Chinese Handcuffs: A Novel

Bibliographic Information: Crutcher, C. (1989). Chinese Handcuffs. New York, NY: HarperCollins Children's Books. ISBN: 0060598395

Plot Summary: Dillon Hemingway and Jennifer Lawless are the two main characters of Chinese Handcuffs. Dillon is coping with the suicide of his older brother, Preston. To cope with his grief, Dillon trains intensely for the Ironman triathlon. Preston committed suicide after becoming a cripple due to a motorcycle crash. Preston also became involved in drugs and and a rough motorcycle gang. Dillon has always had feelings for Stacy Ryder, Preston's girlfriend, and towards the end of the novel it is revealed that Stacy had a son with Preston.

Jennifer Lawless is a high school basketball star. She was sexually molested by her father when she was young. Jennifer's stepfather, T.B., starts sexually abusing Jennifer, but she finds herself powerless to do anything. T.B. threatens Jennifer that if she tells about the abuse he will kill her dog, sister and mother. T.B. is a horrible and violent man, but a powerful and influential attorney. Dillon and Jennifer are friends. Dillon starts having romantic thoughts about Jennifer but because of her life of sexual abuse she has conflicting feelings about romantic relationships. Jennifer finally confides in Dillon about her stepfather. Dillon figures out a way to blackmail T.B. into leaving by videotaping T.B. molesting Jennifer. T.B. eventually gets arrested in Florida.


Critical Evaluation: Not for the faint hearted, Chinese Handcuffs, is a deeply moving novel. When reading this novel I was thinking how horrible it must be growing up fearful of being abused whether it be physical, emotional or sexual. Chinese Handcuffs is very graphic but excellent book, especially for young adults who may be suffering from the loss of a loved one or who have known friends or have been abused. The novel sheds light on the horrific consequences of risky behavior, for example, Preston's abuse of drugs and hanging out with the wrong crowd. Chinese Handcuffs has received numerous awards including an ALA Best Book for Young Adults Award, which is well deserved. It is difficult putting this novel down. It is fast paced, interesting and sad all at the same time. The characters in the novel brilliantly overcome huge obstacles.

Annotation: Dillon Hemingway is a high school athlete dealing with his older brother's suicide. Jennifer Lawless is the star of the girls basketball team who is dealing with a lifetime of sexual abuse.

About the Author: Chris Crutcher was born in 1946 in Dayton, Ohio. He has written many young adult novels and he also is a therapy consultant. Chris earned his BA in psychology and sociology from Eastern Washington State College. Many of Crutcher's novels deal with teenage athletes who have personal problems.

Because of the controversial nature of many of Chris Crutcher's novels they have been frequently challenged or banned. On Mr. Crutcher's website (http://chriscrutcher.com/) it is very apparent that he is an ardent supporter and advocate of freedom of speech. His novels, Running Loose and Athletic Shorts: Six Short Stories were on the 1990-2000 ALA's most frequently challenged books. Crutcher's writing "is noted for its wit and humor, and as a result of his propensity towards ribaldry (i.e. bawdy humor), is often considered to be the truest replication of adolescent thought patterns produced by someone over the age of 20." (http://en.wikipedia.org/siki/Chris_Crutcher).

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Sexual Abuse, Suicide

Curriculum Ties: Mental Health

Book Talking Ideas: What happens to a teenage girl when she has suffered years of sexual abuse, first by her real father and then by her stepfather? How does Dillon deal with the suicide of his older brother, Preston?

Reading Level and Interest Age: 16 and older (appropriate of the more mature teen).

Challenge Issues: Violence, drugs, sexual abuse, language.

Reason for Inclusion: Chris Crutcher, through his writing style, does a phenomenal job at getting into the heads of teenagers and relating to teens on their level. His writing deals with "controversial" subjects, but these subjects (abuse, drugs, disabilities...) are relevant to teens.