Crossing the Bronx

by David Hirshberg

Crossing the Bronx is an historical literary novel set primarily in the 1950s in The Bronx. It is a modern retelling of the Jacob and Esau story from Genesis. The narrative that propels the story forward concerns the destruction of a neighborhood in the guise of progress. Jay and Eric, the sons of Ike (an Italian Jew), and Rebekeh, (a Mountain Jew), are estranged-as are their parents-and find themselves on opposite sides of a bitter struggle that pits those in power against the defenseless people of a local community.



Eric has aligned himself with his father Ike, who by day is a cop-and at other times works surreptitiously for a mobbed-up construction company engaged in major projects transforming New York City-while his younger brother Jay is allied with his mother and with a neighborhood group fighting to preserve its very soul. Their fractious relationship speaks to the issues of how families split apart, and whether or not the pieces can ever be put back together.



In addition to sustained tension-filled action, Crossing the Bronx is a story of romance, commitments, beliefs, and triumphs over adversities (lies, theft, murder, concealment, prejudice). Through vivid descriptions, perceptive insights, humor and sensitivity, the reader identifies with the characters who come to life in a realistic fashion to illustrate who we are, how we behave, and what causes us to change.



The novel is fast-paced, with uncompromising realism, reflecting the unrelenting tension between antagonists and the anxieties that overwhelm those without power. The underbelly of the criminal and political world is evidenced by brutality, rapaciousness, and a never-ending desire to seek retribution. A love story between Jay and his girlfriend Francesca counter-balances the grimness to show how some people can overcome the odds stacked against them by their birth and places of origin. Smart, savvy women (Francesca, Rebekah, Francesca's grandmother "Nonna Ebrea"-who thinks she is descended from Conversos-and Jay's therapist Dr. Leah Silverman) provide a strong counterbalance to the lies, thefts, beatings, concealments, murders, and prejudice evidenced by the men.



It is populated by colorful Italian, Irish, Black, Puerto Rican, and Jewish characters from a variety of different backgrounds; the novel sparkles with dialogue that is representative of their respective cultures.



The book can be read on three (1) The story of what it was like to have lived through the Depression and World War II era, and into the one that emerged after 1945-a society that was being altered almost unknowingly into something that would turn out to be significantly different in terms of social activism and ethnic politics; (2) A metaphor for what is going on in cities today, in terms of the conflicts between 'ordinary people' and powerful politicians and business interests; and (3) How a Jewish family emerges from dysfunction to find its way despite daunting implacable obstacles in its way.

373 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 2, 2026

Reviews

[Linda Zagon]

David Hirshberg, the Author of “Crossing The Bronx” has written a powerful, intriguing, and thought-provoking Historical Fiction Novel. There are some deep and potent layers in this challenging novel. The author reinvents the story of Jacob and Esau, brothers at odds, and also describes the political climate, ambitions, fraudulent funding, political corruption, gang street action in The Bronx in the 1950s. At the center of the novel, is Robert Moses building the Cross Bronx Expressway. It seems that there are two ways to build this, and each one can affect part of the community. In this well written masterpiece, the author vividly describes the area concerned, the politicians involved, and the dark, colorful, complex, complicated and flawed characters. In this story, Jay and his brother Eric are at odds with the direction that the Expressway should be built. Their father, Ike is a Policeman, who makes extra money by working for unscrupulous people. There are betrayals, wiretapping, tapes, lies, the mob’s actions, bribing, threats, and murder. Jay and his girlfriend try to get the people from the community to fight this.

This reads like a true crime story and also as a flawed and dysfunctional family, different cultures that clash, and political corruption. I highly recommend this intense and thrilling Historical Fiction novel. I look forward to reading the author’s other two books.

[Rachel]

Imagine you discover that members of your family are involved in something shady and illegal. You also realize that your father, who is a police officer, is working to protect the criminal element in your community. In fact, the mob is his first allegiance. That’s the dilemma facing Jay deVenezia in “Crossing the Bronx” by David Hirshberg (Fig Tree Books): how can he prevent members of the mob from destroying a neighborhood in the Bronx in order to enrich themselves? Jay must not only decide if he is willing to risk actions that might harm his father Ike and his brother Eric, but whether it’s justified to use illegal means for a good cause.
See the rest of my review at https://www.thereportergroup.org/book...