Book of the Week: Deadline

Ben Wolf, star cross country runner, had plans for his senior year until the day he went to the doctor’s office for a routine physical.  That summer day Ben finds out that he has leukemia and, at most, only a year to live.  Not wanting to be sick and weak for the rest of his remaining days, Ben decides to forgo his treatments and keep his illness a secret from everyone--including his star quarterback, twin brother Cody.  To make the most of his time on Earth--without any long term consequences--Ben decides to ask out his long-legged crush, Dallas Suzuki; try out for the football team; learn as much as he can; and help out the town drunk.  Ben's year is going great until his illness catches up to him, and he realizes the effects of keeping secrets.

Chris Crutcher carefully weaves many themes such as death, racism, abuse, and sports into this wonderfully touching story.  You may think that a book about these heavy themes may be pretty depressing, but it is the exact opposite.  I found myself laughing more that I did crying.  Despite the one mild sex scene and one account of sexual abuse, this fast-paced humorous book is one that most high school students and adults will thoroughly enjoy.