Review of "Love, Zac"

This story would make a great novel - the popular high school football hero encounters hard times after his playing days are done, but thanks to his dedicated girlfriend he overcomes those struggles and they live happily ever after.  Unfortunately, for this real life story of that player, he doesn't overcome his problems and there is no happily every after.  Here is my review of "Love, Zac."

Title/Author:

“Love, Zac: Small Town Football and the Life and Death of an American Boy" by Reid Forgrave

Tags:

Football (American), high school, biography, death

Publish date:

September 8, 2020

Length:

288 pages

Rating: to

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

Anyone who follows American football knows that the risk of concussions and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a topic of much discussion and debate.  This story of a former high school football star who suffered from those conditions to point of committing suicide is a powerful book by Reid Forgrave.

Zac Easter came from a football-loving family. Every male in the family played, coached and watched football. The culture of the sport and the masculinity that was supposedly enhanced by the sport was an important part of the Easter household. Zac was certainly a member of this culture as he was a star player through high school, earning several awards.  The only break he made from the family when it came to football was that he was a Green Bay Packers fan while the rest of the family cheered for their rivals, the Minnesota Vikings.

However, Zac's time wasn't all glory and fun.  Forgrave gradually shows the reader some of the issues Zac was facing when all of the hits he took, especially to the head as he would often lead with his head against coaching instructions.  He would fight with the team's female trainer when she wanted him to give him his helmet, a sign that he will not return to the game. His moods became darker.  The book continues after his playing days to paint a great picture of the issued Zac faced with alcoholism, hypersexuality, headaches, mood swings and inability to hold jobs or focus on college courses.  It led to his suicide which wasn't a surprise ending, but one that the reader will still feel stunned when it happens.

That is what makes the book so powerful. Yes, the author did his research in the topics of football, helmet design, CTE and its effects and even in-depth interviews with the Easters.  But what makes the book truly a worthwhile endeavor is simply the emotions of everyone involved – from Zac to his family to his girlfriend (who stayed with him to the end) to his shocked teammates.  While some people, including this reviewer, do believe that he brought some of his issues on himself by refusing to adhere to the instructions to not lead with the head, it still boils down to the loss of a young life due to a danger in a sport that is by far the most popular in the United States. 

I wish to thank Algoquin Books for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

                               

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Love-Zac-Small-Town-Football-American-ebook/dp/B08518VLGS/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=