Deadline (Crutcher novel)

Deadline is a 2007, young adult novel by young adult writer Chris Crutcher. The story follows 18-year-old Ben Wolf who has been diagnosed with a rare, incurable blood disease. Instead of receiving treatment Ben decides to pack a lifetime of living in one year. Ben Wolf has big things planned for his senior year. Had big things planned. Now what he has is some very bad news and only one year left to make his mark on the world.

First, Ben makes sure that no one else knows what is going on—not his superstar quarterback brother, Cody, not his parents, not his coach, no one. Next, he decides to become the best 123-pound football player Trout High has ever seen; to give his close-minded civics teacher a daily migraine; and to help the local drunk clean up his act.

And then there's Dallas Suzuki. Amazingly perfect, fascinating Dallas Suzuki, who may or may not give Ben the time of day. Really, she's first on the list. Living with a secret isn't easy, though, and Ben's resolve begins to crumble . . . especially when he realizes that he isn't the only person in Trout with secrets.

Plot

18 year old Ben wolf is diagnosed by his doctor with a rare terminal blood disease. (the actual disease is never outlined in the book). Ben's doctor only gives him about a year to live. Rather than seek treatment, Ben decides to give it his all his last year in high school. He blackmails his doctor and screws his psychiatrist Marla into not telling anyone about his disease. Ben decides to go out for football this year rather than doing cross country. His brother Cody Wolf is on the team and is one of the star players.