Deadline

This book made me remember why I love Chris Crutcher's novels so much.

Ben is about to start his senior year in high school, and he has some big plans to get himself ready for college and to have a great cross-country season. Everything changes when he sees his doctor for his annual physical.

Ben has a disease that will kill him. It will likely kill him within a year, although he might have a little more time with treatment. Ben decides he will not have any treatment and, furthermore, he will not tell anyone about this disease. He doesn't want to have any of the hassle he associates with being the kid who is dying.

With only a year left to do everything he's ever dreamed, Ben starts by scrapping cross-country and going out for the football team, instead. His younger brother is a superstar but the fear of acquiring a life-long injury has kept Ben from playing. No more! He pursues the most beautiful girl he knows, and is surprised when she is so quick to let him into her life. He makes a nuisance of himself in classes, free from the worry of not graduating.

As Ben attempts to live his dreams, though, he comes to realize that not telling those he loves about his illness is eating away at him. But now that he's kept the secret for so long, how can he come clean?

This was a great story, with fascinating characters. Both the heroes and villains are well rounded, and Ben's struggle over whether to tell the truth is heartbreaking.

This is Chris Crutcher at his most brilliant - and that's really saying something. Told in Ben Wolf's voice, Deadline is honest and real, both heartwarming and heartbreaking.

DEADLINE's Ben Wolf knows he is dying. An aggressive blood disease will kill him within the year if he isn't treated. With treatment, he might extend his life some. Ben chooses to refuse treatment. He also chooses to keep his condition a secret from everyone except his doctor and the therapist his doctor forces him to see. He throws himself into his last year of life. He finally tries out for football. He pursues the girl he's in lust with. He tries to sober up the town drunk. He acts up in class because what does it matter if he doesn't graduate?

Crutcher, as usual, doesn't fear including issues in his story. There's sexual and physical child abuse, alcoholism, and bigotry. At some points these issues threaten to overshadow Ben's story, but Crutcher keeps them under control.

The diminutive Ben feels fear. He feels sad and he doesn't want to die. Every time his brother or girlfriend talks to him about the future he feels guilty for his lies. But, at the same time, he's a happy narrator. He's doing things he loves and making the most of his final year. He does not regret choosing not to fight the illness with drugs nor does he regret the relationships he makes. (He should regret some of his jokes.)

I don't regret reading DEADLINE. I cried at the end, yes. Ben dies. There is no miracle cure. But I thoroughly enjoyed spending time in his head, watching him do some things so right while still making large mistakes. I cried, but I felt happy. Ben worked hard to make sure the people he affected most would be able to handle his death. He made a choice at the beginning of the novel and defended it to the death. I respect him for that. I will also continue to read Crutcher faithfully, no matter how many of his books get banned.

Excerpted from In Bed With Books

This is the first Chris Crutcher book that I have read, at least I cannot remember another at this time. I am confident that I will read more of his books. He is an exciting and captivating writer. I find it very interesting that he writes in the first person of his main character, but then adds this interesting dialogue with a spiritual character. There is great depth in the dialogues and interactions between characters. The book moved me.

This book would be appealing to oler adolescents. I would package it as follows: Have you ever wondered what you would do if you were told you had a limited time to live? This novel introduces one way that a person may choose to live a limited time. The characters are believable and come alive in this well written novel. I think you will enjoy this book.

The book was really good. At times it can get slightly boring and slow, but Crutcher always brings things back up to pace again.
It's written very, very well, and the ending wraps it up nicely. Few parts are predictable, having many surprises throughout.
I would definitely recommend it.