Zayde's Arcade: Coming of Age in Coney Island

Zayde's Arcade: Coming of Age in Coney Island

A nostalgic tale of first love, family secrets, and finding your place in the world. Summer, 1966. A nostalgic, heart tugging, coming-of-age novel set against the sun soaked chaos of Coney Island, where first love and family secrets collide. Sixteen-year-old Jason thinks he knows what the summer will bring when he takes a job at his Jewish grandfather’s penny arcade; sticky floors, the roar of rollercoasters, the clang of pinball machines, and the scent of hot dogs and cotton candy. But everything changes the moment he meets Anna, a beautiful Italian girl. What begins as a sweet summer romance soon thrusts Jason into a whirlwind of heartbreak, family struggles, and hidden truths. As Jason is pulled deeper into Anna's world, he finds himself caught between: A jealous boyfriend eager for a fight A strict, traditional father who discourages the relationship A devastating family loss that exposes long-hidden truths, and His grandfather's struggles to keep the arcade alive By the end of summer, Jason will confront the fragile line between nnocence and adulthood, love and heartbreak, loyalty and self discovery. Perfect for fans of: Emotional coming-of-age stories about first love - 1960's historical fiction set in New York City - Nostalgic novels filled with family drama and cultural identity Step inside Zayde’s Arcade . . . Feel the rumble of the rollercoasters, breathe the salty air, and experience the summer that shapes a young man's future forever. Author Andy Smith is an author and a professional actor originally from New York City who has lived in Canada for the last thirty years. Andy has appeared in numerous film, television and theatre productions, working alongside celebrities such as Tom Selleck and Kate Beckinsale.  In terms of his recently published novel, Zayde's Arcade, Andy spent many a summer in Coney Island in his formative youth and, while there, often visited his grandparents (his Bubbie and Zayde's) at their nearby penny arcade.  You can connect with Andy at: AndySmithOnLine.ca