Small Town Pride

In Phil Stamper's heartfelt debut novel, "Jake," a young boy navigates his identity as the first openly gay student in his small town of Barton Springs, Ohio. As Jake starts to embrace his true self, his father's enthusiastic display of support — a giant pride flag in their yard — sparks controversy, leading to complaints against the mayor. Inspired by the idea of a pride festival, Jake rallies his friends to advocate for change, all while navigating unexpected attention from the mayor's son, Brett. This contemporary middle-grade story explores themes of self-acceptance, community, and the essence of pride.