Choice - Deadline by Chris Crutcher

Deadline is the story of Ben Wolf and the choice he makes for his life as he races towards the end of it. Ben is entering his senior year of high school when he learns that he has a terminal disease and will likely die before the school year ends if he forgoes treatment. After weighing his options, Ben decides to take matters into his own hands, face his mortality alone, and enjoy the last few months of his life. Crutcher takes us on a journey of strength, courage, humor, teen drama, high school drama, acceptance, and mortality.

As we follow Ben on his journey, together we learn that keeping secret is tough, telling is even tougher, and it really isn't all that simple to go through life as if nothing is wrong. Crutcher brings his trademark, humor, teen angst, sports, and great story to the table in this book. He manages to tell a coming-of-age story that ends in death with a dose of humor and light touch. That's not to say that Deadline is all fluff and no substance. This book could really reach some kids. Kids with parents that are out of the loop, due to work issues, health issues, kids that have lost friends or family, kids that are harboring secrets, and kids that simply do not or cannot see the "ripples" created by their actions. Hopefully, as people, especially teens, read this book they begin to realize the fragility of life, and think about the reality of the "Nothing bad will/can happen to me" attitude so typical of teens.

I really enjoyed this book, as it made me laugh and cry. Ben is such a brave character who wants to do the right thing, protect those he loves, and go out with a bang, and on his terms. I think Deadline will appeal to boys and girls, jocks, the brainy kids, drama kids, really anyone. I feel that due to the intense subject matter, it would be most appropriate for high school students, but the reading level is pretty low, so even reluctant readers would be okay. I thought it was a pretty quick easy read, but really packs quite a wallop. This would be a great springboard book for a variety of conversations. Advanced classes, debate, and psychology classes could talk about the ethics behind Ben's decision to not even tell his parents his medical issues for much of the book, literature classes could use it as a starter for writing a variety of essays. Take a look at Chris Crutcher's website, educator section, for some really nice reading guides for several of his books, including deadline.

For a hook I would consider a couple of things:

1) Crutcher is a an author that has been routinely criticized for being too controversial, addressing topics that are too controversial, or tough for kids, and has had several titles challenged, including Deadline. This alone, as several blogger have noted, generates such great interest. Taking advantage of this during Banned Books Week, or any other time, is a no brainer. This fact alone will bring readers! Kind of makes me think of, "If you build it, they will come." How about, "If it's challenged, kids will read it!"? :-)

2) I found this book talk on You Tube: Deadline Book Talk. No need to reinvent the wheel and I think this will certainly spark some interest.

3) I would read the following passage and see what the students think might be coming.

Early August

My plan was to focus my senior year on information I could use after graduation when I set out for Planet Earth from the Pluto that is Trout, Idaho, population 943. My SATs said I wasn't even close to brain-dead and I was set to be accepted at any college I chose, as long as I chose one that would accept me. A lot of guys use their senior year to coast; catch up on partying and reward themselves for making it this far. Not me. This was my year to read everything I could get my hands on, to speak up, push myself and my teachers to get the true hot poop on the World At Large, so I could hit the ground running. How big a pain in the ass do you think that would make me in Mr. Lambeer's U.S. government/current events class, where Lambeer regularly alters reality with the zeal of an evangelical senator?

I also intended to shock the elite by etching my name atop the winner's board at the state cross-country meet, then come home to take Dallas Suzuki by surprise. Dallas Suzuki may sound to you like a car dealership in Texas, but for the past three years, she has been the single prey in the crosshairs of my Cupid's bow, and she doesn't know it because she is way, way out of my league.

Mr. Ambitious.

Then, about two weeks after my eighteenth birthday, a month and a half before beginning my final year at Trout High, I discovered I'll be lucky to be there at the finish. A warning like that usually comes from the school office, to be ignored until the third notice, but this was from The Office Above The Office and was to be attended to immediately.