This is actually like three novellas, loosely strung together as six teens under the care of the same therapist. The characters are all characters from his other novels. An interesting exercise.

The third story, Meet me at the Gate, Marcus James, was by far the most powerful. Gripping is the better word. The first two were good enough, but did not get into my head the way Marcus James did.

An interesting aside: Matt Miller, a dedicated Christian, is portrayed in a positive light. His contribution to the action is the product of his commitment to do the right thing, and the struggle he has with the events that unfold and the sanctioned injustices that permeate the community. It is always nice to see Christians portrayed in a positive light.

I would recommend the book as a whole, but especially Meet me at the Gate, Marcus James for all but the faint of heart.

(Strong language, violence, sexual situations)

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I really liked this book and may just sit down and read it again. I will also read all of his books again this summer. Teachers could do an entire class on this book alone.
I thought the novellas tied together very well through themes - first amendment rights, bigotry, prejudice, you name it! The characters were so strong! I loved them all.
The Psychologist observations added a nice touch of humor. ( )

Three long short stories set in a frame, following up on characters--mostly minor--from earlier books by Crutcher. Affecting. At least two of the stories are told in present tense. ( )

This is a very powerful book. I can see why it was chosen to be on the SC Young Adult Book Awards Nominee list. I haven't read the other books these characters appear in, but it's not necessary to have to enjoy the stories. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys realistic fiction.
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I was happy to run into Sarah Byrnes again in this book of novellas! She's one of my favorite characters... ( )