Synopses & Reviews
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.
How can a pint-sized, smart-ass seventeen-year-old do anything significant in the nowheresville of Trout, Idaho?
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 127-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.
Review
"[An] exhilarating read that will make readers wonder about the meaning and worth of their own lives." Horn Book Magazine
Review
"Crutcher uses dark humor and self-deprecation effectively to avoid maudlin situations, and teens will appreciate the respectful tone of the work." School Library Journal
Review
"Crutcher writes vivid sports action scenes, and teens interest will be held by the story's dramatic premise, Bens 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." Booklist
Review
"Whether facing physical limitations, making a stand, or telling the truth, Ben is a teen hero for whom readers cannot help but cheer. What a pleasure it is to revisit a familiar setting." VOYA
Review
"Many characters, from athletes to incest survivors, are merely variations from the author's past works....Ben, like the book itself, is likable enough, but ultimately forgettable." Kirkus Reviews
About the Author
Chris Crutcher is the popular author of six other young adult novels and a collection of short stories, all of which were selected as ALA Best Books for Young Adults. He is the winner of two lifetime achievement awards: the Margaret A. Edwards Award for Outstanding Literature for Young Adults and the ALAN Award for Significant Contribution to Adolescent Literature.