Malbrook

by Brian Long

In 1979, the first black family moves to Malbrook, New York, a small town on the south shore of Long Island that borders Queens. Within days of moving in, a cross is burned on their lawn. Just months later, a black youth, passing through Malbrook is chased and beaten by members of a high school fraternity that has embraced neo-Nazi ideals, and stopped by a member of a neighboring chapter, which ignites a war between the fraternity chapters. On Thanksgiving Eve, a temple fire that kills two firemen and injures a third starts under suspicious circumstances. If you grew up on Long Island in the late 70s and early 80s you might remember these events. Malbrook takes you back to high school life on Long Island in 1980 when the drinking age was eighteen and high school fraternities had yet to be banned. Malbrook, the titular fictional town, delves into the lives of three sets of teens following a racially charged attack that leaves a black Honor Roll student in the hospital and his white attackers at odds with a fraternity brother from another chapter who does not share their Nazi beliefs. Before the town has a chance to move on, all hell breaks loose. Malbrook is based on events that took place in and around Valley Stream, New York between 1979 and 1985.

324 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 12, 2025