King & Train is a coming-of-age novel set during the years 1956-1960 and experienced through the novel’s main character Danny Shea who, even in the midst of his rowdy and oddball friends, remains somewhat isolated and introspective. It is a story that deals with violence, humor, friendship, and the first stirrings of love; and culminates in a quest that takes Danny far from home and results in both failure and an awakening.
King &Train is a coming of age novel set in the gritty projects of South Boston in the fifties. Danny navigates his way through parochial school nuns and school bullies along with a close circle of buddies. A move to Dorchester opens new perspectives and Danny is able to see a future. However, when his teenage sweetheart moves to Florida, Danny finds himself on the road and totally at a loss. Russell DuPont is a skilled writer who captures the angst of the teenage years. While the book is fiction, there are hints of autobiographical experiences. Once I started reading I was hooked.