Welcome to the Arcade
Welcome to the Arcade by Michael F. DeConzo, published by Archway Publishing on May 8, 2023, is a fiction novel that explores the lives of three best friends—Johnny Romano, Ralphie Molinaro, and Giulia Stringer—living in South Beach, Staten Island. As they navigate the complexities of adolescence, they grapple with profound questions about family, loss, and the powerful ties to their neighborhood, particularly the rundown arcade that serves as a focal point in their lives.
This narrative spans a decade, following the characters from ages ten to twenty, as they encounter various individuals, including a local mob enforcer and a mysterious arcade owner, each with their own secrets. The story delves into the challenges of growing up, the nature of love, and the impact of their surroundings on their development. Readers will find a rich tapestry of experiences that reflect the struggles and triumphs of youth, all set against the backdrop of a beach town steeped in history.
Official synopsis Publisher
Living in South Beach, Staten Island, the “forgotten borough” of New York City, best friends Johnny Romano, Ralphie Molinaro and Giulia Stringer struggle to understand a world that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to them. They’re searching for answers to questions that seem impossible to figure out: why are their parents so crazy? How do they live with the hole left in their hearts when someone dies? Why is the gravitational pull of their neighborhood, a beach town next to the Verrazano Bridge that still hasn’t shaken off its past, so powerful? What peculiar shapes can love take? And why has a rundown arcade two blocks from the beach become the center of their universe? But the people they meet–from Joey C., the local mob enforcer, to Luke, a transfer student at Tompkins High School, to Dinino, the mysterious owner of the arcade–all have their own secrets to hide. Covering a decade of their lives, from ten to twenty years of age, WELCOME TO THE ARCADE follows Johnny, Ralphie and Giulia as they move through the kaleidoscope of childhood to the insanity of young adulthood, always keeping one burning question in their minds: How do we figure out the greatest mystery of them all–growing up?
FAQ
What is “Welcome to the Arcade” about?
Who is the author of “Welcome to the Arcade”?
When was “Welcome to the Arcade” published?
What is the ISBN for “Welcome to the Arcade”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
