediscover himself. Willie start out as one of the best baseball players in all of the west coast. He dominated every hitter that step up to bat. But once the accident happened Willie had to rediscover himself. After feeling enough self pity willie was able to start rebuilding to where he once was. With the help of friends in his new town he was able to recover as best he could and be the best person he could be. In addition to Willie one of the most dynamic characters is his Willie’s father. In the beginning of the novel, Willie senior can be seen as a very strong minded man. But after the lost of his wife, and son he loses his strength and becomes a drunkie. He feels that all he could do is drink. He felt that he was so broken he did not deserve his wife back. When Willie eventually does see Willie senior, Willie senior reaction was to shut willie out of his life. He felt that willie betrayed him by leaving and not telling. In conclusion there were many dynamic characters.
In addition to the many characters, the themes of this novel are very relevant and important messages. One of the most important themes is that one can never give up. Willie can be seen giving up in the beginning and the author shows that feeling defeat gets that person nowhere. By the end of this novel Willie can be seen using his crippled body to do things he could never thought possible. By the time he graduated, he was a new person who showed that determination is everything.
In conclusion this book is a well written novel that was able to connect sports life in to the pressure of being a teenager. Chris crutcher was able to show that determination and finding one inner self is one of the most important things someone can do. The reason for this is that anyone could be lucky and be talented at a sports. But it's the people who never give up and continue to give everything are the people who continue their life the best.
April 9, 2019
Imagine living a picture perfect lifestyle. Your life is easy-going, you're an all-star athlete, you're popular, and you've succeeded during the most important moment of your life, only to have that ripped away from you within minutes.
Willie Weaver, the son of a talented athlete, Big Will Weaver, was a hero in his hometown Coho, Montana after winning the Crazy Horse Electric baseball game. After a tragic freak accident, Willie's social, mental, physical, and family life were turned upside down in a heartbeat. The only way to escape the hurricane was to leave the area and get a fresh start. Overcoming difficult obstacles along the way Willie learns there is more to life than sports. Sometimes it's hard not to take the easy things for granted in life.
The idea of the book being about sports is what grabbed my interest at first, but turns out there was way more to this moralistic book than I had expected. The Crazy Horse Electric Game, by Chris Crutcher, contains lessons on how to overcome the unexpected natural occurrences in life. Although there were a few parts that dragged on far too long, I caught myself fascinated by it more than I ever thought. I would definitely recommend this book for someone who has a passion for athletics and life changing events. This read is not intended for everyone, but can be attempted by anyone. I highly encourage those of you to give it a chance.
May 22, 2015
Plot:
The Crazy Horse Electric Game, a classic novel about baseball, features a male adolescent, Willie Weaver, that is an athletic hero until an accident prohibits him from activity. Wille is the STAR member of the Sampson Floral Baseball team for his exceptional talent: pitching. When Sampson Floral battles against Crazy Horse Electric, an excellent team, for the championship title, Willie defeats Sal Whitworth, an outstanding player, with a sneaky catch behind the back. The Crazy Horse Electric Game created an ego for Willie to maintain his high school career. As the summer lurched along, Willie began developing affection for his best friend, Jenny Blackburn; therefore, he invited Jenny to attend a celebration at the Salmon Lake with the Weavers and Johnny-- Willie’s male best friend. While content from the enjoyment of water skiing, Willie performs a risky action, forcing the water ski to blast him in the skull. Jenny completes a process of CPR as Willie remains unconscious in the water, and Big Will, Willie’s father, cannot comprehend the scene.
Willie’s accident impaired his speech, motions, and emotions. Furthermore, immobilization forces Wille to utilize a cane that was created by his Sampson Floral teammates. As Willie’s mental stability begins to wither away, he tumbles into depression, urging him to embrace unwise decisions. When Willie’s parents argue about his accident, Willie seeks a counselor, Cyril Wheat. Cyril inspires Willie with his honesty, humor, and advice; however, he cannot delay Willie’s disappearance. Distressed about the horrors devouring his happiness, Willie travels on the Greyhound, a public transportation, to California. Upon arrival to San Francisco, Willie is surprised by the Jo Boys-- a male gang-- during a transitional break in Oakland. The Jo Boys brutally injure Willie while hijacking his belongings. Lacey Casteel, a bus operator and pimp, adopts Willie, enrolling him at OMLC High School. OMLC, One More Last Chance, grants adolescents with disabilities, attitude issues, and devious juveniles a proper education. Willie is honored to meet Andre Porter, the OMLC principal; Lisa, Willie’s physical therapist; and Sammy, the brilliant instructor of muscle rehabilitation. With the guidance from Andre, Lisa, and Sammy, Willie is capable of reestablishing his previous structure, balance and coordination, and speech.
With a colossal amount of confidence, Willie travels to his hometown-- Coho, Montana. The entire community is astonished by Willie’s unforeseen appearance, assuming death was the explanation of his departure. Willie discovers several tragedies: the divorce of his parents, his childhood home on the market, and disapproval from his best friend, Jenny. Believing his hometown cripples him, Willie journeys to Oakland, California-- the heart of Willie’s happiness.
Target Audience: The audience of Crazy Horse Electric Game is for primarily teenagers. The main character is an adolescent; therefore, teenage girls and boys can relate to Willie Weaver’s emotions, drama, and athletic career. Willie’s tragedy grasps the attention of teenage athletes, too. Teenagers will enjoy Chris Crutcher’s excellent usage of similes, metaphors, and imagery.
Personal Response: I give Crazy Horse Electric Game five out of five stars. I enjoyed the novel’s impulse of reality in an athletic career, the determination discovered in an athlete’s heart, and the reconstruction of basic fundamentals in activities after an accident. Chris Crutcher’s language contributed to the novel’s excellence. I recommend Crazy Horse Electric Game to athletes seeking an inspiration in their career.
The Crazy Horse Electric Game, a classic novel about baseball, features a male adolescent, Willie Weaver, that is an athletic hero until an accident prohibits him from activity. Wille is the STAR member of the Sampson Floral Baseball team for his exceptional talent: pitching. When Sampson Floral battles against Crazy Horse Electric, an excellent team, for the championship title, Willie defeats Sal Whitworth, an outstanding player, with a sneaky catch behind the back. The Crazy Horse Electric Game created an ego for Willie to maintain his high school career. As the summer lurched along, Willie began developing affection for his best friend, Jenny Blackburn; therefore, he invited Jenny to attend a celebration at the Salmon Lake with the Weavers and Johnny-- Willie’s male best friend. While content from the enjoyment of water skiing, Willie performs a risky action, forcing the water ski to blast him in the skull. Jenny completes a process of CPR as Willie remains unconscious in the water, and Big Will, Willie’s father, cannot comprehend the scene.
Willie’s accident impaired his speech, motions, and emotions. Furthermore, immobilization forces Wille to utilize a cane that was created by his Sampson Floral teammates. As Willie’s mental stability begins to wither away, he tumbles into depression, urging him to embrace unwise decisions. When Willie’s parents argue about his accident, Willie seeks a counselor, Cyril Wheat. Cyril inspires Willie with his honesty, humor, and advice; however, he cannot delay Willie’s disappearance. Distressed about the horrors devouring his happiness, Willie travels on the Greyhound, a public transportation, to California. Upon arrival to San Francisco, Willie is surprised by the Jo Boys-- a male gang-- during a transitional break in Oakland. The Jo Boys brutally injure Willie while hijacking his belongings. Lacey Casteel, a bus operator and pimp, adopts Willie, enrolling him at OMLC High School. OMLC, One More Last Chance, grants adolescents with disabilities, attitude issues, and devious juveniles a proper education. Willie is honored to meet Andre Porter, the OMLC principal; Lisa, Willie’s physical therapist; and Sammy, the brilliant instructor of muscle rehabilitation. With the guidance from Andre, Lisa, and Sammy, Willie is capable of reestablishing his previous structure, balance and coordination, and speech.
With a colossal amount of confidence, Willie travels to his hometown-- Coho, Montana. The entire community is astonished by Willie’s unforeseen appearance, assuming death was the explanation of his departure. Willie discovers several tragedies: the divorce of his parents, his childhood home on the market, and disapproval from his best friend, Jenny. Believing his hometown cripples him, Willie journeys to Oakland, California-- the heart of Willie’s happiness.
Target Audience: The audience of Crazy Horse Electric Game is for primarily teenagers. The main character is an adolescent; therefore, teenage girls and boys can relate to Willie Weaver’s emotions, drama, and athletic career. Willie’s tragedy grasps the attention of teenage athletes, too. Teenagers will enjoy Chris Crutcher’s excellent usage of similes, metaphors, and imagery.
Personal Response: I give Crazy Horse Electric Game five out of five stars. I enjoyed the novel’s impulse of reality in an athletic career, the determination discovered in an athlete’s heart, and the reconstruction of basic fundamentals in activities after an accident. Chris Crutcher’s language contributed to the novel’s excellence. I recommend Crazy Horse Electric Game to athletes seeking an inspiration in their career.
February 7, 2017
Have you ever experienced a life changing event that you never thought you could escape? Well, we all struggle through tough situations that are unexpected in life. In Chris Crutcher’s novel The Crazy Horse Electric Game, Willie Weaver finds himself in an unfortunate situation, out of his control that ultimately changes his life. In the novel, Willie Weaver discovers the true nature of overcoming obstacles on an expedition in which he explores the reality of the real world.
When Willie Weaver struggles through the unpredictability of life he learns a lot about himself as well as the qualities needed to cope with hardship. Willie Weaver is a strong athlete who has a passion for the game of baseball. Baseball has become his life and has set up his future as well as filled his life with popularity. After winning the crazy horse electric game against his rival, Sal Whitworth, he is known as a legend and hero in the town. Everything Willie has been working at to be the star has finally paid off, until the tragedy of life is sprung upon him.
While on a simple vacation Willie’s life completely changes in a boat accident. He must face the struggle of altered speech and an impaired body. From then on out, Willie must make changes to his life that are full of challenges. Willie loses himself as he feels he has lost everything that is important to him including his family, friends, girlfriend, and game. When Willie’s feels the struggle and pain corrupting himself, he decides it’s too much and goes on an expedition in which he learns valuable lessons and discovers a lot about himself.
The book authenticates the meaning of hardship and the unpredictable nature of life. I highly recommend this book to everyone as it entailed the passion one has for a sport and how one event can distort a life for eternity. While the story explains the aspects of being apart of a team and having a dedication to a sport, it also incorporates the erratic behavior or life. The story enhances many different emotions, settings, and personality changes that make the story interesting. Not only did I find the story to be immensely interesting, but I also found it to teach life-long lessons of gratitude.
In Chris Crutcher’s novel, The Crazy Horse Electric Game, the exposure of life problems are prominent as a young boy’s entire world is altered. However, Chris Crutcher’s novel demonstrates the ways to handle the rough aspects of life. In life, there will constantly be obstacles thrown at people, but there will always be a way to succumb those events because one is strong from being weak. So, while it may seem like Willie’s life was slowly coming to a tragic end, in reality, it was exposing Willie’s strong attributes of courage and strength.
When Willie Weaver struggles through the unpredictability of life he learns a lot about himself as well as the qualities needed to cope with hardship. Willie Weaver is a strong athlete who has a passion for the game of baseball. Baseball has become his life and has set up his future as well as filled his life with popularity. After winning the crazy horse electric game against his rival, Sal Whitworth, he is known as a legend and hero in the town. Everything Willie has been working at to be the star has finally paid off, until the tragedy of life is sprung upon him.
While on a simple vacation Willie’s life completely changes in a boat accident. He must face the struggle of altered speech and an impaired body. From then on out, Willie must make changes to his life that are full of challenges. Willie loses himself as he feels he has lost everything that is important to him including his family, friends, girlfriend, and game. When Willie’s feels the struggle and pain corrupting himself, he decides it’s too much and goes on an expedition in which he learns valuable lessons and discovers a lot about himself.
The book authenticates the meaning of hardship and the unpredictable nature of life. I highly recommend this book to everyone as it entailed the passion one has for a sport and how one event can distort a life for eternity. While the story explains the aspects of being apart of a team and having a dedication to a sport, it also incorporates the erratic behavior or life. The story enhances many different emotions, settings, and personality changes that make the story interesting. Not only did I find the story to be immensely interesting, but I also found it to teach life-long lessons of gratitude.
In Chris Crutcher’s novel, The Crazy Horse Electric Game, the exposure of life problems are prominent as a young boy’s entire world is altered. However, Chris Crutcher’s novel demonstrates the ways to handle the rough aspects of life. In life, there will constantly be obstacles thrown at people, but there will always be a way to succumb those events because one is strong from being weak. So, while it may seem like Willie’s life was slowly coming to a tragic end, in reality, it was exposing Willie’s strong attributes of courage and strength.
June 11, 2010
This book wasn't the best read ever since it is kind of confusing and gets boring to read. This book was about an incident of the legendary baseball player willie who is so famous for his legendary sport skills. He is worshipped by many and very proud of himself. After winning a big game Willie earns a lot of more fame than he already had. He had incredible days after his victory but until one day he goes on vacation with his family.
During the vacation with his family he has a accident which leaves him physcially disabled. While he goes home trying to recover everyone seems to treat him differently not caring as much about him anymore which eventually leaves to a lot of conflict with family and friends. After he can't take it he runs away and get jumped by gangs and run into many problems in his new home.
This book is very long in it's summary and this is not even half of what i have to say. I can say this book has too much information about a lot of the boring details. I recommended to people who wants to kill their time just stuffing in some random information about some kids dilemma in a book. This book wasn't the best read, well to me at least but you can read it and prove me wrong :]
During the vacation with his family he has a accident which leaves him physcially disabled. While he goes home trying to recover everyone seems to treat him differently not caring as much about him anymore which eventually leaves to a lot of conflict with family and friends. After he can't take it he runs away and get jumped by gangs and run into many problems in his new home.
This book is very long in it's summary and this is not even half of what i have to say. I can say this book has too much information about a lot of the boring details. I recommended to people who wants to kill their time just stuffing in some random information about some kids dilemma in a book. This book wasn't the best read, well to me at least but you can read it and prove me wrong :]
April 22, 2023
This book didn't really have a theme. Willie just ran away from his problems and it really looked liked the therapist in his town could've helped him. One of the most inspiring scenes in this book was when Lisa and Andre helped Willie get back on his feet. They helped him talk fluently again and got Willie another hobby, basketball. Lisa was giving Willie therapy to help him and Lisa wasn't even a therapist, she was just a gym teacher at the OMLC school. The scene that I also didn't understand was why Willie came back to Montana, but left again after all of the controversy that was occurring. That was his home town and many people really welcomed him back like his friend Johnny. And Willie was about 18 years old at the time. Will he try to find a college; because I don't even think he can afford the money for something like that in Oakland. Maybe he would go back to Lacey and live with him. Overall, this wasn't the best book I have read, but I would still recommend this to probably people at least 13 years and over.
December 1, 2014
I enjoyed reading The Crazy Horse Electric Game, and it was so good I didn't want it to end. The main character, Willie , was a sixteen year old athlete in high school, which made him a very easy character to relate to for me, as I am a sixteen year old high school athlete as well. This is one of the reasons I enjoyed the book enough to give it a rating of four out of five stars. Another reason is that it kept me on my toes. I never knew what would happen next. This is what kept me reading and made me enjoy it so much. I would recommend The Crazy Horse Electric Game to students from eighth grade through tenth grade, especially athletes. I would make s recommendation because it would be easy for them to relate to the characters and it is a fun short read that doesn't take too much time in an athletes schedule. I do believe that some non athletes would also enjoy this book as well.
April 10, 2015
This was a great read. It tell the story of a boy named Willie, a great baseball player whos life suddenly changes after a jet-ski accident. Throughout the story Willie finds inner strength, and finds his true identity. This book shows that when something big or major happens , it can change your whole outlook on life.
October 2, 2015
In my opinion, I really enjoyed reading the book The Crazy Horse electric game. Chris Crutcher made this book come alive.This book inspired me in many ways. I recommend this book to any person who enjoys sports books.
February 5, 2015
Very slow start. The middle and end was interesting. If I didn't have to read it for a class I would've given it up.
December 9, 2019
Formulaic – super talented white kid gets critically injured. He feels angry, guilty, confused, resentful. His family and friends also struggle to cope with his new disabilities and with his and their own emotional trauma. He runs away from white-bread Montana to crazy, gang-run Oakland. Gets beat up and taken in by a pimp/bus driver who has guilt over his own traumatic past, but who sets him up with a school for disadvantaged kids- the disabled, the heavily disadvantaged, the ones who can’t make it in regular school but are looking for one more last chance. He’s introduced to some new adults who have a different way and therefore perspective of moving through life. He stays in Oakland and in what, afterward, feels like a movie montage of training he goes from being a cripple who has an extremely hard time talking to playing basketball, talking like normal, and saving the school from a gang-related fire and violence.
What bothers me is the white privilege and the expectations whites have of always having that even when they’re “down”. The sole rescue of the school comes off a bit “white-saviour-ish”.
Writing style: a bit hard to follow as one paragraph one thing is happening and in the next might be several hours later. Usually this was separated by extra spaces, but not always.
Quotes:
P194 “God didn’t cripple you, Willie. You did. You stretched the rules till they broke; had to go a little faster than you could, push out here at the edge because you thought nothing could hurt you. You said that yourself.”
“but I didn’t know”
“The rules don’t slack off for naivete. Physics doesn’t work on a sliding scale. You broke the rules, you got hurt. So now you know why, how does that help?”
“it doesn’t”
“might as well quit asking, then”
p207 “This is what happens when we astonish ourselves with our capacity to be vicious; when we realize so late how our expectattions have betrayed us.”
p.248 “Don’t go back with your tail between your legs. Like it or not, parents have a contract to stick with their kids through bad times as well as good; your dad didn’t do that. That’s his responsibility, not yours.”
p.288 “you can’t blame yourself. Your father and I were supposed to be the adults.”
“still, you couldn’t have expected….”
“No, but you don’t always get what you expect. I wish someone, sometime when I was growing up, would have told me expectations would get me. I wasn’t ready for any of this, Willie, and neither was your father. The most significant thing that happened to him in all the time before we were married was a stupid football game named after a bowl of flowers. And to tell you the truth, I thought it was as important as he did. Our parents, schools, everyone tells us things will be a certain way when we’re adults and if they’re not that way, we should make them be; or at least pretend. But after a certain point that just doesn’t work.”
Expectations.
Choice.
Quotes from "Girl wash your face" by Rachel Hollis that came up to me in this book:
“Childhood trauma is not a life sentence.” Whether you are white, black, Chinese, female, male, privileged, disadvantaged, extremely quirky or whatever.
“Sometimes choosing to walk away, even if it means breaking your own heart, can be the greatest act of self-love you have access to.” For Willie, for his mom
“Your subconscious looks at how you’ve handled things in the past. If you set out to run 30 miles today, where do you think you’ll easily get to without stopping? You’ll get to your highest level of training. So if the most you’ve ever run comforatably was 4 miles, today you’ll peter out somewhere around there. Your body will rever to what it knows and what it feels most comfortable with. Highest level on mental training… what happened the last time you found yourself here? Did you push through and forma a habit and get it done or did you make an excuse and put it off? Whatever standard you set your yourself is where you’ll end up. Unless you fight through your instinct, and change your pattern.”
What bothers me is the white privilege and the expectations whites have of always having that even when they’re “down”. The sole rescue of the school comes off a bit “white-saviour-ish”.
Writing style: a bit hard to follow as one paragraph one thing is happening and in the next might be several hours later. Usually this was separated by extra spaces, but not always.
Quotes:
P194 “God didn’t cripple you, Willie. You did. You stretched the rules till they broke; had to go a little faster than you could, push out here at the edge because you thought nothing could hurt you. You said that yourself.”
“but I didn’t know”
“The rules don’t slack off for naivete. Physics doesn’t work on a sliding scale. You broke the rules, you got hurt. So now you know why, how does that help?”
“it doesn’t”
“might as well quit asking, then”
p207 “This is what happens when we astonish ourselves with our capacity to be vicious; when we realize so late how our expectattions have betrayed us.”
p.248 “Don’t go back with your tail between your legs. Like it or not, parents have a contract to stick with their kids through bad times as well as good; your dad didn’t do that. That’s his responsibility, not yours.”
p.288 “you can’t blame yourself. Your father and I were supposed to be the adults.”
“still, you couldn’t have expected….”
“No, but you don’t always get what you expect. I wish someone, sometime when I was growing up, would have told me expectations would get me. I wasn’t ready for any of this, Willie, and neither was your father. The most significant thing that happened to him in all the time before we were married was a stupid football game named after a bowl of flowers. And to tell you the truth, I thought it was as important as he did. Our parents, schools, everyone tells us things will be a certain way when we’re adults and if they’re not that way, we should make them be; or at least pretend. But after a certain point that just doesn’t work.”
Expectations.
Choice.
Quotes from "Girl wash your face" by Rachel Hollis that came up to me in this book:
“Childhood trauma is not a life sentence.” Whether you are white, black, Chinese, female, male, privileged, disadvantaged, extremely quirky or whatever.
“Sometimes choosing to walk away, even if it means breaking your own heart, can be the greatest act of self-love you have access to.” For Willie, for his mom
“Your subconscious looks at how you’ve handled things in the past. If you set out to run 30 miles today, where do you think you’ll easily get to without stopping? You’ll get to your highest level of training. So if the most you’ve ever run comforatably was 4 miles, today you’ll peter out somewhere around there. Your body will rever to what it knows and what it feels most comfortable with. Highest level on mental training… what happened the last time you found yourself here? Did you push through and forma a habit and get it done or did you make an excuse and put it off? Whatever standard you set your yourself is where you’ll end up. Unless you fight through your instinct, and change your pattern.”
November 6, 2014
The book I read was entertaining and exciting especially the ending. In the book The Crazy Horse Electric Game, written by Chris Crutcher, a kid named Willie Weaver who is good at everything has an accident and becomes crippled. Willie thinks he lost everything because he be physical anymore. Everyone felt sorry for him. When one of his friends, Johnny had a party Willie went with his girlfriend, Jenny and when some kids brought beer Willie had some because he thought his life was over anyway. Then later Willie took acid and started freaking out because of his dream. Whenever Willie saw someone playing something physical it hurt him because he pictures himself, and what he used to be.
There were many reasons how Willie became crippled and then fought through it. In the start Willie is the fastest and one of the best pitchers in the league. His team is in the championship against Crazy Horse with Sal Witworth. The first four innings are scoreless then in the fifth Willie hits a triple scoring one. Then it's the last inning and Sal is up with two outs he has two strikes. The next pitch he hits a hard one, and Willie knows where it was going to be, but catches it to win the game.Then the family went on there last summer trip with Johnny and Jenny.When Willie was water skiing he said,"The tip bounce back up in time to catch him n the middle of the forehead and the last thing he sees is blood from a gash ripped in the bone."This shows that Willie is unconscious and in a coma.When he wakes up he is crippled, needs a cane to walk around, and it takes him long time to talk. When he walks into school everyone claps because he is back.Also, Johnny is having a party and when Willie goes he drinks beer and then takes acid, and was freaking out on the ground. Then he goes to counseling to help him. He gets the help but still feels like Jenny will leave him. He eventually quits managing the girls basketball because it makes him fell like his old self.That night Willies parents have a argument about him which makes him fell even more depressed. The next day Willie sees Jenny with Jeff Rhodes and Willie knows Jenny has left him. The last straw is where Petey accidentally breaks Willie tape recording and when he apologizes Willie yells at him then confronts Jenny throws his cane out the window and leaves school. He goes home collects all the money he can find and empties his bank account then leaves for Spokane.After that he goes to a couple more buses and reaches Oakland and when he tries to transfer to a bus he ends up being next to a gang who asks for his money and Willie doesn't give it up. The gang follows him and the bus driver says he'll try to stop them. When Willie gets off theres to much traffic then the gang gets off beats him up and takes all his money.Willie gets beat up bad and the bus driver helps him with his things and gives Willie a place to stay for the night, but Willie has to decide what to do tomorrow. In the morning Willie decide to work for Lacey(bus driver).He has to do chores and go to school. The school Willie goes to is OMLC- a special school where kids are understood more and where he meets a guy named André who is the head. He also, makes some friends like Hawk,Ryan, and Kato. On his first day of gym he plays Ryan in a pick up game of basketball and the game goes on forever and Willie gets embarrassed.Then his gym teacher Lisa works with him till he is very fir and can move around and be more physical, which he liked a lot because now he did what he thought he would never accomplice. When Willie was doing his janitor duties he saw spray paint with Jo boys written on it, which was the old gang that beat him up.Will covers it up but the next time he lets Andre deal with it. Andre talks to the police and the police say its not that much of crime. Then when Ryan goes outside the Jo boys beat him up but Hawk is furious and goes outside and beats up Kam(gang leader).Also, when Lisa was helping Willie a guy named Sammy who was friends with Lisa helped him out with his cane as a defense and feelings. After Hawk beat up Kam he said to be at the school at night because he knew they would come back.Willie goes, and the Jo boys are there too and know Willie is. Willie hides until the start to light the school on fire Will goes out swings his cane and hit Kam right on the collarbone. Kam falls and can't get up so Will gets them up past the stairs and then he hears the firetrucks coming.Willie was a hero because he saved the school and Kam. Then comes graduation and Will graduates high school. He says goodbye because he was ready to go home. When he gets there he notices his parents no longer live at his house. Will finds where Johnny works, and goes there . He finds Johnny and they talk abut what happened. Will's parents got divorced his dad became a alcoholic and Wills mom is married. Will goes and talks to his dad but his dad kicks him out. After Johnny throws a surprise party and everyone sees Will and are glad to see him and ask about what happened when he was there. Jenny comes and it was to much of a surprise because she yells at Will then leaves. Will then vista his mom and step dad,and stays for dinner. He eventually goes back to the motel where his dad was at and gets his dad to come on a walk and talk about what happened. They talk and Big Will was really interested when Will said he became physical again. Will then decides to go back to Oakland and says goodbye to everyone then leaves.
Whenever Willie saw someone playing something physical it hurt him because he pictures himself, and what he used to be. Willie thought he would never be good at sports again, but after he met Lisa he was able to achieve being physical again."Never believe that you can't do something when you practice and then succeed.''
There were many reasons how Willie became crippled and then fought through it. In the start Willie is the fastest and one of the best pitchers in the league. His team is in the championship against Crazy Horse with Sal Witworth. The first four innings are scoreless then in the fifth Willie hits a triple scoring one. Then it's the last inning and Sal is up with two outs he has two strikes. The next pitch he hits a hard one, and Willie knows where it was going to be, but catches it to win the game.Then the family went on there last summer trip with Johnny and Jenny.When Willie was water skiing he said,"The tip bounce back up in time to catch him n the middle of the forehead and the last thing he sees is blood from a gash ripped in the bone."This shows that Willie is unconscious and in a coma.When he wakes up he is crippled, needs a cane to walk around, and it takes him long time to talk. When he walks into school everyone claps because he is back.Also, Johnny is having a party and when Willie goes he drinks beer and then takes acid, and was freaking out on the ground. Then he goes to counseling to help him. He gets the help but still feels like Jenny will leave him. He eventually quits managing the girls basketball because it makes him fell like his old self.That night Willies parents have a argument about him which makes him fell even more depressed. The next day Willie sees Jenny with Jeff Rhodes and Willie knows Jenny has left him. The last straw is where Petey accidentally breaks Willie tape recording and when he apologizes Willie yells at him then confronts Jenny throws his cane out the window and leaves school. He goes home collects all the money he can find and empties his bank account then leaves for Spokane.After that he goes to a couple more buses and reaches Oakland and when he tries to transfer to a bus he ends up being next to a gang who asks for his money and Willie doesn't give it up. The gang follows him and the bus driver says he'll try to stop them. When Willie gets off theres to much traffic then the gang gets off beats him up and takes all his money.Willie gets beat up bad and the bus driver helps him with his things and gives Willie a place to stay for the night, but Willie has to decide what to do tomorrow. In the morning Willie decide to work for Lacey(bus driver).He has to do chores and go to school. The school Willie goes to is OMLC- a special school where kids are understood more and where he meets a guy named André who is the head. He also, makes some friends like Hawk,Ryan, and Kato. On his first day of gym he plays Ryan in a pick up game of basketball and the game goes on forever and Willie gets embarrassed.Then his gym teacher Lisa works with him till he is very fir and can move around and be more physical, which he liked a lot because now he did what he thought he would never accomplice. When Willie was doing his janitor duties he saw spray paint with Jo boys written on it, which was the old gang that beat him up.Will covers it up but the next time he lets Andre deal with it. Andre talks to the police and the police say its not that much of crime. Then when Ryan goes outside the Jo boys beat him up but Hawk is furious and goes outside and beats up Kam(gang leader).Also, when Lisa was helping Willie a guy named Sammy who was friends with Lisa helped him out with his cane as a defense and feelings. After Hawk beat up Kam he said to be at the school at night because he knew they would come back.Willie goes, and the Jo boys are there too and know Willie is. Willie hides until the start to light the school on fire Will goes out swings his cane and hit Kam right on the collarbone. Kam falls and can't get up so Will gets them up past the stairs and then he hears the firetrucks coming.Willie was a hero because he saved the school and Kam. Then comes graduation and Will graduates high school. He says goodbye because he was ready to go home. When he gets there he notices his parents no longer live at his house. Will finds where Johnny works, and goes there . He finds Johnny and they talk abut what happened. Will's parents got divorced his dad became a alcoholic and Wills mom is married. Will goes and talks to his dad but his dad kicks him out. After Johnny throws a surprise party and everyone sees Will and are glad to see him and ask about what happened when he was there. Jenny comes and it was to much of a surprise because she yells at Will then leaves. Will then vista his mom and step dad,and stays for dinner. He eventually goes back to the motel where his dad was at and gets his dad to come on a walk and talk about what happened. They talk and Big Will was really interested when Will said he became physical again. Will then decides to go back to Oakland and says goodbye to everyone then leaves.
Whenever Willie saw someone playing something physical it hurt him because he pictures himself, and what he used to be. Willie thought he would never be good at sports again, but after he met Lisa he was able to achieve being physical again."Never believe that you can't do something when you practice and then succeed.''
January 18, 2021
This book was very slow to get started, I felt like I wanted to just power read to get through it, but there's a turning point, once the main incident happens, that hooked me and got me interested in Willie's story.
The lack of pop culture references (I pretty sure that's a somewhat modern occurrence in books) means this doesn't feel too dated - I didn't realise it was released in the 80's - so it's in a way timeless.
This deals with some heavy topics, Willie is injured in an accident, and his life feels like it's falling apart around him, but the darkness doesn't end there. Violence and aggression is a plenty in here, but there's also a positive over arching plot.
Towards the end there's a bit of a speech from Willie about privilege, that wouldn't be out of place in a book written this year. It kind of took me by surprise how - for lack of a better word - 'woke' he sounded, considering this book came out over 30 years ago.
All in all I'm glad I stuck with it, it's unfortunate how boring and slow the start is, because I'm sure it will put a lot of people off carrying on.
The lack of pop culture references (I pretty sure that's a somewhat modern occurrence in books) means this doesn't feel too dated - I didn't realise it was released in the 80's - so it's in a way timeless.
This deals with some heavy topics, Willie is injured in an accident, and his life feels like it's falling apart around him, but the darkness doesn't end there. Violence and aggression is a plenty in here, but there's also a positive over arching plot.
Towards the end there's a bit of a speech from Willie about privilege, that wouldn't be out of place in a book written this year. It kind of took me by surprise how - for lack of a better word - 'woke' he sounded, considering this book came out over 30 years ago.
All in all I'm glad I stuck with it, it's unfortunate how boring and slow the start is, because I'm sure it will put a lot of people off carrying on.
July 9, 2021
This book is honestly so ridiculous that I can’t believe it actually exists and has almost a 4 star rating 😂
I don’t know what the point of this book is. Maybe it’s supposed to relate to teens with high school and family drama? But honestly, how many teens relate to being a champion baseball player who becomes crippled, runs away, lives with a pimp, somehow goes to school with nobody asking questions about who he is or where he came from, and then befriends a prostitute who works for the pimp he lives with?
On top of that, where were the police in this book? A crippled high schooler goes missing, and there aren’t any search parties, missing posters, or police looking for him? On top of that, he enrolls in school and openly interacts with others who never question where the heck he came from in the first place! I guess they wouldn’t have a reason to since nobody reported him as a missing person 😂
I just didn’t understand this book and found it quite melodramatic. I do not recommend this book to people who hate plot holes.
I don’t know what the point of this book is. Maybe it’s supposed to relate to teens with high school and family drama? But honestly, how many teens relate to being a champion baseball player who becomes crippled, runs away, lives with a pimp, somehow goes to school with nobody asking questions about who he is or where he came from, and then befriends a prostitute who works for the pimp he lives with?
On top of that, where were the police in this book? A crippled high schooler goes missing, and there aren’t any search parties, missing posters, or police looking for him? On top of that, he enrolls in school and openly interacts with others who never question where the heck he came from in the first place! I guess they wouldn’t have a reason to since nobody reported him as a missing person 😂
I just didn’t understand this book and found it quite melodramatic. I do not recommend this book to people who hate plot holes.
July 15, 2025
I first read The Crazy Horse Electric Game years ago, and it’s one of those stories that just stays with you. I’ve come back to it over and over because of how real and raw it is—especially in how it deals with identity, trauma, and rebuilding your life when everything changes.
Even though it starts off with a sports theme (which usually isn’t my thing—I am not a sports person), this book isn’t really about sports. It’s about what happens when the thing you thought defined you is suddenly gone, and you have to figure out who you are without it.
What really hit me was how it explores disability, vulnerability, and how society treats people once they’re seen as “broken.” It doesn’t give you neat answers, but it gives you a lot to think about. This would be a great pick for a DEI book club—there’s so much to unpack around ableism, identity, masculinity, and resilience.
It’s accessible, emotional, and thought-provoking. Definitely worth reading—especially if you’re looking for something that challenges assumptions and sticks with you long after the last page.
Even though it starts off with a sports theme (which usually isn’t my thing—I am not a sports person), this book isn’t really about sports. It’s about what happens when the thing you thought defined you is suddenly gone, and you have to figure out who you are without it.
What really hit me was how it explores disability, vulnerability, and how society treats people once they’re seen as “broken.” It doesn’t give you neat answers, but it gives you a lot to think about. This would be a great pick for a DEI book club—there’s so much to unpack around ableism, identity, masculinity, and resilience.
It’s accessible, emotional, and thought-provoking. Definitely worth reading—especially if you’re looking for something that challenges assumptions and sticks with you long after the last page.
October 6, 2018
I love the way Chris Crutcher writes for YA audiences. His characters are real, and have real problems. this book is no exception. In fact (SPOILER ALERT!!!) if you want a happy ending, look elsewhere. This is the story of Willie Weaver, an outstanding athlete and all around good guy in a happy family (mostly happy, except still not over the death by SIDS of Willie's baby sister years ago), who suffers a brain injury that robs him of his athletic prowess, messes up his family, and eventually prompts him to go on the lam. He is beaten up by scary young teens in Oakland, CA, who are Chinese (bothered by this apparent racism: the only group that's bad are the Chinese kids in this gang? keep in mind that the book was written in 1967...). He's protected by a big African American bus driver, who turns out also to be a pimp... and more complications ensue...
September 14, 2020
Another unmistakable Crutcher novel – there’s the sports theme, the funny moments, the tough family relationships, the US Northwest setting, the minority mentor (several of them this time), the teens battling through almost indescribable hardships. And even with all the thematic revisiting, this is another of Crutcher’s excellent reads for teen boys who like sports and fiction.
One unique aspect – the big game is just the jumping off point. Willie Weaver is a high school hero – he knows it, his girlfriend knows it, and his dad demands it. But then he suffers a crippling accident that changes everything. There’s such a huge risk for maudlin sympathy or moralizing in a story like this. But as he does in Stotan, Ironman, Whale Talk, and other great novels, Crutcher avoids any feel-good or feel-bad extremes. Another plus, there’s almost no teen jock slang. This is one of Crutcher’s best.
One unique aspect – the big game is just the jumping off point. Willie Weaver is a high school hero – he knows it, his girlfriend knows it, and his dad demands it. But then he suffers a crippling accident that changes everything. There’s such a huge risk for maudlin sympathy or moralizing in a story like this. But as he does in Stotan, Ironman, Whale Talk, and other great novels, Crutcher avoids any feel-good or feel-bad extremes. Another plus, there’s almost no teen jock slang. This is one of Crutcher’s best.
November 1, 2019
I thought the book was very good as it shows how a kid had his best life until he met his worst enemy in a baseball game. He proceeded to pitch against his and got hit in the face and then permanetly damaged himself after numerous incedents where he had to be careful and wasn't. Willie, the main character, was a kid who saw life after he got hit terribky and wanted to escape town which he did, and when he thought he could live on his own, he was far from it. He got jumped by a bunch of gang members and quickly realized he needed to go back and accept who he was and who he is which he ended up doing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 2, 2018
I felt like for a sports book, the book was pretty decent. The whole book wasnt just about Willie Weaver playing baseball. Willie had to overcome some big obstacles once he had a bad accident on a skiing trip. After his injury Willie becomes disabled, and as a result of this he wants to commit suicide. Eventually Willie feels like he is being pushed away fro his girlfriend and even his ow family so he runs away. Throughout the book its about having the courage to do the right thing no matter what the cost.
October 7, 2018
The Crazy Horse Electric Game is a great book about a young man named Willie. Willie is an incredibly gifted athlete, but that all comes to a screeching halt when he gets into a skiing accident while out on the water. Willie is now "crippled" and fighting to get his life back together. Willie runs away from home after he feels everything around him is falling apart. Will Willie make it, or will he continue to run away from his fears forever?
March 6, 2018
God book about Life. More realistic than most people want to realize. Not a fairy tale ending or for that matter middle. Will pull at the heart strings quite a few times. The quaint styling of the beginning of the book soothes the reader into thinking it is set in the 50's and not 40 years later. Shows that Life isn't fair no matter how charmed it may seem to others or yourself at times.
April 29, 2024
Every story by this author always has the same few common characteristics- a sporty boy, daddy issues, fantastic side characters, and a flee to independence. Nonetheless, it is done fantastically well every time. I really enjoyed this book, even despite a few ignorant, overused, and even racist tropes. Will likely reread.
December 12, 2017
Really good book, kept me hooked
November 27, 2018
Good Book
Read
January 4, 2020(note to self: on favorite books list)
December 20, 2020
Good for 8th/ 9th graders- some dated allusions
May 16, 2022
This may be one of the sadder young adult books of Chris Crutcher that I've read, but still a good read.
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