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On Your Left
Seventeen-year-old Kevin Walsh, is an accomplished high school distance runner but he has never kissed a girl and rarely ever talked to one. Reluctantly he agrees to join his mother on a five-day 200-mile group bike tour from Lake Placid to Albany, New York, and for the first time in his life he falls madly in love with a fellow cyclist Taylor Lewis. This should be a very good thing, but as the days go by Kevin begins to suspect his mother may also be falling in love but with someone who is not his father.
ON YOUR LEFT is a coming-of-age story told from Kevin’s point-of-view as he learns some history along the way, what it’s like for an African-American teenage girl to navigate her way through modern America, and how wonderful and painful it is to fall in love.
Jack Rightmyer has published two books of nonfiction “A Funny Thing About Teaching” and “It’s Not About Winning.” He was a longtime high school track and cross country coach and is an avid cyclist who has biked across England and throughout most of the Northeast. He was an English teacher at the middle, high school and college level and today is a freelance arts writer at The Albany Times Union.
ON YOUR LEFT is a coming-of-age story told from Kevin’s point-of-view as he learns some history along the way, what it’s like for an African-American teenage girl to navigate her way through modern America, and how wonderful and painful it is to fall in love.
Jack Rightmyer has published two books of nonfiction “A Funny Thing About Teaching” and “It’s Not About Winning.” He was a longtime high school track and cross country coach and is an avid cyclist who has biked across England and throughout most of the Northeast. He was an English teacher at the middle, high school and college level and today is a freelance arts writer at The Albany Times Union.
240 pages, Paperback
Published March 25, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 26, 2025
If you’ve ever done any biking, especially on a narrow two-lane path, you know that you should always keep to the right. Then, when you’re ready to pass someone, you should loudly announce your intention beforehand with the phrase “On Your Left.” Author Jack Rightmyer uses that phrase as the title of his first novel, and it’s a fitting tag for the book’s protagonist.
Kevin Walsh is almost ready to enter his senior year of high school when he agrees to share a five-day summer adventure – a bike ride through the Adirondack Mountains from Lake Placid to Albany in upstate New York – with his mother. Yes, his mother.
Most teenage boys would be unwilling to undertake such a task, but Kevin reluctantly agrees because he has an ulterior motive. He knows his parents have been struggling to get along, and he fears they might divorce, so he agrees to ride because he’s hoping the shared experience will bring the family back together. Unfortunately, when Kevin’s dad says he must work that week, Kevin admits, “I wanted to bail, but I couldn’t leave my mother all alone” (10). Fortunately, they won’t be alone. They will be accompanied by three hundred other bikers and a transport team that will move their tents and other paraphernalia daily from one point to the next.
Regarding the actual biking, Kevin is not worried about the physical aspects of the challenge. After all, he is an accomplished cross-country runner, so the forty miles per day might not overwhelm him, but does he have what it takes to overcome the mental, social, and personal challenges ahead of him. Will he be content to ride metaphorically in the right lane forever, or will he finally break out of his quiet, unassuming persona and announce to the world, “I’m coming. I’m about to move up. I’m ‘on your left’?”
Ride along with Kevin as he, his mom, and four other new friends share this journey of a lifetime, one that will surely take you back to your own adolescence, a universal experience full of challenges and surprises, a ride you won’t want to miss.
Kevin Walsh is almost ready to enter his senior year of high school when he agrees to share a five-day summer adventure – a bike ride through the Adirondack Mountains from Lake Placid to Albany in upstate New York – with his mother. Yes, his mother.
Most teenage boys would be unwilling to undertake such a task, but Kevin reluctantly agrees because he has an ulterior motive. He knows his parents have been struggling to get along, and he fears they might divorce, so he agrees to ride because he’s hoping the shared experience will bring the family back together. Unfortunately, when Kevin’s dad says he must work that week, Kevin admits, “I wanted to bail, but I couldn’t leave my mother all alone” (10). Fortunately, they won’t be alone. They will be accompanied by three hundred other bikers and a transport team that will move their tents and other paraphernalia daily from one point to the next.
Regarding the actual biking, Kevin is not worried about the physical aspects of the challenge. After all, he is an accomplished cross-country runner, so the forty miles per day might not overwhelm him, but does he have what it takes to overcome the mental, social, and personal challenges ahead of him. Will he be content to ride metaphorically in the right lane forever, or will he finally break out of his quiet, unassuming persona and announce to the world, “I’m coming. I’m about to move up. I’m ‘on your left’?”
Ride along with Kevin as he, his mom, and four other new friends share this journey of a lifetime, one that will surely take you back to your own adolescence, a universal experience full of challenges and surprises, a ride you won’t want to miss.
July 16, 2025
This may be a Breaking Away (The 1979 Oscar winning film) for recreational athletes.
On Your Left by Jack Rightmyer is about more than winning a bicycle race. It is about growing up. Kevin is a talented but awkward high schooler. He wouldn't describe himself as handsome or even popular with the other kids at school. But he agrees to go on a 200-mile group bike ride with his mother and about 50 other participants. Nearly every rider is older than Kevin. Nearly.
There was another high school girl. Kevin had never been on a group ride or even taken a shower in a group. And he had never had a girlfriend. He had five days to change all that.
On Your Left by Jack Rightmyer is about more than winning a bicycle race. It is about growing up. Kevin is a talented but awkward high schooler. He wouldn't describe himself as handsome or even popular with the other kids at school. But he agrees to go on a 200-mile group bike ride with his mother and about 50 other participants. Nearly every rider is older than Kevin. Nearly.
There was another high school girl. Kevin had never been on a group ride or even taken a shower in a group. And he had never had a girlfriend. He had five days to change all that.
September 16, 2025
A book for all ages!
Different stages of our lives offer different opportunities, and it's hard growing up and I can appreciate the mentors life brings if you look for them, even if your never see that person again. Just with a story, a good friendship, a loving family or just a bike trip to understand yourself. It hit a sentimental note with me...how easy it is to judge. One needs to be honest with themselves and know the difference. We should all have such a ride!
Different stages of our lives offer different opportunities, and it's hard growing up and I can appreciate the mentors life brings if you look for them, even if your never see that person again. Just with a story, a good friendship, a loving family or just a bike trip to understand yourself. It hit a sentimental note with me...how easy it is to judge. One needs to be honest with themselves and know the difference. We should all have such a ride!
August 9, 2025
The author is a colleague and I have always had great respect for him as a person! This was the first time reading one of his books. His writing allows for the reader to dive in and personally live within the story being told. At times, I actually thought I was on the trip! Overall, I have some new perspectives regarding family, bike trips and assumptions we make.
June 12, 2025
“On Your Left” by Jack Rightmyer is a heartwarming and beautifully innocent coming-of-age novel relatable to all: teens, athletes, adults facing work-life balancing issues, parents – or anyone who has ever been through adolescence!
Jack delves into the struggles of peer pressure, adolescent self-consciousness, worries about the stability of family, performance as an athlete, and of course, love, through the eyes and voice of narrator Kevin Walsh.
Having found running a respite and relief and a place where he may excel, Kevin takes us on a journey through the Adirondacks of NY with many rich and magical references.
But this is all so formal. Simply, I loved the way that Jack’s book took me back to that place of wonderment, that place of insecurity within bewildered confidence, that place of launching that is both scary and exhilarating. I loved Kevin’s perspective on adults, his intuition and fears, his seemingly shadowed assurance, and both his small and life-changing victories.
Metaphors are abounding and fun – and I loved when Kevin asserts that if certain circumstances align that he will most certainly live happily ever after – MAYBE. So perfectly true.
“On Your Left” is an endearing read which captures the heart of adolescence and the spirit of runners everywhere. Read it.
Jack delves into the struggles of peer pressure, adolescent self-consciousness, worries about the stability of family, performance as an athlete, and of course, love, through the eyes and voice of narrator Kevin Walsh.
Having found running a respite and relief and a place where he may excel, Kevin takes us on a journey through the Adirondacks of NY with many rich and magical references.
But this is all so formal. Simply, I loved the way that Jack’s book took me back to that place of wonderment, that place of insecurity within bewildered confidence, that place of launching that is both scary and exhilarating. I loved Kevin’s perspective on adults, his intuition and fears, his seemingly shadowed assurance, and both his small and life-changing victories.
Metaphors are abounding and fun – and I loved when Kevin asserts that if certain circumstances align that he will most certainly live happily ever after – MAYBE. So perfectly true.
“On Your Left” is an endearing read which captures the heart of adolescence and the spirit of runners everywhere. Read it.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews