Crash is a love story of sorts, just not a romantic one. Instead, it's a portrait of platonic friendship. Crash has two close friends over the course of the novel. The first is Mike, with whom he has a lot in common. The second is Penn, who's about as different as he can be.
At first, Crash is drawn to what he knows. Over time, though, he realizes that maybe Mike is actually a nightmare person. Crash asks himself some hard questions about what a friend should or shouldn't be—and becomes a better person in the process.
Questions About Friendship
- What is the greatest act of friendship in the book? Explain your answer.
- Compare and contrast Crash's two friends, Penn and Mike.
- What lesson does Crash learn about friendship?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
From the first time they met, Crash secretly liked Penn. It just takes him a long time to admit it.
Crash didn't like Penn at all when they met. Penn grows on him very slowly over time.