Although, with the exception of Athletic Shorts, Crutcher has used new characters and settings in each of his young adult books, all of them are closely related, both in theme and content. Like Stotan! Crutcher's other works often present brash, yet sensitive and introspective young athletes who are forced to confront tragic events. In Crutcher's books, athletics are often used as a sort of therapy to help young adults confront extraordinary problems. Like Stotan! Crutcher's first novel, Running Loose, also involves a boy who confronts the death of a friend, in this case his girlfriend. Willie Weaver of The Crazy Horse Electric Game, a former high school baseball star, faces the loss of his athletic abilities and is forced to question why he has been singled out to become the victim of an accident. Dillon Hemingway, an aspiring triathlete, tries to cope with his brother's suicide...