The Fortress of Solitude

In The Fortress of Solitude, Dylan Ebdus navigates a dangerous and gritty Brooklyn neighborhood while growing up white and motherless in the 70s. Mingus Rude, a motherless black teen, becomes Dylan's only friend as they encounter muggings, stoopball, and a world of superheroes, hip-hop, and graffiti. Lethem masterfully weaves themes of race, class, loyalty, and memory into an emotionally gripping coming-of-age novel set against a backdrop of gentrification and funk. A must-read for fans of urban fiction.