Publisher's Synopsis
Shortly after 9/11 in Brooklyn's Boerum Hill, Jamel Wilson, a 16-year-old father and high school dropout wants to listen to music in his courtyard, but his recreation is a profound irritation to his demographically diverse neighbours, each with domestic dramas of their own. Carol Fasone lives with her racist mother and Bosnian husband who she is putting through engineering school. Mitchell Brett and his wife are trying to have a child. Grace Howard is a workaholic hoping for a big promotion and some romance. Jamel's mother sells real estate and struggles to keep Jamel off the streets. But when tempers flare over the loud music, the cops are of little help and the situation turns volatile. Cohen's tight plot, complex characters and vibrant cityscape create a convincing slice of urban life.
