August and Then Some

In his devastating second novel (after Say That to My Face), Prete weaves the events of one steamy New York summer and its aftermath into a story of tragedy and redemption. When 17-year-old JT Savage finds out that his father has been sexually abusing his little sister, Danielle, he and his friend Eugene "Nokey" Cervella try to steal a beloved 1965 Shelby Cobra from the family garage, a doomed bid for revenge with grim consequences. In a parallel narrative, JT flees Yonkers and heads to Manhattan's Lower East Side to work for a landscaping company, and befriends Stephanie, a 13-year-old Dominican neighbor who has "sadness coming off her like heat." As the two forge a tentative bond, the extent of Danielle and Nokey's dire predicaments are revealed. Though the author never shies away from grappling with big issues%E2%80%94whether sociological, familial, or emotional%E2%80%94, Prete too often falls back on cursing and easy signifying accents to convey a sense of gritty inner-city authenticity, and some of the key relationships lack dimension. Ultimately, JT's reflection%E2%80%94"I wonder what ordinary feels like"%E2%80%94rings as the novel's most profound statement for a young man whose choices may permanently alienate him from normalcy. (Apr.)