Deadline by Chris Crutcher was suggested to me as a Panthers’ Top Choice Read by Sacoya Brown. Many of you may have read other books by Chris Crutcher such as “Whale Talk” or his short story collection, “Athletic Shorts.” Regardless, this Panthers’ Top Choice will definitely give you something to think about.
Deadline’s main character Ben Wolf has big plans for his senior year of high school. That is, he had big plans until he finds out in the results of a routine sports physical that he has only one year to live. The decisions he makes after hearing this news and how he does live his senior year makes for a thought provoking, intriguing and interesting story.
This is a book that can make you think about, look at and even inspire how you perhaps want to live your own life.
If you want to join the Panthers’ Top Choice Book Club, do these three things:
- Read Deadline by Chris Crutcher. Check it out at the PHS Media Center, buy the book or borrow it from a friend, but READ IT!
- Reflect on how Ben Wolf lived his senior year and what he learned from it. Also, consider how his decisions affected not only him, but his family, friends (characters in the novel) as well.
- Pick a character from the novel and write a paper from their perspective explaining how Ben Wolf’s last year affected you and what you learned from him and how you (as the character you chose) would make changes in living the rest of your life. For example, you might choose to write from the perspective of Sooner Cowans, Cody, Dallas, his parents or Coach. Whomever you choose, your paper would be written as though you were that character telling what you learned from Ben Wolf’s last year and how what you learned would alter your life from this day forward.
The deadline for this DEADLINE assignment is Thursday, January 15, 2009 so you have plenty of time. Turn your perspective paper in to the Media Center by that date. Your paper will guarantee you an invitation to the book club luncheon and book discussion the following week. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask one of your friendly Media Specialists, Mrs. Ducote or Mrs. Purcell. Check it out and read.
