"A fantastic coming-of-age novel... The story has a beautiful, pulsing momentum that echoes the grueling reality of endless miles on the highway."
— Readers' Favorite
"...fast-paced and forward-driven, one of those that barely gives you time to breathe once it begins."
— Reedsy Discovery
A draft-age young American leaves 1971 New York for Canada, crossing the border and journeying west with a seasoned veteran of the pro wrestling circuit, headed to Calgary for the spring stampede.
He learns the "work"—how to sell pain, how to get heat, and how to protect the business at all costs.
But as the miles rack up between Montreal and the Rockies, the line between performance and reality begins to blur. In a world built on lies, he must decide what kind of man he wants to be when the bell rings.
A gritty, tender, and hard-hitting coming-of-age story about the price of admission to a violent fraternity, and a young man finding his true face behind a mask.