Ian Sanford
Crutcher, Chris. Deadline
Harper Collins: 2007.
Heart
Borrowed
Teenage life, sports
316 pg.
One certainty in life is that we all die, but it most cases we aren’t given a time table of how long we have to live. Ben Wolf a high school senior from the small town of Trout has a terminal blood illness and was told that this was his last year to live. Bens life has been somewhat of a failure to him and there are several things he wants to pursue before he is gone forever.
Ben doesn’t want to tell anyone about his terminal illness because he wants people to view him for who he is and not alter his pursuit. In his time left Ben is changed by several people and learns some of life’s most valuable lessons. Cody, Ben’s brother is a quarterback on the varsity team and also his best friend. Cody helps Ben with football and his girl problems. Bens friend and teammate Sooner Cowan teaches Ben a lesson through his actions, witch resemble his (sooners) abusive father. Through the football team and coaches Ben learns about hard work, toughness in the hardest of situations and unity. Atop of high-school and football there is Dallas Suzuki, Bens crush. With nothing to lose Ben approaches Dallas and before long they are serious about each other. Ben realizes that he could have been with her all along if he would have just tried. Outside of school Ben is taught valuable lessons from a drunk named Rudy and a friend named Hey-soos. Rudy teaches Ben lessons about failure and shares secretes to Ben. Hey-soos helps Ben deal with the religious aspect of life.
This book was a good read that I would recommend to people who enjoy sports and need motivation. Steve was right in that the book is captivating and an easy read. The lessons taught by Crutcher are valuable to all ages. After reading this I’ve come to the conclusion that life’s short, so do what you love.