Bruising Reed

The Bible Belt Is Strangling Reed Hollington... ...and it only tightens its grip the harder he struggles against it. You know Reed-the fair-haired boy next door, middle child in the all-American family, good kid, straight-A student, football captain, high school senior with big plans, and former child preacher. Okay, maybe not that part. Growing up in a conservative small town, Reed never questioned the faith he was brought up in by his well-meaning parents, but neither did he fully buy into it-until tragedy struck as an early teen. Convinced that God spared his life for a special purpose, he was transformed into the "Golden Boy," a pious Gospel-preaching sensation that everyone loved. But, as Reed has gone through high school, his experiences have caused him to question what he once so fervently preached. Now he stands on the verge of abandoning all of it-and he could lose his friends, his family, and the approval of his entire hometown if he does. With his senior year fast approaching, Reed must decide if he will keep the faith or fight against it. And time is running out faster than he or anyone else realizes.