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Deadline Library Binding – January 1, 2007
- Print length320 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherHarperteen
- Publication dateJanuary 1, 2007
- Grade level9 - 12
- Reading age14 years and up
- Dimensions6 x 1 x 8.5 inches
- ISBN-109780060850906
- ISBN-13978-0060850906
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Product details
- ASIN : 0060850906
- Publisher : Harperteen; Uncorrected Page Proof edition (January 1, 2007)
- Language : English
- Library Binding : 320 pages
- ISBN-10 : 9780060850906
- ISBN-13 : 978-0060850906
- Reading age : 14 years and up
- Grade level : 9 - 12
- Item Weight : 1 pounds
- Dimensions : 6 x 1 x 8.5 inches
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Chris Crutcher grew up in Cascade, Idaho, and now lives in Spokane, Washington. He is the critically acclaimed author of six novels and a collection of short stories for teenagers, all chosen as ALA Best Books. In 2000, he was awarded the American Library Association's Margaret A. Edwards Award, honoring his lifetime contribution in writing for teens. Drawing on his experience as an athlete, teacher, family therapist, and child protection specialist, he unflinchingly writes about real and often-ignored issues that face teenagers today.
Customer reviews
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But the second half made up for it. Several powerful events snag you to start thinking about some pretty big issues, like the power and importance of the truth, survival after abuse, how sometimes bad people can't really help that they are bad--and we can forgive them... I could have given this four stars, the average of the 3 and 5, but the second half really overrode the 3.
I'm a high school English teacher, and I love YA literature. I think this would be a great book for many boys because there is a lot of football, especially in the first third, to get them hooked. It's so hard to find books for boys, so I'm happy to have another one to recommend enthusiastically.
Note: There are a few pretty hard hitting themes in this book (i.e. sexual assault, death and suicide, etc.). This would be a good one to discuss as a student reads.
The story has great promise and provides lots of food for thought. There's plenty of foul language, which is pretty typical of teenagers, but the casual attitude toward sex annoyed me. I appreciate the lack of explicit details, but I would think if you knew you were dying, you'd have more important things on your mind than whether or not you can get laid.
I can picture a sanitized version of this providing an excellent classroom discussion, but can't really recommend it in its present state. I think Mr. Crutcher could have made his same points, probably made them more strongly, had he toned it down a bit.
There are too many issues tackled in addition to dying at 18: cover-up of Catholic priest child abuse, alcoholism, bipolar disorder, incest, a second child abuse, bullying, medical confidentiality, and the Vietnam war. The issue Ben chooses to tackle is racism. The author assumes that everyone in an all white town in Idaho is a bigot and that Malcolm X (who died almost 50 years ago in 1965)is the most relevant black figure to expose this bigotry. I found the premise that everyone was prejudiced against people of color (Native Americans, African Americans, but apparently not Asian Americans) objectionable.
The book uses very dated references. No current issues like the two Gulf Wars, Afghanistan, terrorism,and LGBT rights are included. I live in New York, but I don't think Idaho is 50 years behind the rest of the US.