Guest Author: Beth Fehlbaum

Chris Crutcher, acclaimed author of such books as Deadline, Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, and Ironman, is not only a writer who reaches kids where they are, but he is also a champion for First Amendment rights. Besides admiring him for the reasons just noted, I am such a fan of his that I asked him if I could use his novel, Ironman, as a thematic element in my debut novel, Courage in Patience, a story of hope for those who have endured abuse. Courage in Patience is the story of Ashley Nicole Asher, 15, who has been sexually abused by her stepfather for six years. She is removed from her mother's home and sent to live with her biological father, David, whom she has not seen since she was three months old. It is with David and his wife, Bev, an English teacher, that Ashley's life begins anew, in the tiny East Texas town of Patience.

Chris Crutcher is used to his books being a lightning rod for controversy; after all, the stories he writes routinely address hard-hitting topics such as racism, incest, child abuse, and homophobia. This made Ironman the perfect choice for Bev to use in her summer school English classroom. I was thrilled when he graciously agreed to allow me to use Ironman as a launch pad for controversy.

What follows is an excerpt from Courage in Patience. The parents of one of Bev's students are discussing Chris Crutcher's novel, Ironman:

© Beth Fehlbaum, 2008

“We have a problem, dear,” Chloe said as she wiped the crumbs from the kitchen table and wrinkled her nose to hike up her glasses.

“What’s that?” Dayton said from the living room. T.W. had placated him somewhat by asking if he would throw the ball around with him before dinner, so the issue of his son being influenced by the Bo Brewster character had lessened in his mind. “This book, this Ironman. Is it on the list of approved novels for the district?”

“I doubt it. Beverly Asher’s teaching the class. Have you ever seen her car, Chloe? She has this strange bumper sticker with a Star of David and a cross on it. Peace signs, other weirdo stuff. I think she was raised in a commune. I'll bet she doesn't even shave her legs. Or under her arms."

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