Street by A.D. Metcalfe is an extraordinary novel. It’s the story of 12 year-old Johnny Alvarez who runs away from his abusive home in Miami, gets on a bus, goes to New York, and thrives. Johnny is remarkably adept at survival, parking his few belongs in a tree, spending his first night in Central Park, and then establishing himself in a rundown building in Washington Heights. Johnny’s gang builds and gathers momentum as he makes use of his wits and his language skills.

He does have a problem, however. He was so badly abused by his brother in Miami that he periodically blacks out and loses control sort of like the Hulk. It is a gritty, emotionally resonant coming-of-age story, but it is also a a coming-to-terms story as Johnny struggles to get his internal monster under control.

This must have been a challenging book to write just from the standpoint of seeing the world through the eyes of a twelve-year old boy. People do rise to the challenge and behave beyond their maturity, but Johnny is exceptional. There is no youth in him or his world. What sets this novel apart is its psychological depth. Johnny’s internal struggles—particularly the trauma inflicted by his sadistic older brother—are portrayed with raw honesty. The narrative doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of adolescence, but it also offers moments of levity and camaraderie that make Johnny’s journey feel authentic and human

Metcalfe blends gritty realism with emotional nuance, creating a story that is both harrowing and hopeful. The prose is sharp, the pacing brisk, and the characters vividly drawn. If you're drawn to stories of resilience, urban survival, and the complexities of youth, Street is a compelling and thought-provoking read.