Where Dreams Die Hard: A Small American Town and Its Six-Man Football Team

This is a story of the 2004 Penelope High school Football season. Penelope is a small town in Texas that due to its size plays 6 man football. The author, Carlton Stowers of Texas who normally reports on crime and its attendant depressing stories, decided to take a respite from that line of work and write about the Penelope Wolverines and their team. The result is a gem of a book and an intimate look at small town life and its love of their 6 man team. The town is described as one where people “embrace the day and extend a helping hand.” (Pg.201) Friday night is game time and the town pulls together to root for their team and temporarily escape the worries of the day. Facing challenges foreign to larger schools who play 11 man ball, Coaches teach classes, prepare the team and even drive the bus to games while positively influencing young lives. The author causes the reader to care about this team , it’s players ,coaches and community. After reading I have an interest in the 6 man game and would like to visit Penelope and attend a game. This is great book. Recommended.

I played six-man and eight-man football in high school, so this book was very interesting to me. It realistically shows some of the life in small towns.