Julian Jackson has a short to-do list for his senior year at Crenshaw County High School in Meridien, Texas: football, football, and more football. He knows he’s only got one chance to earn a college scholarship and make it out of his small town, and keeping his head down, his grades up, and his cleats on the field is that one chance. And then Elijah Vance walks back into his life, throwing all of his carefully laid plans into a tailspin.
Elijah and Julian used to be best friends, maybe even on their way to something more than just friends. But three years ago, Elijah broke into the school to steal money from the coach's office, and Julian was the one who turned him in. After that, Elijah and his family disappeared without a trace. And now he’s back, sitting at Julian’s grandmother’s kitchen table. But time and distance haven’t erased all of their feelings, and Elijah knows that he finally has a chance to prove to Julian that he’s not the same person he was three years ago. But with so many secrets in the way, learning to trust each other again may be harder than they thought. Has something ever happened that ruined the plans you thought you had? You may have become confused and angry, and you didn’t know what to do. The main character in Sidelined, Julian, feels the same way when his best friend returns to town after three years without ever saying goodbye the first time. What seemed like a perfect plan to leave town after graduating high school doesn’t seem so perfect after all. Readers are first introduced to the town where this book takes place by visualizing the area thanks to the in-depth descriptions the author provides. The characters are quickly introduced, and the conflicts and history between them provide details into their relationship and allows the readers to connect with the characters on a deeper level. When Julian and Elijah figure out that the spark is still there and that they need to rely on each other, both on and off the field, their relationship will be put to the test when they learn about history that will affect them all. Sidelined was an amazing book that anyone can relate to (especially a high schooler)! This romance, sports and LGBTQ+ novel is a perfect example of why friends are the greatest thing you can have, and how life is an adventure. The author’s literary work will have you turning the page as fast as you can, (because I sure did) and rooting for the characters. Julian and Elijah will connect with everyone and find a place in your heart. Bronwyn M., EO Blogger
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AuthorsBlog authors are students at EO Smith High School in Storrs, CT Archives
December 2022
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