Author Description

It was still blistering hot at midnight the last day of August 1967: The Summer of Love. The Beatles album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, was still number one in the land as it had been all summer long. With the eastern world exploding, racial tensions mounting and war protests igniting, Bob Dylan penned, "The Times They are a-Changin'." Theo, a college bound senior found his way of life a-changin' too. Cornjerkers is the story of best friends -- Schatzie, Pottsie, Punkinhead and Theo. That August night was the beginning of a magical school year of sports, first love, and madcap confrontations with teachers. It was a time for questioning. Televisions were filled with reports on the Vietnam War, student unrest, and political change. On the local front, the town tough's murder dominated the news. The journey saw Theo's life change dramatically; his chance to escape Hoopeston jeopardized by the prettiest girl in school, Tamy Johnson. Eventually he needed to decide: Was it time to pull the plug on college?