S.Yung, Deadline

Steven Yung

Smith

Deadline

Crutcher, Chris. Deadline

Harper Collins: 2007.

Heart

Own collection

Teenage life, sports

316 pg.

What would you do if you were told you only had one year to live? That’s how it is for Ben Wolf. It’s his senior year in high school and the only thing he wants is to be normal, no medicine no treatment. The problem is, is that he doesn’t want people to know, but it’ll have a harder impact if his death is sudden. With all of this in mind, Ben tries to fulfill his dreams on the football field and with his long time crush. But does he have enough time? Or will his secret eventually catch up to him?

Ben Wolf is the main character in the book. He has a terminal blood illness, and denies treatment because he wants to be normal. His brother Cody is his best friend, and the teams quarterback. Their mom has many anxiety attacks and isn’t a factor in their life because she’s always in her room. Unfortunately for their father he has to take care of her all the time, and many times lacks the father figure that the boys need. Because of that, the football coach is always there for Ben whenever he needs to talk. His long time crush, Dallas Suzuki finally starts talking to Ben and they become something special, but Dallas has many secrets that Ben doesn’t know. Sooner Cowans is Cody and Ben’s friend that also plays football. He’s tough, and one of the best players on the team. His father is abusive and Sooner’s personality is a rub off of that. Rudy McCoy is an old drunk that no one notices except Ben, and he has a very secret life Ben discovers. Ben loves to argue with Mr. Lambeer his current events and social studies teacher. He tries to be as ignorant and annoying as possible. The last of the main characters is Hey-Soos, Ben’s spiritual guide. Ben talks to Hey-Soos on many nights and just talks about things that he’s confused with.

Ben lives in a very small city called Trout, Idaho. This is important because in such a small city, news travels fast, and everyone knows everyone, and everything.

I loved this book; I definitely recommend it to everyone. Chris Crutcher uses the vocabulary of a high school student and sometimes it’s bad but it makes the book seem real. I liked the way he built up the ending, because I was never bored and something was always happening. It’s actually an easy read and one of the best books I’ve ever read. I wasn’t going to read it because it’s over 300 pages but it get’s you hooked and is easy to read. If you’ve got a big heart, and like football, then you’ll love the book Deadline.