In "The Meat Grinder," a short story from the anthology *Guys Read: The Sports Pages* by Chris Crutcher, readers are taken into the world of high school sports and the intense pressure that comes with competition. The protagonist navigates the challenges of football, facing not only physical opponents on the field but also the emotional struggles off it. Themes of teamwork, perseverance, and self-discovery unfold as the character grapples with expectations from coaches, peers, and himself. Through vivid storytelling and relatable experiences, Crutcher captures the essence of adolescence and the transformative power of sports. [Generated by language model - please report any problems].

This book is part of a book series called Guys Read .

This book is aimed at children at US 3rd grade-7th grade.

This book has been graded for interest at 8-12 years.

There are 50 pages in this book. This book was published in 2012 by Walden Pond Press .

Chris Crutcher has written nine critically acclaimed novels, an autobiography, and two collections of short stories. Drawing on his experience as a family therapist and child protection specialist, Crutcher writes honestly about real issues facing teenagers today: making it through school, competing in sports, handling rejection and failure, and dealing with parents. He has won three lifetime achievement awards for the body of his work: the Margaret A. Edwards Award, the ALAN Award, and the NCTE National Intellectual Freedom Award. Chris Crutcher lives in Spokane, Washington.