WHEN THE MEN
WERE GONE
Football is the heartbeat of Brownwood, Texas. Every Friday night for as long as assistant principal Tylene Wilson can remember, the entire town has gathered in the stands, cheering their boys on. Each September brings with it the hope of a good season and a sense of unity and optimism.
Now, the war has changed everything. Most of the Brownwood men over eighteen and under forty-five are off fighting, and in a small town the possibilities are limited. Could this mean a season without football? But no one counted on Tylene, who learned the game at her daddy’s knee. She knows more about it than most men, so she does the unthinkable, convincing the school to let her take on the job of coach.
Faced with extreme opposition by the press, the community, rival coaches, and referees — and even the players themselves — Tylene remains resolute. And when her boys rally around her, she leads the team — and the town — to a Friday night and a subsequent season they will never forget.
Based on a true story, When the Men Were Gone is a powerful and vibrant novel of perseverance and personal courage.
“A beautiful story that stays in your heart long after you finish reading.” – Jodi Thomas, New York Times bestselling author
“Based on a true story that most people probably don’t know, readers will find plenty to love in Herrera Lewis’ debut.” — Kirkus Review
A few songs that capture the mood of When the Men Were Gone
by Marjorie Herrera Lewis
“In the Mood” by Glenn Miller
“Soldiers Last Letter” by Ernest Tubb
“Walking the Floor Over You” by Ernest Tubb
“Accentuate the Positive” by The Andrews Sisters
Listen to the Playlist on Spotify (free account required)
“Every road in Texas leads to a football field.”
When the Men Were Gone by Marjorie Herrera Lewis is not your typical story about Texas high school football. Tylene Wilson is the high school assistant principal at Brownwood High and lover of all things football since the age of 5. The ending moments of this amazing novel are as unconventional and as unexpected as the overall story.
As a debut novel, Marjorie Herrera Lewis has done a wonderful job of presenting such a fabulous historical fiction based on the true story of a woman who saved the 1944 football season at Brownwood High School when all the men were either gone or unable to coach. Even today, this story might turn some heads, but in 1944, the opposition to having a lady coach football was tougher than a brick wall.
It takes courage to stand up and go against tradition and against expectations, but sometimes courage isn’t enough. Courage can be fleeting when the hostility becomes relentless and even threatening. Tylene has courage in spades, but she also has gumption, fortitude, and determination. And when faced by taunts, hate, and bullish resistance, she digs down deep and digs in her high heels.
What makes Tylene remain strong when so many men cannot fathom that a woman could even understand football let alone coach it? What gives her so much of that courage, gumption, fortitude, and determination to get past the heckling and limited support? You see, Tylene doesn’t step up to coach high school football in Brownwood, Texas, during the 1944 season just to buck the system and prove she is as good as any man. She does it for those boys who face heading off to war right after graduation, and she wants the seniors to have that last season of football rather than opting for early enlistment.
The story moves quickly and without too much extraneous subplots that detract from the topic at hand. While When the Men Were Gone is a Texas high school football story, it is ultimately a story about how people honor those who are lost or damaged because of war, illness, depression, and injury. This story is about having the bravery and audacity to do the right thing, especially when it is difficult and overwhelming.
When the reasons for staying strong are bigger than yourself, anything is possible, and no matter what happens, both defeat and success start from within. Tylene Wilson is a heroine not because she defiantly steps onto that gridiron and into the standard male role of football coach. She is a heroine because she steadfastly does what has to be done, all in a dress, high heels, and pearls and with an undeniable love for the game and for those boys.
Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a signed copy of When the Men Were Gone by Marjorie Herrera Lewis.
Marjorie Herrera Lewis is an award-winning sportswriter, named the first female Dallas Cowboys beat writer when she was with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She later joined the SportsDay staff of The Dallas Morning News, where she continued to cover the NFL and professional tennis. She is currently a contributing sportswriter for PressBoxDFW.com.
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| 6/19/19 | Review | That’s What She’s Reading |
| 6/19/19 | Review | Sydney Young, Stories |
| 6/20/19 | Excerpt | Texas Book Lover |
| 6/21/19 | Author Interview | Chapter Break Book Blog |
| 6/21/19 | Excerpt | Momma on the Rocks |
| 6/22/19 | Review | All the Ups and Downs |
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| 6/25/19 | Guest Post | Missus Gonzo |
| 6/26/19 | Review | The Clueless Gent |
| 6/27/19 | Review | Story Schmoozing Book Reviews |
Wasn’t Tylene amazing? Like you, I loved that her motivation was all for the kids, no matter the personal cost. Great review.