Fall 2007
HarperCollins/Greenwillow
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Praise for DEADLINE
Kansas City Star's TOP 100 Books of 2007
"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 .... The message at the core of Crutcher’s latest—“Life’s short. Do what you love.”—is delivered inside an entertaining, thought-provoking tearjerker. "
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review
"Crutcher revisits many of his familiar themes—death, child molestation, censorship and sports—but does so in the context of a startlingly heartrending plot that manages to be simultaneously wise, thought-provoking, occasionally maddening and frequently very, very funny. Ben’s intelligence, zeal and sarcastic humor not only win him friends and help him cope with his diagnosis; they also make for an engaging narrative that balances wit with pathos." —NORAH PIEHL
From Bookpage
"This is no-holds-barred Crutcher at his best. As a counselor, he knows about the struggles that all people must deal with in their lives and how to survive with them. While the premise of the year-deadline alone would be enough to make for an emotional novel, each of the supporting characters and their demons add power to every page. "
From TeenReads.com
"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...,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
From School Library Journal
"... as usual, Crutcher writes vivid sports action scenes, and teens' interest will be held by the story's dramatic premise, Ben's unlikely turn as a football hero, love scenes with Dallas (including some mildly explicit sex), and Ben's high-gear pursuit of life's biggest questions. "
From Booklist
"DEADLINE is glorious. Funny, spiritual, honest, and profound--there's some adjectives for you. Thank you, thank you for this major contribution to YA literature."
~Patty Campbell, author, YA literature expert, editor at Scarecrow Press, children's book reviewer for the New York Times.
"DEADLINE is absorbing, moving, hysterically funny, and food for thought and debate. In other words, all we have come to expect from Crutcher. He pulls no punches; neither do his characters. One thing you can count on here: the truth will be told, at least the truth as all concerned see it. What is THE truth? That, of course, is up to the reader."
~ Dr. Teri Lesesne, author, educator and literacy expert
" I think DEADLINE is my favorite Crutcher novel yet. He has an amazing talent for taking the most complex ideas and distilling them to their truest forms. He never comes off as preachy. He references Bill Bryson, whom I think he was channeling along with Christopher Moore. His irreverence and wit are immensely enjoyable...The writing in this novel has somehow surpassed his other works. This story is so tight, it works beautifully. The relationships depicted flawed, yet eloquent. It is all the details that make this novel so moving and so real. Ultimately it is a story about living in the moment, savoring the truth and accepting what comes with the utmost bravery."
~ Ofilia Barrera
Children's Services Assistant
Harrington Public Library
"DEADLINE has everything I love in a Chris Crutcher book -- laugh-out-loud wit, a hero with gumption and attitude, and a couple good swift hits in the gut."
~ Sarah Miller, author of Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller
"I cried at the end. I laughed out loud during many parts as well. I love Ben Wolf. I love the relationship between Ben and Cody. I loved Hey-Soos and the philosophical discussions. Loved the scenes with Lambeer -- reminded me that the best teachers don't tell kids what to think, but inspire them to think for themselves."
~ Donna Lewis, Senior Public Services Librarian/Children's
Plano Public Library System
"This book covers a lot of ground. We have football, life and death, honesty, child abuse, censorship, bigotry, etc. But it doesn’t get bogged down in all these issues. Crutcher manages to make Ben’s decision to live life as though he has nothing to lose exactly the decision you would make...a worthy read."
~Propernoun.net
"One of the things I love most about this book is Ben and Cody's relationships. It's strong and heartfelt. Without each other these two young men would be completely different people. I love how Cody puts it. 'Together we make one good man.' "
~ Kristin Lade, Young Adult Librarian
West Bend Community Memorial Library
"This is classic Crutcher, where characters are so much more than words on the page. They, like us, have their own secrets, their private personas, and public selves, and very little is ever straightforward or easy. Fans of Chris’ Whale Talk and the whole idea of “whale talk” as a metaphor for truth, will find plenty to love in Deadline."
~ Thrushmetal Blog, July 2007
"...how do you lie to your friends, and to your parents, and to your brother Cody, and to the gorgeous Dallas Suzuki? The short answer? You don't. But it takes Ben almost a year to figure out that truth. And what a year it is."
~ YAARC Blogspot, July 2007
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 Ben Wolf goes in for a routine physical at the beginning of his senior year. He walks out with a year to live and some big decisions to make:
I walked away understanding I have a rare form of whatever the hell it is and without treatment my chances sucked, but with it they still sucked and somehow I knew my chances aren't about living, they're about living well. I wouldn't recommend this for anyone else, but I'm not going out bald and puking. I don't have anything to teach anyone about life, and I'm not brave, but I'd rather be a flash than a slowly cooling ember, so I'll eat healthy food, take supplements, sleep good, and take what the universe gives me.
And I'm turning out for football.
Not only does he decide to forgo treatment -- he decides that he wants his last year to be as normal as possible. So he doesn't tell anyone. His parents, his brother, his coach -- no one.
He sets out to do a lifetime's worth of living in a year. He wants to learn as much as he can, understand as much as he can, get up the nerve to talk to Dallas Suzuki and, yes, go out for football.
Oh, hell. I'm getting all choked up again.
In non-weepy news, Chris Crutcher has left the No Swearing Realm of The Sledding Hill behind.
Crutcher fans will recognize a lot of the themes and issues from previous books (child abuse, racism, our education system, censorship), and they'll recognize some character types (the Coach/Mentor, the Tough Sporty Girl, the Kid Who Regurgitates Everything Her Father Says), but A) just because it's been explored doesn't mean there's nothing left to say, and B) for me, those themes and character types are part of the appeal. I like what Chris Crutcher has to say, and I like how he says it.
I'm getting off-track. Sorry. I get like this when I'm weepy.
Really, more than any of the other stuff I rattled off up there, Deadline is about truth-with-a-capital-T.
And there you have it.
Hijacked from BOOKSHELVES OF DOOM
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Ben Wolf goes in for a routine physical at the beginning of his senior year. He walks out with a year to live and some big decisions to make:
