Deadline

Starred review from July 16, 2007
Ben Wolf, 18, goes in for a routine sports physical before his senior year and learns he has an aggressive form of leukemia and a year to live. In order to enjoy the rest of this witty and wise novel, readers will have to suspend disbelief at this point, because Ben decides to do nothing. (“I wouldn’t recommend this for anyone else, but I’m not going out bald and puking.”) He also chooses not to tell anyone and threatens legal action if his doctor breaches patient confidentiality. Readers will be treated to the thrilling last year of Ben’s life, in which the 123-pounder ditches track for football so he can play alongside his brother, Cody, the team’s star quarterback. Crutcher’s oeuvre is full of plot-heavy novels; the issues crammed into this one include alcoholism, child molestation, absent/abusive parents, bigotry, teenage motherhood and depression. But the narrative never drowns in a sea of woe. With the help of Hey-Soos, a laidback confidant who appears in Ben’s dreams, he parses the dilemmas his secret produces. Ben succeeds both on the gridiron and with the comely Dallas Suzuki. (“Submit this story to an editor and it’s returned as too much fantasy even for fantasy,” he says after she asks him to Homecoming.) Ben’s voice often sounds distinctly like the author’s, but here’s predicting readers will not care one whit. The message at the core of Crutcher’s latest—“Life’s short. Do what you love.”—is delivered inside an entertaining, thought-provoking tearjerker. Ages 14-up.

September 1, 2007
Gr 9 Up-After being diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia, 18-year-old Ben Wolf elects to forgo treatment and keep his illness secret from his family and friends in an attempt to have a "normal" senior year at his small Idaho high school. Free from long-term consequences, he connects with his crush, frustrates his biased U.S. Government teacher, and tries out for football. However, Ben's illness slowly exacts its toll on him, and he begins to realize the consequences of keeping his condition hidden. Crutcher brings his signature blend of sports action and human emotion to this powerful novel. Emotionally spare but deeply touching, the relationship between Ben and his brother will resonate with many readers, while others may find the several strong father figures comforting. Secondary characters add humor and balance, though the government teacher's voice occasionally veers too far toward that of a right-wing pundit. Rudy McCoy, a former priest and child molester, evokes both compassion and revulsion through his confession of guilt and struggle to avoid hurting another child; reflecting Ben's secret-keeping behavior, McCoy serves as a foil for the destructive impact secrets can have. Some discussion of sexual molestation and child abuse is present in the text, but is not graphic or overwhelming in its depiction. Crutcher uses dark humor and self-deprecation effectively to avoid maudlin situations, and teens will appreciate the respectful tone of the work."Chris Shoemaker, New York Public Library"

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2007
Just before his senior year, Ben Wolf is diagnosed with a rare, incurable leukemia. At 18, he has the legal right to keep the news to himself until hes ready to reveal it. With only his doctor and therapist in on his secret, Ben sets out to live an entire lifetime in a year: There are insects that pack it all into a day, he reasons. His goals are to join his brother on the football team; learn everything he can; and ask out gorgeous Dallas Suzuki. Crutcher fits far too much into this ambitious novel, which includes subplots about incest, pedophilia, manic depression, and intellectual freedom, as well as a Jesus-like character who appears in visions. And readers may feel distanced from Ben, whose first-person voice and reactions never quite feel authentic. But, as usual, Crutcher writes vivid sports action scenes, and teens interest will be held by the storys dramatic premise, Bens unlikely turn as a football hero, love scenes with Dallas (including some mildly explicit sex), and Bens high-gear pursuit of lifes biggest questions.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)

September 1, 2007
After learning that he has a terminal disease and, at most, a year to live, eighteen-year-old Ben Wolf decides to keep the information to himself and to forgo all treatment, thinking that "my chances aren't about living, they're about living well." He changes sports from cross-country to football (now coached by Louie Banks, from Crutcher's Running Loose [rev. 8/83]) and becomes aggressive -- and successful -- in pursuing the smart and sexy Dallas Suzuki. He wants to "maximize his education" and becomes an autodidact, challenging what he sees as the meaningless drivel taught in high school. That Ben's social awareness parallels many of Crutcher's previous themes (freedom of speech, individual choice, free expression) will come as no surprise, but Ben's nothing-to-lose perspective allows both him and Crutcher to raise the stakes. As the year progresses, Ben realizes that his decision is more complicated than he first knew: by not revealing his secret, he's also lying to family and friends. Ben particularly worries about his younger brother, fellow football-player Cody. Can he survive without Ben, or will Ben's death allow him to stand on his own? Multiple subplots -- the most notable involving a guilty ex-priest -- don't always add to the story and can inch over the top. But Crutcher's latest is for the most part an exhilarating read that will make readers wonder about the meaning and worth of their own lives.

(Copyright 2007 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2008
After learning he has one year to live, eighteen-year-old Ben Wolf decides to keep the information to himself. He becomes an autodidact, challenging the meaningless drivel taught in high school. Ben gradually realizes his decisions are more complicated than he first knew. Crutcher's latest is an exhilarating read that will make readers wonder about their own lives' meanings.

(Copyright 2008 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)