Say what?!?!
“And you know what? If Jesus did come back today, like everybody in this church thinks he will before they die, nobody would listen to him. Jesus would do what Jesus would do…He was a rebel. He would be right up here with me, telling you guys that kids can think for themselves and it’s okay for them to read about hard things. In fact I might be Jesus. What about that? I might be Jesus…when he was young, he didn’t even know he was Jesus…Maybe I haven’t proved myself yet. Maybe one of the things I had to do was get up here out of the things I had to do was get up here out of your reach and yell at you and tell you that stupid book is okay, and who don’t you leave us alone,”(Crutcher 196-198).
This is just a small part of the chapter that I would say is my favorite out of the entire book. It’s Eddie talking to his church congregation so he can make a point. The quote is about how no one really knows Jesus for sure. He was a very mysterious guy and he did things that nobody expected from him. If you really think about it he was a rebel as Eddie said. He didn’t follow anybody but God. Eddie is not trying to preach he religion, but really make a point. He doesn’t really think he’s Jesus, but he’s a person Eddie thinks he can make a connection to. Eddie says he doesn’t know who he is yet and he’s trying to find himself. On that path in the search for his inner self he feels he has to stand up for the book and by doing so he knows that he can make a difference and do something he feels is morally right.
This speech is also a struggle for power and Eddie isn’t going to give easily. During most of the book Eddie decides not to talk and he does so because that’s about the only thing he can control. In his speech, sense he has a chance to talk he takes the opportunity to voice his opinion. This is probably the quote that makes me most connected to Eddie. Here he stands up for himself and what he believes, and I really give credit to people who do that. I try to stick up for myself but it’s hard to sometimes if people are picking on you.
Eddie also says to leave him and the other kids at school who want to read the book alone. This is another example how kids when there is an issue that affects them they come together. I don’t think adults know how much power kids really have when they work together. We are a force to reckon with when we all are passionate about something and when work as one we’re indestructible. The one thing I want people to take away from this book is that don’t judge anyone unless you really know them and never underestimate anyone.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Blog 2
Ideas.
In reading the book The Sledding Hill I really couldn’t decide whether I thought it was bad or good. There were parts that I liked and others that I didn’t like. All in all though it wasn’t one of the best books I’ve read but it’s not one of the worst. I thought it was more in the middle. The main characters and the issue of banning a book were my favorite things about the book. The fact that Chris Crutcher included him in the book and that he advertised for another book that he wrote also. I also didn’t like how the book ended.
I really liked the main characters Eddie and Billy and I felt that I could connect to both of them in different ways. Eddie likes to talk a lot and his mind wanders a lot and I do that too. Eddie also doesn’t care if he gets in trouble as long as he makes his point and in school I don’t care either. Eddie helps in fighting for the right of reading what ever he wants. For me reading is a really important thing in today’s society because they are filled with tons of information and let your brain wander on possibilities. Billy likes to help out his friends and won’t ever let them hang, especially Eddie. I don’t ever try to not help out my friends, I like to help them. Also, I really like the issue about power between adults and kids and about how books are banned in school. I would have been one of the kids fighting to keep the book in the school library. Even if I hadn’t read the book I still think it’s important for kids to have to opinion of reading all kinds of books even if the books are filled with harsh topics.
I didn’t like the fact that Crutcher included him in the story. It was annoying to read about and I really didn’t care about him. If I did I would just really the about author in the back. I didn’t like that he advertised for another one of his books in The Sledding Hill. I know that it was the book he was talking about being banned but I don’t get why he couldn’t have just picked a different more classic book that’s older that everybody would know what it was. If it was a better well known book I think that it would have been easier to be able to connect with one side because either you agree that it should be banned or not because you either liked the book or not. The last thing I didn’t like was the end. I know that’s it’s not very probable that a dead kid sent the story to Chris Crutcher. I’m getting ahead of myself, well Billy, the dead kid, decides to “send” the story about Eddie to Chris Crutcher’s agent and Chris is really surprised when his agent sends back and tell him how good the story is (Crutcher 229-230).
In reading the book The Sledding Hill I really couldn’t decide whether I thought it was bad or good. There were parts that I liked and others that I didn’t like. All in all though it wasn’t one of the best books I’ve read but it’s not one of the worst. I thought it was more in the middle. The main characters and the issue of banning a book were my favorite things about the book. The fact that Chris Crutcher included him in the book and that he advertised for another book that he wrote also. I also didn’t like how the book ended.
I really liked the main characters Eddie and Billy and I felt that I could connect to both of them in different ways. Eddie likes to talk a lot and his mind wanders a lot and I do that too. Eddie also doesn’t care if he gets in trouble as long as he makes his point and in school I don’t care either. Eddie helps in fighting for the right of reading what ever he wants. For me reading is a really important thing in today’s society because they are filled with tons of information and let your brain wander on possibilities. Billy likes to help out his friends and won’t ever let them hang, especially Eddie. I don’t ever try to not help out my friends, I like to help them. Also, I really like the issue about power between adults and kids and about how books are banned in school. I would have been one of the kids fighting to keep the book in the school library. Even if I hadn’t read the book I still think it’s important for kids to have to opinion of reading all kinds of books even if the books are filled with harsh topics.
I didn’t like the fact that Crutcher included him in the story. It was annoying to read about and I really didn’t care about him. If I did I would just really the about author in the back. I didn’t like that he advertised for another one of his books in The Sledding Hill. I know that it was the book he was talking about being banned but I don’t get why he couldn’t have just picked a different more classic book that’s older that everybody would know what it was. If it was a better well known book I think that it would have been easier to be able to connect with one side because either you agree that it should be banned or not because you either liked the book or not. The last thing I didn’t like was the end. I know that’s it’s not very probable that a dead kid sent the story to Chris Crutcher. I’m getting ahead of myself, well Billy, the dead kid, decides to “send” the story about Eddie to Chris Crutcher’s agent and Chris is really surprised when his agent sends back and tell him how good the story is (Crutcher 229-230).
Blog 1
Banned.
In The Sledding Hill Chris Crutcher decides to insert himself into the book. One of his other books is being banned in a super uptight Christian community. The main character writes to Crutcher and asks him to maybe write something so he can read it during the council. Chris Crutcher even shows up to the town council meeting.
I think this is really stupid. Who puts a ton of stuff about themselves, has one of their books in another one of their books, and shows up in the book? It’s so annoying to think that the author thinks that he needs to include himself into the book. Crutcher evens says that a dead kid wrote The Sledding Hill for him.
One of the issues in the book is banned books. A lot of Crutcher’s books have been banned in many libraries and so Crutcher decides to write a book about a book being banned. He keeps talking about another book called Warren Peece. He talks all about the book such as that the main character is gay, a minor character gets an abortion, and he also says there’s a lot of rude language in the book.
The town that the main character, Eddie, lives in is separated into super Christians or losers and nobodies. These people don’t know how to connect with each other and so it goes into a feud over a book. I mean seriously who cares? This story is so boring. I don’t care that some town is debating over a book to ban. In my opinion it’s your freedom to read whatever you want. You shouldn’t be told what to read and not to read. If a book is banned it makes you want to read the book more than before. I don’t understand why some adults, mostly parents, want their kids not to read some stuff, even though it’s out there in the real world. Yah some stuff is too mature for younger kids, but if you’re in high school and you reading about abuse, drug use, or offensive language then that’s exactly what is happening in school so I don’t understand why it wouldn’t be ok to read. Adults don’t know what it’s like to be in high school these days. They think suck is the most profane word we use. Ha-ha yah right. If some of our parents or adult figures were teens again they wouldn’t last one day without being beat-up. I think some adults have forgotten what it’s like to be a teen and if they don’t then they would know that teenagers like freedom and also adults can’t just take away books they feel are “inappropriate” because teens have a right to know what’s out there.
In The Sledding Hill Chris Crutcher decides to insert himself into the book. One of his other books is being banned in a super uptight Christian community. The main character writes to Crutcher and asks him to maybe write something so he can read it during the council. Chris Crutcher even shows up to the town council meeting.
I think this is really stupid. Who puts a ton of stuff about themselves, has one of their books in another one of their books, and shows up in the book? It’s so annoying to think that the author thinks that he needs to include himself into the book. Crutcher evens says that a dead kid wrote The Sledding Hill for him.
One of the issues in the book is banned books. A lot of Crutcher’s books have been banned in many libraries and so Crutcher decides to write a book about a book being banned. He keeps talking about another book called Warren Peece. He talks all about the book such as that the main character is gay, a minor character gets an abortion, and he also says there’s a lot of rude language in the book.
The town that the main character, Eddie, lives in is separated into super Christians or losers and nobodies. These people don’t know how to connect with each other and so it goes into a feud over a book. I mean seriously who cares? This story is so boring. I don’t care that some town is debating over a book to ban. In my opinion it’s your freedom to read whatever you want. You shouldn’t be told what to read and not to read. If a book is banned it makes you want to read the book more than before. I don’t understand why some adults, mostly parents, want their kids not to read some stuff, even though it’s out there in the real world. Yah some stuff is too mature for younger kids, but if you’re in high school and you reading about abuse, drug use, or offensive language then that’s exactly what is happening in school so I don’t understand why it wouldn’t be ok to read. Adults don’t know what it’s like to be in high school these days. They think suck is the most profane word we use. Ha-ha yah right. If some of our parents or adult figures were teens again they wouldn’t last one day without being beat-up. I think some adults have forgotten what it’s like to be a teen and if they don’t then they would know that teenagers like freedom and also adults can’t just take away books they feel are “inappropriate” because teens have a right to know what’s out there.
Work Cited
Work Cited.
"Banned Books in the United States." Alder and Robinson Books. Online. Internet. 16 Jan. 2008. Available: http://www.adlerbooks.com/banned.html
"Challenged Banned Books." American Library Association. Online. Internet. 16 Jan. 2008. Available: http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/bannedbooksweek/challengedbanned/challengedbanned.htm
Crutcher, Cris. The Sledding Hill. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2005.
"Intellectual Freedom? Yes! Censorship? No!" Florida Institute of Technology. Online. Internet. 16 Jan. 2008. Available: http://www.lib.fit.edu/pubs/librarydisplays/bannedbooks/website.htm
"Top 10 Banned Books of the 20th Century." Alternative Reel. Online. Internet. 16 Jan. 2008. Available: http://alternativereel.com/includes/top-ten/display_review.php?id=00002
"Banned Books in the United States." Alder and Robinson Books. Online. Internet. 16 Jan. 2008. Available: http://www.adlerbooks.com/banned.html
"Challenged Banned Books." American Library Association. Online. Internet. 16 Jan. 2008. Available: http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/bannedbooksweek/challengedbanned/challengedbanned.htm
Crutcher, Cris. The Sledding Hill. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2005.
"Intellectual Freedom? Yes! Censorship? No!" Florida Institute of Technology. Online. Internet. 16 Jan. 2008. Available: http://www.lib.fit.edu/pubs/librarydisplays/bannedbooks/website.htm
"Top 10 Banned Books of the 20th Century." Alternative Reel. Online. Internet. 16 Jan. 2008. Available: http://alternativereel.com/includes/top-ten/display_review.php?id=00002
Issue
I don't think so!!
In The Sledding Hill there are many issues presented, but the most apparent one is the topic of banned books. In this book the book that is being banned is called Warren Peece. Warren Peece contains strong language and some mature content.
In researching the topic of banned books here are some of the things I found out: I found out that the top reasons why books are banned because they are sexually explicit, contain offensive language, and/or are unsuited to age group. The people that mostly try and ban books are parents, but other people may try to ban a book because of a belief such as something that doesn’t belong to their religion. Also, seventy-one percent of challenged books are in school or school libraries. Between the years of 1990 and 2000 there were 6,364 challenges reported to or recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom. About one-fourth of those challenges were for containing sexually explicit material. Judy Blume, Robert Cormier, Chris Crutcher, Robie Harris, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Toni Morrison, J. D. Salinger, Lois Lowry, Marilyn Reynolds, and Sonya Sones were the most frequently challenged authors of 2005.
Here is a list of the most challenged books in 2006 and the reasons why:
“And Tango Makes Three” by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, for homosexuality, anti-family, and unsuited to age group;
“Gossip Girls” series by Cecily Von Ziegesar for homosexuality, sexual content, drugs, unsuited to age group, and offensive language;
“Alice” series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor for sexual content and offensive language;
“The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things” by Carolyn Mackler for sexual content, anti-family, offensive language, and unsuited to age group;
“The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison for sexual content, offensive language, and unsuited to age group;
“Scary Stories” series by Alvin Schwartz for occult/Satanism, unsuited to age group, violence, and insensitivity;
“Athletic Shorts” by Chris Crutcher for homosexuality and offensive language;
“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky for homosexuality, sexually explicit, offensive language, and unsuited to age group;
“Beloved” by Toni Morrison for offensive language, sexual content, and unsuited to age group; and
“The Chocolate War” by Robert Cormier for sexual content, offensive language, and violence.
Most people feel that they need to ban the books because they don’t want their kids exposed to some things, but really how much can you protect your kids? They’re going to have to go out into the real world sometime. Isn’t it better to expose them when they’re minds are open to all sorts of ideas like race and sexuality, then late when you’ve already tried to drill their brains with your own opinions? Everybody should have the opportunity of being able to have their own believes and their own opinions, not your’s. Most parents that want to ban books normally haven’t even picked up the book or even seen it. So next time you want to ban a book so that your kids aren’t “exposed” to that type of thing try and read the book, who knows maybe it’ll surprise you and actually be a good book!
In The Sledding Hill there are many issues presented, but the most apparent one is the topic of banned books. In this book the book that is being banned is called Warren Peece. Warren Peece contains strong language and some mature content.
In researching the topic of banned books here are some of the things I found out: I found out that the top reasons why books are banned because they are sexually explicit, contain offensive language, and/or are unsuited to age group. The people that mostly try and ban books are parents, but other people may try to ban a book because of a belief such as something that doesn’t belong to their religion. Also, seventy-one percent of challenged books are in school or school libraries. Between the years of 1990 and 2000 there were 6,364 challenges reported to or recorded by the Office for Intellectual Freedom. About one-fourth of those challenges were for containing sexually explicit material. Judy Blume, Robert Cormier, Chris Crutcher, Robie Harris, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Toni Morrison, J. D. Salinger, Lois Lowry, Marilyn Reynolds, and Sonya Sones were the most frequently challenged authors of 2005.
Here is a list of the most challenged books in 2006 and the reasons why:
“And Tango Makes Three” by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, for homosexuality, anti-family, and unsuited to age group;
“Gossip Girls” series by Cecily Von Ziegesar for homosexuality, sexual content, drugs, unsuited to age group, and offensive language;
“Alice” series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor for sexual content and offensive language;
“The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things” by Carolyn Mackler for sexual content, anti-family, offensive language, and unsuited to age group;
“The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison for sexual content, offensive language, and unsuited to age group;
“Scary Stories” series by Alvin Schwartz for occult/Satanism, unsuited to age group, violence, and insensitivity;
“Athletic Shorts” by Chris Crutcher for homosexuality and offensive language;
“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky for homosexuality, sexually explicit, offensive language, and unsuited to age group;
“Beloved” by Toni Morrison for offensive language, sexual content, and unsuited to age group; and
“The Chocolate War” by Robert Cormier for sexual content, offensive language, and violence.
Most people feel that they need to ban the books because they don’t want their kids exposed to some things, but really how much can you protect your kids? They’re going to have to go out into the real world sometime. Isn’t it better to expose them when they’re minds are open to all sorts of ideas like race and sexuality, then late when you’ve already tried to drill their brains with your own opinions? Everybody should have the opportunity of being able to have their own believes and their own opinions, not your’s. Most parents that want to ban books normally haven’t even picked up the book or even seen it. So next time you want to ban a book so that your kids aren’t “exposed” to that type of thing try and read the book, who knows maybe it’ll surprise you and actually be a good book!
Evaluation of the Novel
Eval...
I thought the book was ok. It wasn’t that interesting, but I had to read it. If I didn’t have to read it probably wouldn’t have even picked it up from the shelf because the cover is really boring, the title is boring, and the summary on the back of the book doesn’t make the book sound that interesting. Now that I’ve read it I wish I could have told myself to just finish the book as fast as possible because then it would have been over.
I still can’t get over the fact that Crutcher talks about himself in the book and that he advertises for another one of his books in The Sledding Hill. He has a chapter called, “Something About The Author.” He does talk about himself not that flattering, but still it’s annoying to read about an author who inserts himself into his book. Seriously, what kind of an author does that? When you read about stuff like that what does that make you think of the author? To me it makes me think that he’s really self-centered and then why would I want to read any of his other books because they’ll probably be the same. Also, he keeps talking about his other book, Warren Peece. At first it was ok to hear about the book, but after hearing about for the millionth time that the main character is gay, a minor character gets an abortion, and that there’s a large number of swearing in book it got irritating. Now that I basically know everything about that book it makes me want to read less than if I had just randomly picked it up from the shelf.
The book had me interested in the first chapter when Billy was talking about him and Eddie. I liked reading about that and I liked the suspension when the sheetrock fell on Billy. After I read that I thought that Billy was going to be in the hospital and be fighting for his life. I thought that Eddie was going to be trying to get on without Billy while he was in a coma or something like that and in the end I thought that Billy was going to get better. Instead though, Billy dies right after the first chapter and after that I really didn’t want to read what was going to happen. I didn’t like how Billy talked to Eddie in his dreams at a sledding hill. I wish that Billy could have just shown himself to Eddie when he wanted to. In the end too I didn’t like how Montana just goes ahead and tells her whole community that she cuts herself and is also bulimic. I don’t think that any kid, to matter how outcast they are, would tell their whole community. It just bothered me how that probably wouldn’t have happened. I don’t know that for sure, but from my experience it just wasn’t that believable.
Ok, this wasn’t the worst book I’ve read, but I wouldn’t say it’s anywhere near the top of my favorites list. I would just like to say that you shouldn’t waste your time reading this unless you have to for school.
Six+1 Traits of Writing:
Best Trait=Individual Voice: "'What's he [Crutcher] like? I mean what would he think about all this?'
'He'd love it. It happens a lot, and even though he's an old guy, he's kind of arrested in his tennage years. Likes a good fight. He was a lot like you in school; had a hard time paying attention and was in trouble a lot for opening his mouth without raising his hand or thinking. He isn't as smart as you are, and not as spiritual. He could never connect to me like this, but he could connect to you. Takes him forever to write a book because every thought leads to a whole bunch of other thoughts that have nothing to do with the story he's telling. But he finally gets them out there,'" (Crutcher, 157-158).
As you can see Crutcher is talking about himself so you can see the personal voice. In this book you can read about his views about many topics and you can tell that he writes what he feels and what his opinions are.
Worst Trait=Presentation: I don't think Crutcher did a great job with his presentation. I didn't really like the cover of the book. What's the point of the sledding hill? They only meet on the sledding hill once. I don't think the picture is very interesting, it's really boring. The title at least goes with the picture, but still they both don't really make sense.
I thought the book was ok. It wasn’t that interesting, but I had to read it. If I didn’t have to read it probably wouldn’t have even picked it up from the shelf because the cover is really boring, the title is boring, and the summary on the back of the book doesn’t make the book sound that interesting. Now that I’ve read it I wish I could have told myself to just finish the book as fast as possible because then it would have been over.
I still can’t get over the fact that Crutcher talks about himself in the book and that he advertises for another one of his books in The Sledding Hill. He has a chapter called, “Something About The Author.” He does talk about himself not that flattering, but still it’s annoying to read about an author who inserts himself into his book. Seriously, what kind of an author does that? When you read about stuff like that what does that make you think of the author? To me it makes me think that he’s really self-centered and then why would I want to read any of his other books because they’ll probably be the same. Also, he keeps talking about his other book, Warren Peece. At first it was ok to hear about the book, but after hearing about for the millionth time that the main character is gay, a minor character gets an abortion, and that there’s a large number of swearing in book it got irritating. Now that I basically know everything about that book it makes me want to read less than if I had just randomly picked it up from the shelf.
The book had me interested in the first chapter when Billy was talking about him and Eddie. I liked reading about that and I liked the suspension when the sheetrock fell on Billy. After I read that I thought that Billy was going to be in the hospital and be fighting for his life. I thought that Eddie was going to be trying to get on without Billy while he was in a coma or something like that and in the end I thought that Billy was going to get better. Instead though, Billy dies right after the first chapter and after that I really didn’t want to read what was going to happen. I didn’t like how Billy talked to Eddie in his dreams at a sledding hill. I wish that Billy could have just shown himself to Eddie when he wanted to. In the end too I didn’t like how Montana just goes ahead and tells her whole community that she cuts herself and is also bulimic. I don’t think that any kid, to matter how outcast they are, would tell their whole community. It just bothered me how that probably wouldn’t have happened. I don’t know that for sure, but from my experience it just wasn’t that believable.
Ok, this wasn’t the worst book I’ve read, but I wouldn’t say it’s anywhere near the top of my favorites list. I would just like to say that you shouldn’t waste your time reading this unless you have to for school.
Six+1 Traits of Writing:
Best Trait=Individual Voice: "'What's he [Crutcher] like? I mean what would he think about all this?'
'He'd love it. It happens a lot, and even though he's an old guy, he's kind of arrested in his tennage years. Likes a good fight. He was a lot like you in school; had a hard time paying attention and was in trouble a lot for opening his mouth without raising his hand or thinking. He isn't as smart as you are, and not as spiritual. He could never connect to me like this, but he could connect to you. Takes him forever to write a book because every thought leads to a whole bunch of other thoughts that have nothing to do with the story he's telling. But he finally gets them out there,'" (Crutcher, 157-158).
As you can see Crutcher is talking about himself so you can see the personal voice. In this book you can read about his views about many topics and you can tell that he writes what he feels and what his opinions are.
Worst Trait=Presentation: I don't think Crutcher did a great job with his presentation. I didn't really like the cover of the book. What's the point of the sledding hill? They only meet on the sledding hill once. I don't think the picture is very interesting, it's really boring. The title at least goes with the picture, but still they both don't really make sense.
Backround Information
In the summer??
In The Sledding Hill Eddie and Billy are the best of friends. They have been since they were little kids. Eddie’s dad died in an accident dealing with a tire blowing up. Next month Billy kicks over a stack of sheetrock and it falls on him and Billy dies. Billy ends up becoming a ghost and stays around just so he can help Eddie get through his dad dying and his best friend dying just one month apart. Eddie now has to deal with his basically only friend not being there in school and his dad not being there to give him advice. He has to also deal with a really mean teacher, who is also a preacher, at school who doesn’t allow any of Eddie’s random thoughts in class. Eddie has a class where you have to read a book that has some mature content in it. Some kids and adults don’t think that book should be allowed in school, so they want to ban it. Eddie is a kid who is reading the book and he really enjoys it. It makes him feel as though there are other people who have problems in life just like him, so he doesn’t feel as alone. Eddie sees Billy in a dream and figures out that he’s a ghost and is going to be there for Eddie as long as he needs him. Also, Eddie has to get baptized even though he doesn’t want to, but he decides that he needs to be where the enemy is. Eddie becomes friends with Billy’s dad and they talk a lot about how to get through life and all the problems they have. Eddie is pretending to be for banning the book, even though he’s not. Eddie decided that when it’s time to make his big speech about why they should ban the book that he will talk about how they shouldn’t ban it. He gets help from Billy’s dad and even Chris Crutcher himself. He has to over come many struggles, in himself and in his community.
The setting of the novel in The Sledding Hill is a small town in Idaho called Bear Creek. It takes place in present day.
Eddie is a kid that has so much going on in his head that he can’t focus on just one thing. He has really interesting thoughts and opinions about everything. Eddie is a smaller guy who is really only good at running, mostly because he’s not big enough to be a football player so he had to pick another sport. When he runs he can concentrate on one thing, so he always runs so he can clear his mind and focus on one thing. He really liked to run with Billy, because he knew that Billy was always listening to what he had to say. Throughout the book Eddie realizes that he can do anything he sets out to do and also that he actually can make a difference.
Billy is a dead kid who decides to stay with Eddie until Eddie doesn’t need him anymore. Billy helps Eddie through all of his troubles and problems. Billy is really smart because he can get any information from any living person in a matter of a couple seconds. He also can see what people are doing and thinking, so basically he’s an all knowing being. He’s the one he writes The Sledding Hill for Crutcher and he tells the reader that at the end of the book. In the end of the book Billy goes towards the light.
In The Sledding Hill Eddie and Billy are the best of friends. They have been since they were little kids. Eddie’s dad died in an accident dealing with a tire blowing up. Next month Billy kicks over a stack of sheetrock and it falls on him and Billy dies. Billy ends up becoming a ghost and stays around just so he can help Eddie get through his dad dying and his best friend dying just one month apart. Eddie now has to deal with his basically only friend not being there in school and his dad not being there to give him advice. He has to also deal with a really mean teacher, who is also a preacher, at school who doesn’t allow any of Eddie’s random thoughts in class. Eddie has a class where you have to read a book that has some mature content in it. Some kids and adults don’t think that book should be allowed in school, so they want to ban it. Eddie is a kid who is reading the book and he really enjoys it. It makes him feel as though there are other people who have problems in life just like him, so he doesn’t feel as alone. Eddie sees Billy in a dream and figures out that he’s a ghost and is going to be there for Eddie as long as he needs him. Also, Eddie has to get baptized even though he doesn’t want to, but he decides that he needs to be where the enemy is. Eddie becomes friends with Billy’s dad and they talk a lot about how to get through life and all the problems they have. Eddie is pretending to be for banning the book, even though he’s not. Eddie decided that when it’s time to make his big speech about why they should ban the book that he will talk about how they shouldn’t ban it. He gets help from Billy’s dad and even Chris Crutcher himself. He has to over come many struggles, in himself and in his community.
The setting of the novel in The Sledding Hill is a small town in Idaho called Bear Creek. It takes place in present day.
Eddie is a kid that has so much going on in his head that he can’t focus on just one thing. He has really interesting thoughts and opinions about everything. Eddie is a smaller guy who is really only good at running, mostly because he’s not big enough to be a football player so he had to pick another sport. When he runs he can concentrate on one thing, so he always runs so he can clear his mind and focus on one thing. He really liked to run with Billy, because he knew that Billy was always listening to what he had to say. Throughout the book Eddie realizes that he can do anything he sets out to do and also that he actually can make a difference.
Billy is a dead kid who decides to stay with Eddie until Eddie doesn’t need him anymore. Billy helps Eddie through all of his troubles and problems. Billy is really smart because he can get any information from any living person in a matter of a couple seconds. He also can see what people are doing and thinking, so basically he’s an all knowing being. He’s the one he writes The Sledding Hill for Crutcher and he tells the reader that at the end of the book. In the end of the book Billy goes towards the light.
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