Angry Management

Chris Crutcher fills these three stories with raw emotion. They are about insecurity, anger, and prejudice. But they are also about love, freedom, and power. About surviving. And hope.

Every kid in this group wants to fly. Every kid in this group has too much ballast.

Mr. Nak's Angry Management group is a place for misfits. A place for stories. And, man, does this crew have stories.

There's Angus Bethune and Sarah Byrnes, who can hide from everyone but each other. Together, they will embark on a road trip full of haunting endings and glimmering beginnings.

And Montana West, who doesn't step down from a challenge. Not even when the challenge comes from her adoptive dad, who's leading the school board to censor the article she wrote for the school paper.

And straightlaced Matt Miller, who had never been friends with outspoken genius Marcus James. Until one tragic week—a week they'd do anything to change—brings them closer than Matt could have ever imagined.

What happens when surviving isn’t enough?

• Surviving Abuse: Sarah Byrnes is finally confronting her past, but a road trip with Angus Bethune uncovers a truth more painful than her scars.
• Bullying and Prejudice: When a racist prank targets Marcus James, straight-laced Matt Miller must choose between staying silent and standing up for a kid he barely knows.
• Fighting for Free Speech: Montana West takes on the school board and her own adoptive father in a battle to publish the truth, no matter the cost.
• Emotional and Raw Storytelling: Experience the signature honesty and power of Chris Crutcher as he tackles tough topics with hope and heart.

Welcome to Angry Management

It’s a place for misfits. For stories that will rip out your heart and give you back one better than what you started with. Stories about prejudice, rage, and hope. About surviving it all and showing the world that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

In three novellas, Chris Crutcher brings together some of his most unforgettable characters—among them Sarah Byrnes, Angus Bethune, and Montana West—to bare their souls. No sugarcoating here. Just the truth.

“Well written, action packed, engrossing, and at times humorous . . . [Angry Management] is vintage Crutcher.” - Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

“Crutcher fanatics rejoice! . . . Teens comfortable with Crutcher’s black-and-white take on controversial issues will delight in these stories, and with his best book cover yet, this may draw new fans to the fold.” - ALA Booklist