When Football Dreams Collide With War: The Lasting Power of Run for Your Life
There is something timeless about Friday night football in the American South. The lights glow against a dark sky. The band plays. Parents lean forward in the stands. For a few hours, the world feels simple. Victory and defeat are measured in yards and seconds. Young men believe the future is wide open. Bruce Modzelewski’s novel Run for Your Life begins in that world. It feels familiar and hopeful. But what makes this story unforgettable is not just the thrill of the game. It is what happens when history interrupts youth and forces two young athletes to grow up far too quickly. Set in the segregated South of the 1960s, the novel follows Will Andersen and Braxton “B.T.” Thomas. They come from different backgrounds, different neighborhoods, and different family histories. Yet both are driven by talent, ambition, and a powerful desire to rise beyond their circumstances. Will Andersen is known for his speed. Running is his gift and his refuge. At home, life is complicated. His...