Early Reader Review: The Prince of Steel Pier by Stacy Nockowitz

Source: From the publisher in exhcange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review. 

The Prince of Steel Pier by Stacy Nockowitz  

Publisher: Kar-Ben Publishing
Publication Date:  September 1, 2022

 

Format: Ebook

Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis: 

A Young Teen Falls in with the Mob, and Learns a Lesson About What Kind of Person He Wants to Be

In The Prince of Steel Pier, Joey Goodman is spending the summer at his grandparents' struggling hotel in Atlantic City, a tourist destination on the decline. Nobody in Joey's big Jewish family takes him seriously, so when Joey's Skee-Ball skills land him an unusual job offer from a local mobster, he's thrilled to be treated like "one of the guys," and develops a major crush on an older girl in the process. Eventually disillusioned by the mob's bravado, and ashamed of his own dishonesty, he recalls words of wisdom from his grandfather that finally resonate. Joey realizes where he really belongs: with his family, who drive him crazy, but where no one fights a battle alone. All it takes to get by is one's wits...and a little help from one's brothers.

Review:

As an adult reader, I think this will hit different than if you are a middle grade reader, but I could be wrong. Personally, I found it a little slow and predictable but MG readers may find it more fun. This story is about a boy named Joey, he is Jewish and part of a big family. Every summer they come to Atlantic City (pre-Casinos) and help their grandparents run their hotel on the boardwalk. Joey is the middle child with two older brothers and a younger brother, and he is really starting to feel it. He is always being told that he should go lay down or being called Squirt and he is starting to get sad about that. 

He is hardly seen by his family and so while on the pier he meets some guys while playing skee-ball. They make him feel great about himself, like he is a hero in some ways – so talented at skee-ball and they call him the “Good Man” a riff of his last name – Goodman. However, what Joey doesn’t realize is that he has mistakenly fallen in with the mob. Soon he understands the predicament he is in and tries to right the wrongs himself only making it all the worse off. 

At its heart this book is all about tradition, family, religion, and finding one-self. Joey is a good main character; he is anxious, and he seems like a normal 13 year old boy. I think that the nostalgia in this book will do a lot for older readers but might miss the mark with younger ones. The time/era of this book, the 1970’s, is 52 years ago and I think that the history is a great thing to share with readers, but it might not be all that relatable. 

All that said, the story was a good one, even with its slower bits. I think that younger readers will enjoy the anticipation of Joey learning he is helping the mob and the struggle he faces. They might ask a lot of questions about the 70’s though, could be fun for both parents and kids to chat about.