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K**N
Ivy Hill: An Immersive, Emotional Recall of Growing Up in Newark during the 60’s.
I lived in Ivy Hill during the 60’s, so the locations, schools and historical events are very real to me. The writing is superb. The protagonist is two years ahead of me at Mt Vernon and whoa does he have a story to tell. The mannerisms and dialogues are depicted as colorful as I remember. I was transported time and again back to the days of living at Manor Drive, my classmates and dodgeball games at Mt Vernon, hanging out at the “Park,” trips to downtown Newark to shop. It resurfaced memories of long ago violent upheavals and my coming of age anxieties. A truly great read!
J**T
A riveting coming-of-age tale
An astonishingly good coming-of-age tale, gritty and often depressing, but riveting. Ruben and Cooney deliver a stellar piece of writing, with pitch-perfect voice, a rich cast of characters, and a plot that threads deftly through twists and turns. A surprise appearance at the end underscores the heart that runs through the book.
E**O
Well written and rings true
I got word of this book from Facebook reviews of people who had read it. I was curious, as I grew up at a time and place close to the Ivy Hill apartments in Vailsburg. I was surprised by the readability of the book and although some of the names were disguised, I caught on quickly to the area and also to the heartfelt story of a young boy who really did have an ugly stepfather and who grew up, as I did, in tumultuous times. I recommend it. It is a page turner for sure.
B**L
Once you start reading, you can’t put the book down
Growing up in the Vailsburg neighborhood of Newark New Jersey and frequenting the Ivy Hill area is the main reason I purchased the book BUT the story itself , well it brought me back to my childhood. I laughed, I cried, I got angry, I felt the emotions of those in the book. A great story of how something horrible can still turn you into a successful loving human being. Definitely recommend even if you know nothing about the area
H**D
Wow!
This is a sensational read. I stretched out my journey through it to not get done too quickly. Character development is as profound of anything I have ever read. It is real in every way. Sentimental, dramatic, suspenseful. It has it all. I’m giving myself a month and I will be rereading it. Hope there is a movie in the horizon!
Trustpilot
2 weeks ago
1 day ago
