Zayde’s Arcade: Coming of Age in Coney Island by Andy Smith
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A nostalgic, heart-tugging coming-of-age novel set against the sun-soaked chaos of Coney Island, where first love, family secrets, and the summer of 1966 change a boy’s life forever.
Sixteen-year-old Jason thinks he knows what summer will bring when he takes a job at his Jewish grandfather’s penny arcade sticky floors, ringing bell machines, and endless crowds drifting between the boardwalk and the beach.
But everything shifts the moment he meets Anna, a beautiful Italian girl with a quiet smile and a life more complicated than he ever imagined.
Their romance sparks quickly… and dangerously.
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 forbids their relationship
- A devastating family loss that exposes long-hidden truths
- His grandfather’s struggles to keep the arcade alive during a changing era
By the end of the summer, Jason will confront the fragile line between innocence and adulthood, love and heartbreak, loyalty and self-discovery.
Nothing about growing up is simple especially when it unfolds under the bright lights of Coney Island in its golden age.Perfect for readers who love:
- Emotional coming-of-age stories about first love
- 1960s historical fiction set in New York
- Nostalgic novels filled with family drama and cultural identity
- Beach reads with depth, heart, and unforgettable atmosphere
Step inside Zayde’s arcade, feel the rumble of the rollercoasters, breathe the salt air and experience the summer that shapes a young man’s future forever.
Year first published: 2025
