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Content snapshot
Flag an inaccuracy →What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.
Violence
Some
Street violence; some brutal neighborhood scenes
Language
A lot
Heavy strong language; realistic to the setting and era
Sexual Content
Some
Adult sexual content in the later sections
Substance Use
Very heavy
Heavy drug use, particularly heroin; central to characters' trajectories
Emotional Intensity
A lot
Race, privilege, and the psychological burden of a white man shaped by Black culture
What this book is about
Dylan Ebdus grows up white in a mostly Black Brooklyn neighborhood in the 1970s, befriending Mingus Rude in a childhood defined by street culture, comic books, and a mysterious ring with real powers. Lethem's ambitious novel spans decades and genres, exploring race, privilege, gentrification, and the way childhood friendships haunt adult lives.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Heavy drug use (heroin)
Strong language throughout
Adult content
Race and privilege themes
Reader Verification
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