FALLOUT SHELTER

A teen’s journey to a seminary takes an unexpected turn in this coming-of-age novel.

William “Chili” Manzilla has wanted to be a priest since he was a second grader. But as a teenager in 1970s New York City, he still raises hell with his best friends, Angel Rodriguez and Mikey McGowan. They smoke, drink, and even sneak into a peep show in Times Square. Life has thrown hurdles at Chili; he lost his mother to cancer, and, as his father has since grown indifferent, he takes care of himself and his younger brother, Jamie. And though Chili has a divine vision that solidifies his priesthood ambitions, it’s possibly the result of a prank that Angel and Mikey quickly regret. Chili nevertheless remains a devout Roman Catholic and plans to attend seminary after high school graduation. Meanwhile, Jamie doesn’t find Catholic school so enlightening; he only sees corruption, like a priest who takes advantage of naïve boys. It’s a disillusionment that Chili soon experiences, and he starts to rethink his future. Schindler builds his story with a superbly developed cast. For example, Chili’s pals deal with different economic realities; Angel’s clan is well off, and Mikey’s family can’t afford to send him to a Catholic high school. Myriad scenes throughout much of the ’70s spotlight these teens having fun and reluctantly growing up, including going on a road trip out west that constantly reminds them of their waning youth. The author describes New York vividly and nostalgically, from a rumbling train above ground to a cookie factory in the Bronx with its “heavenly aroma” of baked goods. The final act turns into a sprint, complete with a huge time jump, a disappearance, and a trial. Despite the novel’s generally somber tone, glimmers of hope and happiness shine through all the way to the end.

An extraordinary tale of the tribulations on the road to adulthood.