Deadline

Deadline

By: Chris Crutcher

Crutcher, C. (2007). Deadline. New York: Greenwillow Books.

Summary and Response:

Deadline is a novel that will make you cry from beginning to end. It will change your perspective on life and question your actions from the day you begin reading this story. Ben Wolf is beginning his senior year of high school and has big plans. The one thing he did not plan on was during a routine physical discovering he has a terminal illness that will end his life before the school year is over. Ben makes a difficult decision not to tell his family or friends. As the school year begins and gets under way, Ben starts making changes in how he lives and views his last moments. He speaks his mind, plays football, and goes after the hottest girl in school, Dallas Suzuki. Ben does finally tell his family and friends and suffers through some heartbreaks, mainly Dallas being extremely upset at him for not telling her in the beginning. Ben does die before the end of the novel and you are left with that feeling of emptiness. Ben has definitely made me question if I am doing everything I could be with my moments here. This novel would best suit from 15 on up. It would be a great discussion starter for having students analyze their own life and life decisions.