{"product_id":"american-skin-9780684862224","title":"American Skin","description":"\u003ch2\u003eAmerican Skin by Don De Grazia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eAmerican Skin\u003c\/i\u003e was first published in the United Kingdom to resounding acclaim after the author used his last seventy-five dollars to make an unsolicited submission to the publisher of the Scottish beats, whose work he admired. It is a timeless story about a young man's coming-of-age as well as a stunning portrait of the class and racial tensions that pervade our society.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlot Overview\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAlex Verdi is on the lam, fleeing from the police who have arrested his parents on drug charges and want him for questioning. Traveling to Chicago, he joins a multiracial group of anti-Nazi skinheads and embarks on an odyssey that takes him from the city's embattled streets to an Army boot camp to Northwestern's plush campus, and finally lands him amid the horrors of maximum-security prison.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis intense debut novel explores themes of identity, survival, and social justice through the eyes of a young protagonist navigating America's most challenging environments. The narrative moves from urban street culture to military discipline to academic privilege, offering readers a comprehensive view of American society's stratified layers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCritical Reception\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn this gripping debut, Don De Grazia confirms his stature as a young writer of uncommon seriousness and consummate artistry. The novel received resounding acclaim upon its UK publication and has established itself as a significant work examining contemporary social divisions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDon De Grazia, a former factory worker, bouncer and soldier, is a professor of Creative Writing at Columbia College in Chicago and the editor of \u003ci\u003eF Literary Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e, a journal devoted to new fiction. He lives in Chicago, Illinois. His diverse background informs the authentic voice and raw honesty that permeates \u003ci\u003eAmerican Skin\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Touchstone Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50680678580498,"sku":"9780684862224","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/american-skin-9780684862224","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}