1842 is a fictional story about love, baseball, and God. Its setting is in Oklahoma, which is in a region known as the “Bible Belt” of the United States of America. The two main characters of the story, Bobby and Shawn, are among the very best baseball players in the country. Even so, each of them has personal traumas and troubling experiences that make life very complicated. Being a great athlete does not always mean having it all together. For Shawn, he has to gather up all of his strength to power through loss and unmet natural needs. Bobby, on the other hand, must navigate through the struggles of being extremely passionate and unaware of how to appropriately apply boundaries. On top of these things, both young men must battle against the negative and toxic values that are promoted in world culture. Also intertwined are other characters who have their own personal struggles, making them affect the story in their own distinct ways. Together, though, all characters represent the human experience. This urban work is filled with interesting moments and subtle creativity, culminating into a piece that is both nostalgic and current. Certain points of the book will undoubtedly make you laugh. And at other times, they will pull on your heartstrings and maybe even make you shed a couple tears. Without question, though, 1842 is worth the full read, and maybe even multiple reads. Koby L. Bowie pours his heart out into his debut novel. His goal in creating it is to help people know that life is worth living, assist people in addressing their traumas and past failures, as well as to inspire young people to make healthy choices. Baseball is the muse and spark for the story. But Koby’s personal life experiences are the actual substance, as he drew from his past circumstances and put a brilliant creative twist on them. 1842 is a story that will stand the test of time. So what do ya say? Get your copy before others beat ya to it!