WELCOME TO THE ARCADE

A close-knit group of friends struggles through the growing pains of pre-teen and teenage years in DeConzo’s novel.

Giulia Stringer, Ralphie Molinaro, and Johnny Romano were all born and raised in the seaside town of South Beach on Staten Island, New York, while their friend, Luke, moved there when he was 14 years old. Each has pinpointed what they want to become as adults, dreaming of lives as writers, actors, and teachers. As they move toward those goals, they navigate typical and sometimes harrowing adolescent experiences like being teased, bucking against authority, and experimentation with drugs and alcohol while dealing with the pressures of familial dynamics that include death, abandonment, and divorce. Throughout, the friends never fail to have each other’s backs. Their mostly Italian neighborhood is populated by colorful characters who expose the leads to aspects of life that school and family life do not, including Joey C., a troubled and misunderstood Vietnam vet; Dinino, the Italian-speaking owner of the local video arcade; and Mary the Blonde, Johnny's feisty grandma, a department store detective (“When I was four, my grandmother Mary the Blonde walked me into the arcade, put me on a milkcrate in front of Whirlybird, and handed me a stack of quarters. Dinino’s been calling me ‘Pucchiacha’ ever since”). The author also grew up on Staten Island, and, if the short author bio is any indication, he clearly writes from a place of humor and love for his hometown, blemishes and all. DeConzo’s ability to reveal important details strategically, with well-paced and unexpected timing, draws readers fully into the world of each character. He beautifully renders teenage pathos and the internal confusion it inflicts upon the four friends and deftly captures the unique voices and concerns of Johnny, Giulia, and Ralphie. While Luke is a pivotal character, he receives less attention, and when his story does get told, it is in a question-and-answer format that feels tacked on. Still, following the overall trajectory of the four friends is a rewarding investment.

A video game arcade becomes a refuge for an inseparable group of Staten Island teens.