Plank’s Law
by Lesley Choyce
Orca Book Publishers, 2017
ISBN 9781459812499 (sc)
$14.95, 192 pp., ages 12+
orcabook.com
All his life, Trevor has been aware that he is going to die, and it is all because of an awful incurable disease. Trevor just does not know when, that is until his 16th birthday. Trevor’s doctors tell him he has about a year left to live. The news of dying would upset most people, but to Trevor, it is liberating. Since he does not have long, Trevor decides to do everything he has ever wanted to do. His list includes: 1. Get drunk 2. Get stoned 3. Drive fast cars 4. Get arrested 5. Have a real girlfriend. This may seem like a short list, but a year is a short amount of time. Trevor sets out to complete his list with his new motto “live life” and his newfound meaning for life. In the story, Trevor manages to drive a fast car that his friend, Antonio, buys for him. He gets drunk with his friend Plank and finds a girlfriend, Sara, who is dying of cancer.
My favourite part of the book was when Trevor first met Plank, a bitter old man, at the beach. The two of them enter a suicide pact and Plank helps Trevor to appreciate life and live it to the maximum. My favourite character is Antonio because he enjoyed having fun in unique ways. Although his family was always moving around, he made the most out of the time he had in whichever city he was living. Antonio also dropped everything for Trevor when he found out Trevor was dying, which is a very honourable thing to do. This is a great book for anyone who is afraid to live life to the most. LIFE IS SHORT, ENJOY IT!
Review by Connor, age 15, grade 11.
This review is from Canadian Teacher Magazine’s Winter 2019 issue.
