Deadline by Chris Crutcher (336 pgs)

G: Another entertaining book by Chris Crutcher, one of my favorite young adult authors. I have read many, but not all of his books, and so far they all connect to sports, troubled teens with both male and female leading characters, relationships and emotional angst, positive turn around, and adults who are good and some not so good. Give this a try - it is short, heartbreaking and positive. Can a book be all of that? With Chris Crutcher directing - yes it can. 

Amazon: 

How can a pint-sized, smart-ass eighteen-year-old make his mark on the world from Nowheresville, Idaho—especially when he only has one year left to do it? When Ben Wolf learns his senior year of high school will be his last year, period, he is determined to go out in a blaze of glory.

That means not letting anyone know about his diagnosis. It means trying out for the football team. It means giving his close-minded civics teacher a daily migraine. It means going for the amazingly perfect, fascinating Dallas Suzuki.

But living with a secret isn't easy . . . What will Ben do when he realizes he isn't the only person who's keeping one?