As a queer teen in a small American town in the 1980s, Ryder purposely stays in the shadows. At high school he meets friends, including his first crush, Nate, who unconsciously showed him a road to being proud of who he is. A pride that stays with him for life. But, growing up in this small, queer-phobic town wasn't easy, and along the way Ryder will battle to overcome his thoughts of suicide. Queer youth (no matter what the decade) have to deal with high school heteronormative expectations that do not match who they are. How did Ryder, Nate and friends break this barrier? In Across the Bridge, Ryder graphically and directly shares his queer coming-of-age story in the hope that it will inspire new generations of queer youth and young adults to thrive and not give in to queer oppression. This book is meant to be a quick read for all, but especially for queer youth contemplating suicide.