Crossing the Bronx

Hirshberg’s novel is one of many stories of eminent domain and a community struggling to keep from being uprooted by threatened development (in this case, an expressway cutting through the Bronx). That alone would make it an interesting story, but it’s far more than that. It’s also a tale of family, of brothers on opposite sides of a conflict, and of solidarity between the various ethnic groups that made up 1950s New York City. The Italian and Jewish communities are most prominent, but the book spans many more, making for a stirring tale of solidarity.

It’s also an outright joy to read. Every page is full of life, from the joyful moments of young love to the parts that show the racism and antisemitism that have always been a part of American life. My favorites were the moments that fell in between, where questionable or even downright illegal actions were undertaken with the best of intent. Hirshberg does an excellent job showing complexity and nuance in interpersonal relationships, and even in what people think of themselves, whether or not those people know it. I enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.