The Eight-Block Rule — Peter Fusco

Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn on mid-twentieth century urban steroids, meet Danny Manzi who will win your heart and challenge your perceptions of life, love and hate. A boy with a philosopher's heart, a sage's sensibilities and an intellect to match, Danny's outlook on the world is forged in a sterile relationship with his mother, a healthy fear of his father, cautious interaction with his older brothers and care for his younger sisters. Seduced and abused by an alcoholic widow, Danny grows up very quickly. But when teenage novitiate, Sister Claire enters his life the question becomes who is predator and who is prey. At times funny and sad, The Eight-Block Rule is a bittersweet coming-of-age tale unlike any other. First in a trilogy, some critics have labeled the story "unnerving" and "disturbing," but by any measure it will leave you drained of emotion and glad that you were.