One Young Man’s Year of Defining Choices

Some years are just years. Others change everything. For Wes Patterson, 1968 is the year the world feels like it’s tilting on its axis. The TV news flashes images of war, protests, and assassinations, all while he’s just trying to figure out his own next move. Moving the Tassels by Paul James Hatke takes you into that final year of high school when every decision—college, the military, love, or simply staying the course—feels like it might decide the rest of your life.

Wes’s story unfolds alongside a world in flux, where color TV makes faraway conflicts feel like they’re happening in the living room, and the choices facing young men aren’t just personal—they’re historic. It’s a coming-of-age tale for anyone who’s ever looked at the world changing around them and thought, “What does this mean for me?”

Capturing a Generation’s Turning Point

Paul James Hatke was born, raised, and still lives in Louisville, Kentucky, with his wife Rose. After 41 years in telecommunications, he now spends his time enjoying the outdoors, playing acoustic guitar, reading, and writing. Moving the Tassels is his debut book, blending personal nostalgia with a sharp sense of the era that shaped a generation.