Running Loose

Running Loose (1983) is Chris Crutcher’s debut young adult novel. It follows high school senior Louie Banks, a member of the football team in his small town who navigates the typical challenges of adolescence. His life takes a dramatic turn when, during a football game, Louie faces a racist incident, resulting in his expulsion from the team. This event sets off a chain reaction, forcing Louie to confront deeper personal and community issues that ultimately lead to personal growth.

Running Loose has been praised for exploring significant young adult themes and presenting them with a captivating and humorous narrative style. It offers an authentic depiction of the high school experience in rural America. Its inclusion of mild sexual content and explicit language has led to its placement on the American Library Association’s list of the top 100 most frequently challenged books of the 1990s.

Other works by this author include Chinese Handcuffs, The Sledding Hill, and Staying Fat For Sarah Byrnes.

This guide is based on the e-book edition of Running Loose by Greenwillow Books.

Content Warning: The novel deals with racism and death.