Author(s): Chris Crutcher

Children & Young Adult

When eighteen year old Ben discovers that he has a fatal disease, he decides to make the most of his last year - go out for the football team, land his dream girl, fight against racism in his small town - and tell no one of his condition. But his resolution soon begins to crumble when he realizes that his girlfriend, Dallas, expects him to be around for a lot more of her life than just this year - and sheÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs got some serious baggage heÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂd be leaving her with. He also knows that when his super-athlete brother, Cody, discovers Ben was dying and didnÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂt tell him, Cody will be one pissed quarterback.
Living with a secret isn't easy.
In the end, Ben learns what he already knows: that his friends and teammates can walk to the door of death with him, but he has to step through it alone.