In Marjorie Herrera Lewis’s debut historical novel the inspiring true story of high school teacher Tylene Wilson—a woman who surprises everyone as she breaks with tradition to become the first high school football coach in Texas—comes to life.
“A wonderfully touching and beautiful story…Tylene makes me laugh, cry, and cheer for her in ways I have not done in a long time.”—Diane Les Bocquets, bestselling author of Breaking Wild
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 18 and under 45 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.
In 1944, Tylene Wilson became “a lady coach” for the Brownwood High School football team. She did it so that the season wouldn’t be canceled and so that the seniors wouldn’t go off to war earlier than necessary. She did it to preserve some sense of their youth, and to give the town something to take their minds off of the war, even if only for 3 hours every Friday night. It wasn’t easy and most didn’t want her to coach. But she did. This is her story. 4
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.
There was something about the synopsis of When the Men Were Gone by Marjorie Herrera Lewis that really reeled me in. Perhaps it’s because this story takes place in Brownwood, Texas which is a place I’ve visited and loved. Perhaps it was because it was based on a true story and about a woman rising up to a challenge to take on a man’s role back in the day when things like that were unheard of. Either way, I must say that I really enjoyed this book.
Tylene Wilson loves football. In fact, football is all she’s ever really known since she was a very little girl thanks to her father. When both male football coaches for the high school she works at go off to war in the Autumn of 1944, she desperately tries to find another male coach to take the job. If she doesn’t, the Brownwood Lions football season will be over before it even began, and all the senior boys will more than likely end up enlisted fighting in World War II. After struggling to find a suitable coach, Tylene decides to coach the football team herself. When word gets out that a woman will be coaching a football team, people in and around Brownwood let it be known that they are very opposed to the idea. Even Tylene’s close friends snub their nose at the idea. People try to get the Brownood Lions’ football season cancelled, but Tylene will not let that happen if she can help it. Will Tylene be able to convince everyone that a woman can coach football just as good as a man?
I found the plot for When the Men Were Gone to be solid. As I’ve stated previously, this book is based on a true story. I had never heard of Tylene Wilson until I read Marjorie Herrera Lewis’ book. I found it extremely interesting to have a glimpse into what Tylene Wilson may have had to go through. Lewis does a fantastic job at imagining what Tylene’s life was like and what life in the small town of Brownwood would have been like around 1944. I could not find any fault with the story telling. In fact, I felt like I was transported into the book and was amidst all the action watching the story unfold. I will admit that I did not understand most of the football jargon though, but that didn’t really take too much away from the story. As with most historical fiction novels, there were no major plot twists, but all my questions were answered. There was not cliffhanger ending.
I enjoyed the character of Tylene. Lewis did an amazing job at making me feel as if I knew Tylene. At times, I felt like I was Tylene. I could feel how stressed she was at times and how much her students and football meant to her. Tylene was such a strong female character. I just loved her and her determination! Moose was another character I loved. I admired his loyalty even though he was aware of the backlash. Jimmy was another interesting character to read about. I was intrigued to read about his struggles to play football for a “lady coach.” On one hand, he admired Tylene and knew that she knew her stuff when it came to football. On the other hand, he was still a teenage boy open to peer pressure living in a time when woman were doing the traditional roles.
The pacing for When the Men Were Gone starts out a bit slow. There were a bunch of character names thrown out in the first few chapters which left me feeling confused about who was who. However, I quickly caught on, and the pacing picked up decently.
Trigger warnings for When the Men Were Gone include sexism, bigotry, misogyny, drunkenness, and some war violence.
All in all, When the Men Were Gone is a short read that packs a huge punch! Based on a true story, this novel has a fantastically strong female lead and plenty of drama that will definitely keep its reader hooked. I would definitely recommend When the Men Were Gone by Marjorie Herrera Lewis to those aged 15+ who enjoy football and love a story with a very strong female lead.
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(A special thank you to the Marjorie Herrera Lewis for providing me with a paperback of When the Men Were Gone in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.)
As someone not immediately drawn to stories featuring sports, the synopsis drew me in with its hints at Tylene’s tenacity and the sacrifices of a small town during a world conflict. Ultimately, this timeless story is about so much more than football with its heartfelt and inspiring message of perseverance in the face of extreme adversity.
“There’s something special about Texas football. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve looked at a Texas sunset only to see a goalpost cut through the yellow and red splashed across the sky. Can’t say that I figured I’d coach it someday, but I promise you boys, I’ll give you all I’ve got.”
Tylene’s character was brought to life in such powerful way that spoke volumes on how much ahead of her time she truly was, exhibiting the heroic qualities of bravery, strength, vulnerability, and selflessness. Sharing a love of football with a town whose identity is deeply rooted in the game, Tylene is devastated by the possibility that the season may be cancelled because there isn’t an able-bodied man available to assume the coaching position. Tylene volunteers to become the leader the boys need; however, the community’s obsession isn’t strong enough to rally behind the idea of a female coach no matter how capable, dedicated, and qualified she may be. Her commitment to the town as a lifelong citizen, the respect she has garnered through her life’s work as an educational professional, as well as her love of the game is not enough to shield her from the divisiveness and outrage that arises even as she attempts to shield the boys from the unfortunate fate of war, something that everyone in Brownwood has become all too familiar with. This spirited account of one woman’s determination to see the boys play football is a captivating way of connecting personal loss with the grave losses felt within the community. You don’t have to know anything about football to appreciate the story’s ability to make connections across themes on family, history, and legacy.
“You have to do things when you have the chance, Jimmy, and not everyone gets a chance. When you do, you can’t throw it away. You just can’t.”
At a little over 200 pages, this book packs an incredible punch for such a small package! The author’s journalism background shines, cutting through the filler and making each word count. The straightforward and simplistic prose deftly expresses exactly what the reader needs to know, making this an excellent selection for a one sitting read or sharing with those reluctant readers of any age in our lives.
Sports have a way of bringing us all together to bridge social dynamics in ways that create lasting impressions, and this book is a profound exploration of this ideal. This slice of life moment is emotionally compelling and riveting from its sentimental opening through its gripping conclusion. Tylene sets a powerful and graceful example of what it takes to combat prejudice and sexism to shatter those glass ceilings, and we all benefit greatly when stories like hers are recognized.
Many thanks to the author and Lone Star Book Blog Tours for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and thoughtful review.
In Texas, football is a big deal and watch out for the die-hard fans! This biographical novel is based on the life of Tylene Wilson, an educator that took on the duties of coaching the football team when there was no one else to do it because the men had either been drafted or volunteered to fight in WWII. If someone didn’t step forward to coach the boys, they might as well enlist in the military right then and miss out on the rest of their childhood. I was intrigued because I had not heard of Tylene Wilson before, and not that I should have since I am not from the Brownwood area or a football fanatic, and wondered how the author came to hear about this woman to write a story about her life during this time. I stumbled across this D Magazine article that gave the author the basis for writing this story – it pays to talk to people because you hear the most interesting stories.
This book isn’t long and it primarily spans a 2-3 week period of time. There are flashes to the past to give us more information about characters and how Tylene became the woman she was during that time. While this is a fictional story, I found it very inspiring because it is based on fact and because it reflects another way women stepped up during WWII to help out on the home front. The town citizens still had to deal with the war, losing family members, and fearing for the future but all was ok on Friday nights when they could watch the local football team play the game. It was a respite from the sadness or anxiousness they might be feeling about the war.
I didn’t envy Tylene and what she endured trying to prove she could coach these boys when no one else could be found. Yes, she had the technical skills and she was able to relate to the boys on a different level but it wasn’t an easy road. Sexism was definitely at play from the other coaches in the conference, some of the men in town, and even some of the male students. One has to realize we are talking about the early 40s and this really wasn’t unusual.
The last part of the book focuses on the first football game of the season and for those pages, my heart was in my throat as I sat there on pins and needles wondering how the game was going to turn out. Winning or losing didn’t really matter, it was bringing these boys together as a team and helping them realize that each one was important and they each needed to give their all and trust each other.
Some of my favorite quotes:
“There’s something special about Texas football . . . I can’t tell you how many times I’ve looked at a Texas sunset only to see a goalpost cut through the yellow and red splashed across the sky.”
“Sometimes in life, we find ourselves in situations we never anticipated, and we end up asking ourselves exactly what you just asked: Why me? But you know what, Moose? The boys need to play football and they can’t do it without you.”
“The hardships shadow us forever, Moose. How we respond – now, that’s what tells us who we are.”
I loved this book and it reminded me so much of Twelve Mighty Orphans by Jim Dent. If you like stories about football and teams that overcame trials and tribulations, you need to read these two books you won’t be disappointed!
This is historical fiction based on a true story communicated word of mouth word-of-mouth, to the author as I remember. It’s very well done, relating quite a unique story about a very real World War 2 situation.
I read a lot of WW2-era fiction and am always looking for a good story set on the U.S. home front during the war, so this story fascinated me, as it was from such a unique angle. The characters were compelling and the story stayed with me when I was finished, which is always a good sign for me. I thoroughly enjoyed it.