High School Lineman
In the heart of Kansas, Bear Houston is a powerhouse on the football field, a star athlete in a town that values tradition above all else. But beneath his imposing exterior lies a secret that has shaped every step of his high school journey… he is gay. As he navigates the pressures of senior year, Bear finds himself torn between the safety of conformity and the courage to embrace his true identity. When he meets Kyle Wilson, a confident and unapologetic transfer student, everything begins to change. Amid the roar of Friday night lights, whispered conversations in empty hallways, and the bittersweet promise of graduation, Bear discovers that being true to himself comes at a cost, but it also opens the door to a future filled with love, hope, and the freedom to live on his own terms.
About
B. Mac
B. Mac is a queer writer who spent much of his life in rural America, navigating the quiet complexities of small-town life while carrying a truth he couldn’t yet share. Now living openly, he writes stories that reflect both the struggles and the quiet victories of being different in a world that doesn’t always make space for it.Â
Drawing from lived experience, the author blends personal insight with fiction to explore the interior lives of queer youth growing up in places where silence often speaks louder than words. His work captures the tenderness, resilience, and transformative power of choosing authenticity, especially when the world insists on conformity.
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Testimonial
Words From Our Happy Readers.
It's gonna be hard to talk about this book without giving spoilers so I'm going to try to be as vague as possible. This is...Read More
Bryce Lee
I really liked it since I grew up in a small town in Louisiana, and now I live in Colorado Springs (wasn't expecting a random...Read More
Nate
Captivating and Relatable
It’s gonna be hard to talk about this book without giving spoilers so I’m going to try to be as vague as possible. This is the kind of YA lit that was missing when I was growing up. These characters felt both fresh and familiar. I feel like a lot of readers will identify with the character of Bear. I like the high school setting. The football scenes were done well and as someone who doesn’t enjoy the game, it was easy to follow along. With that said, everyone should read this story! Even though it takes place in the 90s, the story of Bear feels evergreen.
Bryce Lee
Awesome Book
I really liked it since I grew up in a small town in Louisiana, and now I live in Colorado Springs (wasn’t expecting a random mention of this place in your book!). I lived and experienced a lot of the same emotions and confrontations that you mentioned. Great story. I read the whole thing in 3 days. Couldn’t stop once I started.