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The Prince of Steel Pier
A Young Teen Falls in with the Mob, and Learns a Lesson About What Kind of Person He Wants to Be
In The Prince of Steel Pier, Joey Goodman is spending the summer at his grandparents' struggling hotel in Atlantic City, a tourist destination on the decline. Nobody in Joey's big Jewish family takes him seriously, so when Joey's Skee-Ball skills land him an unusual job offer from a local mobster, he's thrilled to be treated like "one of the guys," and develops a major crush on an older girl in the process. Eventually disillusioned by the mob's bravado, and ashamed of his own dishonesty, he recalls words of wisdom from his grandfather that finally resonate. Joey realizes where he really belongs: with his family, who drive him crazy, but where no one fights a battle alone. All it takes to get by is one's wits...and a little help from one's brothers.
In The Prince of Steel Pier, Joey Goodman is spending the summer at his grandparents' struggling hotel in Atlantic City, a tourist destination on the decline. Nobody in Joey's big Jewish family takes him seriously, so when Joey's Skee-Ball skills land him an unusual job offer from a local mobster, he's thrilled to be treated like "one of the guys," and develops a major crush on an older girl in the process. Eventually disillusioned by the mob's bravado, and ashamed of his own dishonesty, he recalls words of wisdom from his grandfather that finally resonate. Joey realizes where he really belongs: with his family, who drive him crazy, but where no one fights a battle alone. All it takes to get by is one's wits...and a little help from one's brothers.
248 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2022
1 person is currently reading
1823 people want to read
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October 7, 2022
Reviewers. They’re just like you and me. They just read more books. I’m a reviewer myself and I respect the form, but I’m also aware of its subjectivity. There have definitely been days when I’ve read a book for kids, said to myself, “Well, that was a waste of time”, only to discover later (usually thanks to the enthusiasm of other librarians) that I was just a bit moody when I read that book the first time. Sometimes. There are just as many other times when I dig in my heels and insist that I’m right. What I’m trying to say is that I’m sympathetic to other reviewers. Even when I disagree with their opinions (I came THIS close to writing “Even when they’re wrong…”) I can respect where they’re coming from. By this point you may suspect that this is all a lead up to the fact that I’m going to take issue with a professional review I read recently. Usually such reviews don’t rankle me (unless, y’know, they’re for one of my own books) but there are always exceptions. Case in point, the new middle grade novel set in the 1970s, The Prince of Steel Pier. I’m talking about a book with gangsters, Monopoly, a misunderstood hero, young love, boardwalks, and creaming someone in the face with a pack of coins. It’s the kind of book where you get 20 pages from the end of the story and are convinced that the main character is three seconds away from “swimming with the fishes”. And yet I might not have even reviewed the book were it not for a particularly misguided Kirkus review which stated that the book “may not hold young readers’ interest, and the immersive setting could appeal more to adults old enough to remember the time and place.” People of the jury, I offer a counter-argument.
This is a book that begins with a dead body. Now you need to ask yourself one question: Will it end with one too? The dead body in question belongs to Mrs. Goldberg, found in her room at the St. Bonaventure Hotel, August 1975. Joey’s Jewish family runs it. While his brothers take Mrs. Goldberg's casting off of her mortal shackles in their stride, Joey’s the one facedown in the toilet, throwing up. He’s the one everyone writes off as sensitive, and it just drives him nuts. Here he is with his family working the hotel for a month on the shore in Atlantic City and no one takes him seriously. No one, that is, until Joey catches the eye of Artie Bishop, a local mobster with his eyes on the big time. Artie needs a chaperone for his young teen daughter, and before Joey knows it he’s getting in deeper and deeper over his head with some seriously dangerous guys. He knows lying to his family is wrong, but when something terrible happens, that’s exactly who Joey is going to need to turn to.
So let’s tackle one of the arguments of that Kirkus review right from the start. The reviewer questioned whether or not this book would be capable of holding the attention of a young reader. Well, as you can see from my description, Nockowitz kicks off the proceedings with a corpse. Not a shabby way to start. But there’s more than just dead bodies here to keep readers reading. Joey himself tells the story in the first person and he is chock full of high emotions. You wouldn’t think a kid with this loving a family would be this angry, but the kid is just seething for a lot of this book. He's desperate for respect, even if it comes, for a time, from a tough guy he has no connection to. This is a kid who makes some pretty terrible choices, and each time he does you feel him getting sucked a little bit more into Artie’s world. I found it infinitely readable at its scant 248 pages. But was Kirkus right in saying that this would appeal more to “adults old enough to remember the time and place”? That’s a jab at librarians and teachers. More specifically, those old enough to remember 1975 with clarity. I was born in 1978 myself, so I was coming into this pretty fresh. I did appreciate how it highlighted a time period when the world felt like it was slowly decomposing. The grime and crime of 70s Atlantic City are in full view. This is a resort town on its last legs, and you feel that, sure. But unless you’re yearning for rotting hotel ceilings and arcades with bars in their rears, what Kirkus writes off as nostalgia I call scene setting.
Whenever I finish a book for kids I file it away under a series of tabs. This one I made sure to list under “Family Stories”, since its Joey’s ties to his insufferable, impossible, very loving family that ultimately keeps him out of Artie’s grasp. But Nockowitz isn’t doing that thing where the text is just the text, subtext be damned. Throughout the book there’s this King Arthur theme, just simmering below the surface. Early on in the story Artie borrows Joey’s copy of The Once and Future King. It’s the method by which he’s able to lure Joey back into his presence with the promise of a book discussion. But when Artie does discuss the story, his take is entirely different from that of the boy’s. Artie looks at the story of King Arthur and sees a tale of failure. Here you had a king that felt that might was not right, and look what happened to him! It’s no coincidence that our own king of Steel Pier is also named “Artie”. His knights scheme against him too, though. And Camelot this is not.
The trickiest part of the book for Nockowitz had to be getting Joey from a point where he was rejecting his family in every way, to a moment when he wanted to turn that ship around. It’s an elegant bit of writing. You get some serious low points earlier in the story, and then Nockowitz takes a couple risks. She includes a scene where Joey goes to synagogue (pretty much just to escape his family) and is touched and moved by what he witnesses inside. This from a kid who’s doubting the existence of God (but never his own Jewishness) from the get-go. That the author manages to make this scene work is a minor miracle in and of itself. She has someone hand Joey a camera and through its lens he’s able to zero in on the moments in other people’s lives that have not just a small bit of importance but weight and meaning. This is all replicated in the last scene of the book. My co-worker alerted me before I finished Steel Pier that Nockowitz is particularly successful at sticking the landing. He wasn’t wrong. There are a lot of really great books out there that have no idea how to end. This book? It's not one of them, and it ties Joey’s whole story not simply to family and place but to faith as well.
There are no zombies in this book. No superheroes. No epic romances (though there is a tiny touch of it here and there). So if you think that that’s all kids want in their books these days, you might well agree with that Kirkus reviewer about the book’s appeal. But one would be hard pressed to say that only readers with access to memories of Atlantic City just before the casinos moved in will find this book appealing. Nockowitz wraps you up tight, not simply into Joey’s world, but also his dilemmas. I’m not kidding, I honestly thought the kid would be trying out a pair of concrete sandals by the story’s end. Instead, you get an rebuttal to Artie’s claim that might is right. And you get Joey understanding that a lot of this world, like his grandparents’ hotel, is fleeting. The people that stick around are the ones you gotta fight for. And this book? It's one worth fighting to get into the hands of kids.
This is a book that begins with a dead body. Now you need to ask yourself one question: Will it end with one too? The dead body in question belongs to Mrs. Goldberg, found in her room at the St. Bonaventure Hotel, August 1975. Joey’s Jewish family runs it. While his brothers take Mrs. Goldberg's casting off of her mortal shackles in their stride, Joey’s the one facedown in the toilet, throwing up. He’s the one everyone writes off as sensitive, and it just drives him nuts. Here he is with his family working the hotel for a month on the shore in Atlantic City and no one takes him seriously. No one, that is, until Joey catches the eye of Artie Bishop, a local mobster with his eyes on the big time. Artie needs a chaperone for his young teen daughter, and before Joey knows it he’s getting in deeper and deeper over his head with some seriously dangerous guys. He knows lying to his family is wrong, but when something terrible happens, that’s exactly who Joey is going to need to turn to.
So let’s tackle one of the arguments of that Kirkus review right from the start. The reviewer questioned whether or not this book would be capable of holding the attention of a young reader. Well, as you can see from my description, Nockowitz kicks off the proceedings with a corpse. Not a shabby way to start. But there’s more than just dead bodies here to keep readers reading. Joey himself tells the story in the first person and he is chock full of high emotions. You wouldn’t think a kid with this loving a family would be this angry, but the kid is just seething for a lot of this book. He's desperate for respect, even if it comes, for a time, from a tough guy he has no connection to. This is a kid who makes some pretty terrible choices, and each time he does you feel him getting sucked a little bit more into Artie’s world. I found it infinitely readable at its scant 248 pages. But was Kirkus right in saying that this would appeal more to “adults old enough to remember the time and place”? That’s a jab at librarians and teachers. More specifically, those old enough to remember 1975 with clarity. I was born in 1978 myself, so I was coming into this pretty fresh. I did appreciate how it highlighted a time period when the world felt like it was slowly decomposing. The grime and crime of 70s Atlantic City are in full view. This is a resort town on its last legs, and you feel that, sure. But unless you’re yearning for rotting hotel ceilings and arcades with bars in their rears, what Kirkus writes off as nostalgia I call scene setting.
Whenever I finish a book for kids I file it away under a series of tabs. This one I made sure to list under “Family Stories”, since its Joey’s ties to his insufferable, impossible, very loving family that ultimately keeps him out of Artie’s grasp. But Nockowitz isn’t doing that thing where the text is just the text, subtext be damned. Throughout the book there’s this King Arthur theme, just simmering below the surface. Early on in the story Artie borrows Joey’s copy of The Once and Future King. It’s the method by which he’s able to lure Joey back into his presence with the promise of a book discussion. But when Artie does discuss the story, his take is entirely different from that of the boy’s. Artie looks at the story of King Arthur and sees a tale of failure. Here you had a king that felt that might was not right, and look what happened to him! It’s no coincidence that our own king of Steel Pier is also named “Artie”. His knights scheme against him too, though. And Camelot this is not.
The trickiest part of the book for Nockowitz had to be getting Joey from a point where he was rejecting his family in every way, to a moment when he wanted to turn that ship around. It’s an elegant bit of writing. You get some serious low points earlier in the story, and then Nockowitz takes a couple risks. She includes a scene where Joey goes to synagogue (pretty much just to escape his family) and is touched and moved by what he witnesses inside. This from a kid who’s doubting the existence of God (but never his own Jewishness) from the get-go. That the author manages to make this scene work is a minor miracle in and of itself. She has someone hand Joey a camera and through its lens he’s able to zero in on the moments in other people’s lives that have not just a small bit of importance but weight and meaning. This is all replicated in the last scene of the book. My co-worker alerted me before I finished Steel Pier that Nockowitz is particularly successful at sticking the landing. He wasn’t wrong. There are a lot of really great books out there that have no idea how to end. This book? It's not one of them, and it ties Joey’s whole story not simply to family and place but to faith as well.
There are no zombies in this book. No superheroes. No epic romances (though there is a tiny touch of it here and there). So if you think that that’s all kids want in their books these days, you might well agree with that Kirkus reviewer about the book’s appeal. But one would be hard pressed to say that only readers with access to memories of Atlantic City just before the casinos moved in will find this book appealing. Nockowitz wraps you up tight, not simply into Joey’s world, but also his dilemmas. I’m not kidding, I honestly thought the kid would be trying out a pair of concrete sandals by the story’s end. Instead, you get an rebuttal to Artie’s claim that might is right. And you get Joey understanding that a lot of this world, like his grandparents’ hotel, is fleeting. The people that stick around are the ones you gotta fight for. And this book? It's one worth fighting to get into the hands of kids.
May 5, 2022
The Prince of Steel Pier was a solid Middle Grade Debut about Joey Goodman, a thirteen-year-old Jewish kid who is spending his summer in Atlantic City in the 70's, working at his Grandparents' struggling hotel with his older brothers. He's reached the age where he's too old to be babied like his younger brother and too young to be given a load of responsibility like his older brothers. He's in that middle place where it feels like no one respects him. But while playing skee ball at a local bar, he gets noticed by a bunch of mafia guys who thinks he's a "Good Man." He gets hired to tour the mob boss's daughter around the city and gets in way over his head. This was a heartfelt and honest story about trusting in family and being wary of things that sound "too good to be true."
September 16, 2022
Thank you @booksparks and #stacynockowitz for my #gifted copy. I’m excited to be a part of this #fallpopup!
For me, I grew up in the 80s when Atari ruled the gaming world and arcade’s were the place to be! Pac-Man was my favorite game. I was over the moon excited when we could play it at home! 👾
I loved this book. Set in the 70s against the backdrop of the Jersey Shore before it became what it is today. The book is full of nostalgia and is a brilliant story about balancing friendship, family loyalty, and the ability to find your place without compromising yourself. 💜
This is a quick read and a perfect coming of age story for any middle schooler who loves historical fiction. I look forward to reading more from this author!
For me, I grew up in the 80s when Atari ruled the gaming world and arcade’s were the place to be! Pac-Man was my favorite game. I was over the moon excited when we could play it at home! 👾
I loved this book. Set in the 70s against the backdrop of the Jersey Shore before it became what it is today. The book is full of nostalgia and is a brilliant story about balancing friendship, family loyalty, and the ability to find your place without compromising yourself. 💜
This is a quick read and a perfect coming of age story for any middle schooler who loves historical fiction. I look forward to reading more from this author!
August 22, 2022
The Prince of Steel Pier has a very nostalgic feel. There's pre-casino Atlantic City and the boardwalk during the 1970's, our Skee-Ball champion, saltwater taffy and all the feel of summertime at the arcade. I just adored Joey and his extended Jewish family, including his older brothers, Reuben and Simon, younger brother Ben, his mom, Bubbe, Zeyde and even Uncle Sol. I could so relate to Joey and being a middle kid, teased by your older siblings and not yet old enough to be taken seriously. That feeling of being distant from your family, and not feeling respected. It's no wonder that Joey connects so easily to Artie and his gang. They made him feel strong and confident, laid praise on him for his Skee-Ball skills and he's even given the responsibility of being a companion for Artie's daughter. It's also not surprising when he lays trust in someone he shouldn't, and things start to go horribly wrong. Being "one of the guys" isn't all it's cracked up to be. Growing up I remember being told that the only thing you could really depend on were your family and Joey also seems to learn this lesson. In the end he begins to recognize that his family will always be there to support him, and I just loved how the story resolved. Overall, I really enjoyed the setting and plot. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the authors own grandparents owned the St. Charles Hotel and that she'd spent many a summer on the shores and visiting Steel Pier. You can certainly feel the authors love for Atlantic City and her connection to the city and it did remind me of my time in Atlantic City, and will certainly appeal to fans of arcades, classic amusement park rides and visits to the shore.
December 13, 2022
I liked this one; it’s hard enough to find Jews in books, let alone observant ones. (They drive on Shabbat, so not THAT observant, but Joey won’t eat fries from the hot dog stand because they aren’t kosher, and they participate in Shabbat services every Friday, which is more than lots of Jewish characters I’ve seen.) The mafia part of the story was a little boilerplate, but the hotel and Atlantic City setting was interesting, as was Joey’s relationships with his family members. It has a similar feeling to Swim That Rock by John Rocco.
March 9, 2023
3.5 stars 🌟
June 18, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. I want to say it was kind of like a layered Martin Scorsese film for the MG reader crowd. The realistic way family life is portrayed was on the nose: Close, sometimes frenetic and chaotic, and always compassionate.
Joey doesn’t _like_ to lie, but he's caught between two worlds, not quite sure what he wants or who he is, and he experiments with those boundaries. The book does an excellent job at immersing the reader in that delicate chrysalis stage of the tween years, the pre-teen angst caught between getting older and wanting independence from family but also still very much dependent on them both physically and emotionally.
This passage floored me with its wisdom, and the heart-breaking realization Joey comes to:
"We’re all a bunch of liars. All of us. We’re going under. We’re drowning. We’re weighed down by these secrets, these things we don’t tell one another, and now I know things I wish I didn’t know. And I’m no better than anyone else. I’m a fake too. I’m hiding things just like they are."
Besides the emotional realism of this story and its characters, which resonated with me, the plot itself also pulled me along and forced me to turn the pages to find out what was going to happen next. I've never read an MG book that touches on organized crime, and this book handles that well.
The Prince of Steel Pier has all the hallmarks of a terrific period story, brilliantly showcasing the two-sided nuances that come from the glorious youthful memory of a sometimes-seedy place. Which sums up the metamorphosis toward adulthood, doesn't it?
Definitely recommend this for any reader of any age.
Joey doesn’t _like_ to lie, but he's caught between two worlds, not quite sure what he wants or who he is, and he experiments with those boundaries. The book does an excellent job at immersing the reader in that delicate chrysalis stage of the tween years, the pre-teen angst caught between getting older and wanting independence from family but also still very much dependent on them both physically and emotionally.
This passage floored me with its wisdom, and the heart-breaking realization Joey comes to:
"We’re all a bunch of liars. All of us. We’re going under. We’re drowning. We’re weighed down by these secrets, these things we don’t tell one another, and now I know things I wish I didn’t know. And I’m no better than anyone else. I’m a fake too. I’m hiding things just like they are."
Besides the emotional realism of this story and its characters, which resonated with me, the plot itself also pulled me along and forced me to turn the pages to find out what was going to happen next. I've never read an MG book that touches on organized crime, and this book handles that well.
The Prince of Steel Pier has all the hallmarks of a terrific period story, brilliantly showcasing the two-sided nuances that come from the glorious youthful memory of a sometimes-seedy place. Which sums up the metamorphosis toward adulthood, doesn't it?
Definitely recommend this for any reader of any age.
March 28, 2022
DISCLAIMER: I received a digital review copy of The Prince of Steel Pier via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I have been in a reading slump all month.
Literally all month I've been trying to find something that grabs me, and I just could not find anything. And then I found this book.
I had actually seen it in an article about the cover reveal a few months ago and while initially, I didn't think to add it to my TBR, it made an impression on me, and I did keep thinking about it. Fast forward just a few days ago, I was looking through books on NetGalley when I recognize it. I saw that it was one of NetGalley's "read now" books and I figured, Why not? I was already in a reading slump, maybe this would get me out of it.
Holy cow did it get me out of my reading slump.
I flew through it in just a few days and I adored every page of it. I loved Joey, I loved his family, I loved the setting and the plot and—can you tell I loved this book?
Good for fans of Gennifer Choldenko's Al Capone Does My Shirts.
I have been in a reading slump all month.
Literally all month I've been trying to find something that grabs me, and I just could not find anything. And then I found this book.
I had actually seen it in an article about the cover reveal a few months ago and while initially, I didn't think to add it to my TBR, it made an impression on me, and I did keep thinking about it. Fast forward just a few days ago, I was looking through books on NetGalley when I recognize it. I saw that it was one of NetGalley's "read now" books and I figured, Why not? I was already in a reading slump, maybe this would get me out of it.
Holy cow did it get me out of my reading slump.
I flew through it in just a few days and I adored every page of it. I loved Joey, I loved his family, I loved the setting and the plot and—can you tell I loved this book?
Good for fans of Gennifer Choldenko's Al Capone Does My Shirts.
July 11, 2022
I fell right into the world of THE PRINCE OF STEEL PIER and loved my stay there. Nockowitz so beautifully captures a time, place, and time of life all on the verge of change. Some of the change might be for the better and much of it will not be, but all of it is heartfelt and infused with hope, humor, and honesty.
1970's Atlantic City teetered btw the old ways and the new-- the old family hotels were on the way and the casinos on their way in. Beautifully encapsulated in that time is a story of the love of family, traditions, and a boy trying to figure out who exactly he will be in this world.
A wonderful coming-of-age story woven through with mystery, history, and heart
Thank you to the author and Ker-Ben for the e-arc
1970's Atlantic City teetered btw the old ways and the new-- the old family hotels were on the way and the casinos on their way in. Beautifully encapsulated in that time is a story of the love of family, traditions, and a boy trying to figure out who exactly he will be in this world.
A wonderful coming-of-age story woven through with mystery, history, and heart
Thank you to the author and Ker-Ben for the e-arc
May 3, 2022
A fun ride from start to finish!
I read this book in a single day, which should tell you everything you need to know about how captivating THE PRINCE OF STEEL PIER is as Nockowitz weaves an utterly delightful storyline in the unlikeliest of settings. This has all the historical feels while providing every bit of excitement you’d feel if you were meeting Joey and his wonderful Jewish family today.
Speaking of Joey, the 13-year-old protagonist is utterly relatable. I so wanted to be friends with him and his energy kept me glued as he dealt with family, a new friend, and some figures that gave me the chills.
I can’t wait to read what the author comes up with next, but whatever that may be, know that you should read this book NOW. You won’t regret it!
I read this book in a single day, which should tell you everything you need to know about how captivating THE PRINCE OF STEEL PIER is as Nockowitz weaves an utterly delightful storyline in the unlikeliest of settings. This has all the historical feels while providing every bit of excitement you’d feel if you were meeting Joey and his wonderful Jewish family today.
Speaking of Joey, the 13-year-old protagonist is utterly relatable. I so wanted to be friends with him and his energy kept me glued as he dealt with family, a new friend, and some figures that gave me the chills.
I can’t wait to read what the author comes up with next, but whatever that may be, know that you should read this book NOW. You won’t regret it!
December 24, 2022
Another good middle grade HF book. Appealing characters and setting.
February 4, 2021
This is such an entertaining book! I was captivated from the beginning! It takes place on the Jersey Shore in the 70's before the Casinos took over. I grew up going to the Ocean City, MD in the 70's and the scenes that Stacy paints of the Jersey Shore in this book were so evocative of that time! The central family in the book is a Jewish family, and the book gives us a clear-eyed look at what it was like to be part of a both a Jewish minority and a loving, accepting big Jewish family. This book was a lot of fun to read and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
November 11, 2022
E ARC provided by Netgalley
Joey loves spending his summers at his Bubbe and Zeyde's St. Bonaventure hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The hotel has been around for fifty years, since the 1920s, so is a bit worn out, but is a bustling destination for Jewish tourists to the area. Joey and his parents and three brothers, Reuben, Simon, and younger Ben, stay with their grandparents so they can work at the hotel in the summer. They usually live in Philadelphia, and their father goes back home to work during the week. Joey works as a waiter, although he doesn't get paid, and gets a fair amount of freedome to wander the area. During one of these outings, he puts down his tote bag with some winnings in it, and local tough Ralphie takes it. They have a bit of a scuffle over it, and Joey runs into Ralphie again when he goes to play some Skee-Ball on the Boardwalk. He does really well, and soon people are placing bets on his playing. This brings him to the attention of Artie, who offers Joey a job; for thirty dollars a week, which is huge money for the 1970s, Joey will entertain his daughter from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and "keep her out of trouble". Joey has been saving up for a camera, so reluctantly agrees, even though he feels a need to lie to his family about his connection to Artie, who seems shady at best. Artie's daughter, Melanie, turns out to be 15. Joey is apprehensive about spending time with her, but money is money. The two go to some of the attractions on the Boardwalk, spend her father's money on food (some of which Joey can't eat because it isn't kosher), and come to an uneasy agreement that Joey isn't the worst "babysitter" that Melanie could have. Joey is worried about the future of the hotel, since gambling has been legalized and properties are being bought up to build new casinos. He's also worried about Artie's position as the "king of Steel Pier", since he knows his family wouldn't want him associating with people who had possible ties to organized crime. When Artie asks him to keep a package safe in his grandparents' storage room, Joey knows that he is in too deep, but isn't sure what to do. Luckily, older brother Reuben, who has been seeing Melanie in the evenings, is able to help him out. It's an interesting summer of new experiences in an area that is down on its luck and about to change entirely, but Joey is able to make the best of his opportunities.
Strengths: Ah, summer. I feel bad for today's children, who spend most of their summer shut up in the air conditioning playing video games and probably not talking to many people. I love books that showcase tourist areas from the point of view of local children, and since I've never been to the Steel Pier, this was absolutely fascinating. The descriptions were so vivid that I could practically smell the popcorn with hints of tar and rotting fish! There are plenty of good 1970s details that tell me that Ms. Nockowitz, who is a librarian here in Columbus, is about my age-- kids today don't get the joy that was St. Joseph's orange flavored chewable aspirin! The hotel is vividly described as well, and based on a similar hotel run by the author's grandparents. The feeling of living in a moment when the writing is on the wall that things will not go on the way they are is palpably sad, even though the way things are isn't perfect. Joey's family is close knit and supportive, and their Jewish cultural identity is woven into daily life.
Weaknesses: I was hoping for a little more Skee-Ball, having recently read Jon Chad's Pinball: A Graphic History of the Silver Ball. Also, there could have been more descriptions of clothing (Tank tops on boys! Tube socks with stripes! Tube tops and blue eyeshadow for Melanie!), food, music, and other mid 1970s cultural touch points. Will my students want this? No, this would be to help me relive my youth!
What I really think: There should be more historical fiction written by people who lived through various eras, so I would love to see more books like this, featuring the 1950s-1980s. The Prince of Steel Pier reminded me a bit of Collard's Double Eagle, and is a great choice to hand to readers who like Grabenstein's Welcome to Wonderland series. Definitely purchasing, and can't wait to hand to students!
Joey loves spending his summers at his Bubbe and Zeyde's St. Bonaventure hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The hotel has been around for fifty years, since the 1920s, so is a bit worn out, but is a bustling destination for Jewish tourists to the area. Joey and his parents and three brothers, Reuben, Simon, and younger Ben, stay with their grandparents so they can work at the hotel in the summer. They usually live in Philadelphia, and their father goes back home to work during the week. Joey works as a waiter, although he doesn't get paid, and gets a fair amount of freedome to wander the area. During one of these outings, he puts down his tote bag with some winnings in it, and local tough Ralphie takes it. They have a bit of a scuffle over it, and Joey runs into Ralphie again when he goes to play some Skee-Ball on the Boardwalk. He does really well, and soon people are placing bets on his playing. This brings him to the attention of Artie, who offers Joey a job; for thirty dollars a week, which is huge money for the 1970s, Joey will entertain his daughter from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and "keep her out of trouble". Joey has been saving up for a camera, so reluctantly agrees, even though he feels a need to lie to his family about his connection to Artie, who seems shady at best. Artie's daughter, Melanie, turns out to be 15. Joey is apprehensive about spending time with her, but money is money. The two go to some of the attractions on the Boardwalk, spend her father's money on food (some of which Joey can't eat because it isn't kosher), and come to an uneasy agreement that Joey isn't the worst "babysitter" that Melanie could have. Joey is worried about the future of the hotel, since gambling has been legalized and properties are being bought up to build new casinos. He's also worried about Artie's position as the "king of Steel Pier", since he knows his family wouldn't want him associating with people who had possible ties to organized crime. When Artie asks him to keep a package safe in his grandparents' storage room, Joey knows that he is in too deep, but isn't sure what to do. Luckily, older brother Reuben, who has been seeing Melanie in the evenings, is able to help him out. It's an interesting summer of new experiences in an area that is down on its luck and about to change entirely, but Joey is able to make the best of his opportunities.
Strengths: Ah, summer. I feel bad for today's children, who spend most of their summer shut up in the air conditioning playing video games and probably not talking to many people. I love books that showcase tourist areas from the point of view of local children, and since I've never been to the Steel Pier, this was absolutely fascinating. The descriptions were so vivid that I could practically smell the popcorn with hints of tar and rotting fish! There are plenty of good 1970s details that tell me that Ms. Nockowitz, who is a librarian here in Columbus, is about my age-- kids today don't get the joy that was St. Joseph's orange flavored chewable aspirin! The hotel is vividly described as well, and based on a similar hotel run by the author's grandparents. The feeling of living in a moment when the writing is on the wall that things will not go on the way they are is palpably sad, even though the way things are isn't perfect. Joey's family is close knit and supportive, and their Jewish cultural identity is woven into daily life.
Weaknesses: I was hoping for a little more Skee-Ball, having recently read Jon Chad's Pinball: A Graphic History of the Silver Ball. Also, there could have been more descriptions of clothing (Tank tops on boys! Tube socks with stripes! Tube tops and blue eyeshadow for Melanie!), food, music, and other mid 1970s cultural touch points. Will my students want this? No, this would be to help me relive my youth!
What I really think: There should be more historical fiction written by people who lived through various eras, so I would love to see more books like this, featuring the 1950s-1980s. The Prince of Steel Pier reminded me a bit of Collard's Double Eagle, and is a great choice to hand to readers who like Grabenstein's Welcome to Wonderland series. Definitely purchasing, and can't wait to hand to students!
May 20, 2022
What worked:
The Jewish faith is an important part of the story, as Joey questions his place in the community. He wonders how God can allow bad things to happen and questions how well he understands his religion. However, he’s very loyal to his close-knit family, as his parents, brothers, grandparents, and uncle operate a hotel right on the beach. They practice their culture by eating kosher foods, visiting the synagogue regularly, celebrating Jewish traditions, and periodically speaking Yiddish. Joey’s anger kicks in when he witnesses and experiences prejudice against Jews in the form of disparaging slurs and unintentionally offensive comments.
The inclusion of mobsters in a book for young readers is uncommon, as the story takes place during a time when casinos are forcing people out of their New Jersey neighborhoods by buying up their properties. Joey admires Artie, the mob boss in the area, and he’s pleased when the man takes a special interest in him. Artie’s thugs are clearly dangerous men, and Joey’s frightened by phone conversations he overhears and threats he witnesses. Joey’s relationship with the mobsters contributes danger and mystery to the plot, and the situation is further complicated when Joey becomes the “baby-sitter” for Artie’s visiting daughter.
Honesty is an important topic in the book, as Joey struggles with the lies he’s telling his brothers, parents, and relatives. They begin simply with misleading statements or half-truths but quickly evolve into flat-out deceit. Readers will notice how his deceptions get out of control until Joey finds himself in an unexpectedly dangerous situation. He wants to confess to his brother or grandfather, but the notion that things will get better at the end of the week is naive. Problems won’t go away by themselves, and the only thing he can count on is family.
What didn’t work as well:
As with many books for young readers, the main character gets himself into trouble beyond his control and tries to keep it secret from those who might help. Being truthful in the beginning will prevent future problems. However, in this case, being honest would undermine the conflict and plot, and the author wouldn’t have a captivating, emotional story.
The Final Verdict:
Readers will immediately connect with Joey’s character due to his kindness and good heart. They’ll feel empathy for him as his problems mount and root for him when things look worst. Overall, I enjoyed this book very much, and I recommend you give it a shot.
The Jewish faith is an important part of the story, as Joey questions his place in the community. He wonders how God can allow bad things to happen and questions how well he understands his religion. However, he’s very loyal to his close-knit family, as his parents, brothers, grandparents, and uncle operate a hotel right on the beach. They practice their culture by eating kosher foods, visiting the synagogue regularly, celebrating Jewish traditions, and periodically speaking Yiddish. Joey’s anger kicks in when he witnesses and experiences prejudice against Jews in the form of disparaging slurs and unintentionally offensive comments.
The inclusion of mobsters in a book for young readers is uncommon, as the story takes place during a time when casinos are forcing people out of their New Jersey neighborhoods by buying up their properties. Joey admires Artie, the mob boss in the area, and he’s pleased when the man takes a special interest in him. Artie’s thugs are clearly dangerous men, and Joey’s frightened by phone conversations he overhears and threats he witnesses. Joey’s relationship with the mobsters contributes danger and mystery to the plot, and the situation is further complicated when Joey becomes the “baby-sitter” for Artie’s visiting daughter.
Honesty is an important topic in the book, as Joey struggles with the lies he’s telling his brothers, parents, and relatives. They begin simply with misleading statements or half-truths but quickly evolve into flat-out deceit. Readers will notice how his deceptions get out of control until Joey finds himself in an unexpectedly dangerous situation. He wants to confess to his brother or grandfather, but the notion that things will get better at the end of the week is naive. Problems won’t go away by themselves, and the only thing he can count on is family.
What didn’t work as well:
As with many books for young readers, the main character gets himself into trouble beyond his control and tries to keep it secret from those who might help. Being truthful in the beginning will prevent future problems. However, in this case, being honest would undermine the conflict and plot, and the author wouldn’t have a captivating, emotional story.
The Final Verdict:
Readers will immediately connect with Joey’s character due to his kindness and good heart. They’ll feel empathy for him as his problems mount and root for him when things look worst. Overall, I enjoyed this book very much, and I recommend you give it a shot.
June 13, 2022
In a large, Jewish family, it can often feel like the amount of talking and arguing everyone is doing makes it nearly impossible to keep secrets from one another. But thirteen-year-old Joey Goodman is finding that secrecy is easier to come across than he first imagined. The Goodman family is on their annual trip to visit Atlantic City and help their grandparents run their hotel the St. Bonaventure. However, as the legalization of gambling is on the horizon, it is questionable whether or not the hotel will survive the impending influx of casinos. Joey finds himself unintentionally wrapped up in the affairs of some questionable gentlemen, and over the course of a transformational month, he must become clear on who he is and what he truly believes in.
This family-oriented middle grade novel immerses readers immediately in the Goodman home, filled with noise and banter as its many family members interact with one another. Though the chapters are long, they flow easily, especially as readers wait with bated breath to learn what happens next in Joey’s unpredictable life. August 1975 is a period of change for both Joey and the country as a whole, and historic references are inserted throughout the novel to anchor the story in its intended time period. From mentions of war, to questions of legality, to anti-Semitic sentiments, readers will find themselves learning about this period in American history while simultaneously enjoying Joey’s story. And though it takes place nearly fifty years ago, much of the narrative’s context is disturbingly familiar.
The dialogue in this book gives the narrative a specific and memorable structure, especially as each character seems to jump from the pages with their speech. Much of the story reads as though a Martin Scorsese film has been translated into a middle grade novel, focusing on human relationships across a variety of challenging circumstances. Joey is the primary character, and as the plot unfolds through his eyes, the reader discovers some of both the brighter and the more sinister elements of human nature and human existence. Whether he is worried about his immediate relationships with those around him or his connection to the great beyond, Joey is finding that becoming a teenager is not as easy as it may have initially appeared. This is a thought-provoking and engaging middle grade novel that is an enjoyable addition to library collections for young readers.
This family-oriented middle grade novel immerses readers immediately in the Goodman home, filled with noise and banter as its many family members interact with one another. Though the chapters are long, they flow easily, especially as readers wait with bated breath to learn what happens next in Joey’s unpredictable life. August 1975 is a period of change for both Joey and the country as a whole, and historic references are inserted throughout the novel to anchor the story in its intended time period. From mentions of war, to questions of legality, to anti-Semitic sentiments, readers will find themselves learning about this period in American history while simultaneously enjoying Joey’s story. And though it takes place nearly fifty years ago, much of the narrative’s context is disturbingly familiar.
The dialogue in this book gives the narrative a specific and memorable structure, especially as each character seems to jump from the pages with their speech. Much of the story reads as though a Martin Scorsese film has been translated into a middle grade novel, focusing on human relationships across a variety of challenging circumstances. Joey is the primary character, and as the plot unfolds through his eyes, the reader discovers some of both the brighter and the more sinister elements of human nature and human existence. Whether he is worried about his immediate relationships with those around him or his connection to the great beyond, Joey is finding that becoming a teenager is not as easy as it may have initially appeared. This is a thought-provoking and engaging middle grade novel that is an enjoyable addition to library collections for young readers.
July 10, 2022
An entertaining and thought-provoking coming-of-age story. Here are six things I loved about this novel:
• The main character
Thirteen-year-old Joey Goodman is a total mensch even when he temporarily loses his way.
• His big, boisterous Jewish family
I especially adored his three brothers, whose interactions are funny and realistic. Each family member is wonderfully distinct, which is so difficult to pull off, and when they’re together, it’s magical.
• Setting
Joey’s grandparents and uncle own a hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey, which is on the cusp of welcoming its first casinos. It’s great fun to get an insider’s peek at the hotel and at the boardwalk (bizarre ape woman show, rolling chairs and all).
• Great humor
Particularly from the family matriarchs.
• Themes
Joey worries that his sensitivity makes him weak, and that his family will always see him as an anxious kid who just needs to go lie down. When his mad Skee-Ball skills catch a mob boss’ eye, it’s understandable how seductive such attention can be. But when Joey begins secretly working for the boss, he’s quickly in over his head. Readers will relate to Joey’s unrequited crush on an older girl and the questions he ponders about identity—what’s true strength?—and faith.
• Jewish rep
It’s important for Jewish kids—and all kids—to see themselves as heroes in stories. It’s also critical for people who aren’t Jewish to read such stories. I enjoyed immersing myself in a culture and religion that isn’t my own. Although the story is set in the summer of 1975, the anti-Semitism Joey and his family encounter, unfortunately, could be taken from today’s headlines.
Disclaimer: I received a digital copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. I only post about books I finished and enjoyed.
• The main character
Thirteen-year-old Joey Goodman is a total mensch even when he temporarily loses his way.
• His big, boisterous Jewish family
I especially adored his three brothers, whose interactions are funny and realistic. Each family member is wonderfully distinct, which is so difficult to pull off, and when they’re together, it’s magical.
• Setting
Joey’s grandparents and uncle own a hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey, which is on the cusp of welcoming its first casinos. It’s great fun to get an insider’s peek at the hotel and at the boardwalk (bizarre ape woman show, rolling chairs and all).
• Great humor
Particularly from the family matriarchs.
• Themes
Joey worries that his sensitivity makes him weak, and that his family will always see him as an anxious kid who just needs to go lie down. When his mad Skee-Ball skills catch a mob boss’ eye, it’s understandable how seductive such attention can be. But when Joey begins secretly working for the boss, he’s quickly in over his head. Readers will relate to Joey’s unrequited crush on an older girl and the questions he ponders about identity—what’s true strength?—and faith.
• Jewish rep
It’s important for Jewish kids—and all kids—to see themselves as heroes in stories. It’s also critical for people who aren’t Jewish to read such stories. I enjoyed immersing myself in a culture and religion that isn’t my own. Although the story is set in the summer of 1975, the anti-Semitism Joey and his family encounter, unfortunately, could be taken from today’s headlines.
Disclaimer: I received a digital copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. I only post about books I finished and enjoyed.
September 3, 2022
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I found the concept of this book interesting, featuring a young teen in a transition period of his life, in a transition time period in Atlantic City. As a character Joey is very compelling and I could see how kids in the same age range would really identify with him. Joey is the third of four sons and really struggling to find his place in his family and in life itself, he feels like no one gets him and like he's sometime invisible or an afterthought - which is a feeling I think a lot of young readers may struggle with at some point. Throughout the story is the theme of Joey not only figuring out things about himself, but also determining what is right and wrong when he's exposed to some individuals associated with the mob.
He goes through a lot of growth in a small amount of time while also solidifying his place in a lot of ways. He learns a lot about life in general as well as his family and how society treats people they see as different than them. This book does touch on discrimination and while I don't know a lot personally about the Jewish faith, I appreciated the snippets of information throughout the book and really appreciated Joey's questions and contemplation on his own faith.
While some of the little twists were a tad predictable for me, I think they were perfect for the targeted age range for this story. I really enjoyed reading Joey's story and seeing how he grew along the way.
I found the concept of this book interesting, featuring a young teen in a transition period of his life, in a transition time period in Atlantic City. As a character Joey is very compelling and I could see how kids in the same age range would really identify with him. Joey is the third of four sons and really struggling to find his place in his family and in life itself, he feels like no one gets him and like he's sometime invisible or an afterthought - which is a feeling I think a lot of young readers may struggle with at some point. Throughout the story is the theme of Joey not only figuring out things about himself, but also determining what is right and wrong when he's exposed to some individuals associated with the mob.
He goes through a lot of growth in a small amount of time while also solidifying his place in a lot of ways. He learns a lot about life in general as well as his family and how society treats people they see as different than them. This book does touch on discrimination and while I don't know a lot personally about the Jewish faith, I appreciated the snippets of information throughout the book and really appreciated Joey's questions and contemplation on his own faith.
While some of the little twists were a tad predictable for me, I think they were perfect for the targeted age range for this story. I really enjoyed reading Joey's story and seeing how he grew along the way.
March 1, 2023
Winner of the National Jewish Book Award for Middle Grade Literature, The Prince of Steel Pier will transport readers to 1972 and Atlantic City. Along with his immediate family, post-bar mitzvah boy, Joey, spends the summer helping at the kosher hotel his grandparents and uncle own. Business has gone downhill, and the hotel is falling apart. Joey waits tables with his older brothers, helps Zeyde fix leaks, plays Skee-Ball, and meets a gangster, who bets on Joey's throwing skills. Joey is pulled into several lies, faces antisemitic stereotyping, confronts moral dilemmas, and questions his belief in G-d. Guaranteed to bring on lots of discussion, this engrossing, beautifully written novel would be excellent for a lit circle or a parent/student book club.port readers to 1972 and Atlantic City. Along with his immediate family, post-bar mitzvah boy, Joey, spends the summer helping at the kosher hotel his grandparents and uncle own. Business has gone downhill, and the hotel is falling apart. Joey waits tables with his older brothers, helps Zeyde fix leaks, plays Skee-Ball, and meets a gangster, who bets on Joey's throwing skills. Joey is pulled into several lies, faces antisemitic stereotyping, confronts moral dilemmas, and questions his belief in G-d. Guaranteed to bring on lots of discussion, this engrossing, beautifully written novel would be excellent for a lit circle or a parent/student book club.
December 6, 2023
This book has a great first line: "It's nine o'clock on Friday morning, and Mrs. Goldberg is definitely dead." It's a shocking beginning, but it shows how sensitive Joey is, and it also sets a bit of a somber mood for the rest of the story. Joey Goodman is at his grandparents' house for the month of August with his mom, his dad (on the weekends), and his 3 brothers. While he's there, he helps out at the hotel as a waiter-in-training for breakfast and dinner, but he has the whole middle of the day to himself. He gets some money from his Uncle Sol and plays some rounds of Skee-Ball, where his skill catches the eye of Artie Bishop, the king of Steel Pier, who makes Joey feel like a king himself and more than the kid who puked after seeing a dead body, but Artie is a shady man determined to get Joey into his dealings. It's not a lot of action scenes, but it moves along. Nockowitz really transports you to Atlantic City in 1975 with different detailed descriptions, including the changing of the city as casinos are starting to take over. An appreciation of family while still finding yourself. It kinda reminded me of Lauren Wolk's books and Frankie & Bug with the focus on characters and setting.
July 14, 2022
I can’t tell you how much I loved The Prince of Steel Pier. I adored anxious 13 year old Joey Goodman, and the backdrop of 1970s Atlantic City was vibrant in its grunginess–and it was so wonderfully well-drawn.
Joey’s family treats him like a child, so of course he falls in with a grown-up gangster, Artie, who at least pretends to treat Joey well. But when one of his tasks for Artie goes awry, Joey enlists his family–the ones that calls him “squirt”–to help him out of the mess. But despite the help he gets from his brothers, Joey is the true hero of the story.
This book has everything you want from an MG novel. It’s a fabulously well-written story about coming into your own, finding out who you are, and seeing where you fit into the world. The messy, boisterous, Atlantic City Jewish family Nockowitz describes feels so real, and you want to be there bantering with them–at least this Jewish guy does. But I think this novel has wider appeal, because the themes are universal and it's an absolute delight to read.
Joey’s family treats him like a child, so of course he falls in with a grown-up gangster, Artie, who at least pretends to treat Joey well. But when one of his tasks for Artie goes awry, Joey enlists his family–the ones that calls him “squirt”–to help him out of the mess. But despite the help he gets from his brothers, Joey is the true hero of the story.
This book has everything you want from an MG novel. It’s a fabulously well-written story about coming into your own, finding out who you are, and seeing where you fit into the world. The messy, boisterous, Atlantic City Jewish family Nockowitz describes feels so real, and you want to be there bantering with them–at least this Jewish guy does. But I think this novel has wider appeal, because the themes are universal and it's an absolute delight to read.
September 1, 2022
Book Review…The Prince of Steel Pier by Stacy Nockowitz
My son and I have been on a reading marathon since the accident and we had a great time with this book!
Nobody in Joey's big Jewish family takes him seriously, so when Joey's Skee-Ball skills land him a job offer from a local mobster, he's thrilled to be treated like "one of the guys," and develops a crush on an older girl. Eventually disillusioned by the mob's bravado, and ashamed of his own dishonesty, Joey realizes where he really belongs. All it takes to get by is one's wits and a little help from one's brothers.
The story takes place in Atlantic City during the 70s and there are some great destinations. The story itself was great and the portrait that the author creates of a family is realistic. Joey is a great main character for the younger kids! We all went through that faze where we thought we were bigger and wiser than we actually were. It's a story full of honesty, hope and humor! Great story! Thank you Book Sparks and Stacy Nockowitz for sharing this wonderful story with my son and I!
My son and I have been on a reading marathon since the accident and we had a great time with this book!
Nobody in Joey's big Jewish family takes him seriously, so when Joey's Skee-Ball skills land him a job offer from a local mobster, he's thrilled to be treated like "one of the guys," and develops a crush on an older girl. Eventually disillusioned by the mob's bravado, and ashamed of his own dishonesty, Joey realizes where he really belongs. All it takes to get by is one's wits and a little help from one's brothers.
The story takes place in Atlantic City during the 70s and there are some great destinations. The story itself was great and the portrait that the author creates of a family is realistic. Joey is a great main character for the younger kids! We all went through that faze where we thought we were bigger and wiser than we actually were. It's a story full of honesty, hope and humor! Great story! Thank you Book Sparks and Stacy Nockowitz for sharing this wonderful story with my son and I!
September 26, 2022
The Prince of Steel Pier by Stacy Nockowitz (ARC supplied by author) The Atlantic City Boardwalk of the mid 1970’s was in a transition phase. It was moving from a once family friendly happening vacation spot to a series of casinos many run by mobsters. Joey and his family were one of the last holdouts on the Boardwalk running the St. Bonaventure Hotel for what may be its final year. Every August, Joey, along with his two older brothers help out their Bubbe and Zeyde along with Uncle Sol at the aging establishment. One hot August afternoon as Joey is filling his time between the breakfast and dinner shifts, he finds himself playing skeeball entertaining the Boardwalk’s thugs. Before he knows it he is helping out Artie, the King of Steel Pier and finds himself in way over his head. A nice novel for tweens set in the not too distant past in which the Jewish male protagonist examines his religion, his devotion to family and where he fits in the world. Readers in grades 3-6 will enjoy this adventuresome coming of age tale.
December 9, 2022
Joey and his family always spend the month of August at his grandparents' hotel in Atlantic City. It is the 1970s, and the hotel, which used to be extremely popular with the Jewish community, is definitely past its prime. Atlantic City is about to be taken over by casinos, now that gambling has been legalized there. Joey feels that no one in his family appreciates him. When he is approached by a local mob boss (implied, never exactly stated) who seems to see his worth, Joey's whole summer changes. Now he is caught between feeling appreciated by a stranger and lying to his family about what he is actually doing. When he makes a choice that potentially puts his family in danger, Joey begins to reevaluate. I really enjoyed reading a book about a Jewish teenager that did not involve antisemitism or the Holocaust. Highly recommended for grades 5 & up.
May 2, 2022
eARC provided by NetGalley
THE PRINCE OF STEEL PIER is an atmospheric portrait of New Jersey in the 1970s, set just before the legalization of gambling brought big casinos to the once-glamorous, then struggling Atlantic City. The specific and authentic details woven throughout the prose bring the setting to life— I wasn't surprised to learn that the St. Bonaventure hotel was based on a real place from the author's childhood.
I knew very little about Atlantic City's backstory going into this book, but the lively dialogue and gritty descriptions drew me in, and now I find myself wanting to learn more. This is going to be a great read for kid readers, especially those interested in mysteries, histories, and Skeeball machines.
THE PRINCE OF STEEL PIER is an atmospheric portrait of New Jersey in the 1970s, set just before the legalization of gambling brought big casinos to the once-glamorous, then struggling Atlantic City. The specific and authentic details woven throughout the prose bring the setting to life— I wasn't surprised to learn that the St. Bonaventure hotel was based on a real place from the author's childhood.
I knew very little about Atlantic City's backstory going into this book, but the lively dialogue and gritty descriptions drew me in, and now I find myself wanting to learn more. This is going to be a great read for kid readers, especially those interested in mysteries, histories, and Skeeball machines.
June 23, 2022
THE PRINCE OF STEEL PIER had me from the very first line. Joey Goodman’s voice! Distinctive and original, compelling and funny, honest and real. Set in 1970s Atlantic City, Stacy Nockowitz’s debut paints an extraordinary picture of a time and place I haven’t often seen in middle grade historical fiction… and it made me want more. Set against a backdrop of gangsters, skee-ball, a loving and supportive Jewish family and community, and the end of an era on the famed New Jersey boardwalk, Joey’s coming-of-age resonates so beautifully. Highly recommend. My thanks to NetGalley, KarBen Publishing, and Stacy Nockowitz for the eARC.
July 4, 2022
I loved this compelling and heartfelt story! Joey Goodman is a 13-year-old Jewish boy growing up in seedy Atlantic City in the 1970s, during the transition from family-owned hotels and old-times boardwalk amusement parks to the rise of the casinos. He feels overlooked and underestimated in his large family busy with their family-run hotel, so he jumps at the opportunity to chaperone the 15-year-old daughter of the "king of steel pier" for a couple of weeks. Before he knows it, Joey is drawn into a shady world of mobsters and must juggle secrets and make choices about how to live in the world. An entertaining and thought-provoking story sure to be loved by middle grade readers.
August 13, 2022
This was such an original, immersive book, both heartfelt and gripping. I really enjoyed the 1970's Atlantic City setting, and the vivid writing made it very easy to imagine. Joey is such an endearing protagonist, one that I would have loved to be friends with, and I felt very connected to his close-knit family. The plot is quickpaced and engaging, and I was really intrigued by a middle grade mobster story. It was incredibly well-done, and I can think of many middle grade readers that would absolutely love it. It's such a fresh, exciting take on historical fiction. I will definitely be recommending it to students and other teachers alike.
August 22, 2022
Joey spends the month of August helping at his grandparents failing hotel in Atlanta City. He meets Artie Bishop, whom gives him a job to do for two weeks that leads to some lies being told.
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This was a fast read, especially as a middle grade book with a bit of history. I loved this story of friendship, being true to your family, but also to yourself, of finding yourself and where you belong.
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Even without the life lessons, it was a fun read, picturing the boardwalk and the pier. Images of Santa Cruz pier and boardwalk fill my mind of what Steel Pier would be like back in the 1970s. It definitely makes me want to go back and indulge in all the little things.
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This was a fast read, especially as a middle grade book with a bit of history. I loved this story of friendship, being true to your family, but also to yourself, of finding yourself and where you belong.
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Even without the life lessons, it was a fun read, picturing the boardwalk and the pier. Images of Santa Cruz pier and boardwalk fill my mind of what Steel Pier would be like back in the 1970s. It definitely makes me want to go back and indulge in all the little things.
August 27, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4/5 STARS
This is a middle grade book set in the 1970s in Atlantic City. Joey is a 13yr old Jewish boy whose family runs a hotel on the Boardwalk. He accidentally finds himself working for the mob while navigating being a teen.
I liked the plot. It was a coming of age story with a mob twist.
I really enjoyed this book. If you have memories of Atlantic City, you will love it. I appreciate how the author wrote about how this is based off her own life. Great debut MG book!
Thank you Book Sparks for the gifted copy! 🕹🎟🏨
4/5 STARS
This is a middle grade book set in the 1970s in Atlantic City. Joey is a 13yr old Jewish boy whose family runs a hotel on the Boardwalk. He accidentally finds himself working for the mob while navigating being a teen.
I liked the plot. It was a coming of age story with a mob twist.
I really enjoyed this book. If you have memories of Atlantic City, you will love it. I appreciate how the author wrote about how this is based off her own life. Great debut MG book!
Thank you Book Sparks for the gifted copy! 🕹🎟🏨
November 18, 2022
found that I enjoyed this book more than I expected. The first chapter begins with a dead body and the main character vomiting - twice. So I had my doubts. But I'm glad I stuck it out.
Joey is the middle child and therefore feels overlooked by his busy Jewish family. Every summer they go to Atlantic City to help their grandparents run their hotel. He stumbles into a relationship with the mob, who show him the attention he craves.
I thought this story was well-written and paced. There were many moments of tension, as Joey continuously puts himself in danger with the gangsters he is involved with. That plot was very well done. I also appreciated that Joey was questioning his belief in God and learned that questioning is not only normal but encouraged.
See the rest of my review here: http://historybookbybook.com/The_Prin...
Joey is the middle child and therefore feels overlooked by his busy Jewish family. Every summer they go to Atlantic City to help their grandparents run their hotel. He stumbles into a relationship with the mob, who show him the attention he craves.
I thought this story was well-written and paced. There were many moments of tension, as Joey continuously puts himself in danger with the gangsters he is involved with. That plot was very well done. I also appreciated that Joey was questioning his belief in God and learned that questioning is not only normal but encouraged.
See the rest of my review here: http://historybookbybook.com/The_Prin...
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