Palisades Park covers most of Eddie & Adele's lifespan and quite a bit of their children's; allowing the reader to understand the characters perspective for the decisions they made. The story deals with career choices for both parents and also how parents can be supportive of their children in different ways. Mixed in are a wide variety of interesting "carni" characters exposing some of the shadier side of their lives.

Overall an interesting historical fiction read!

I also grew up near palisades. Park...but in a later time in the 50s....the book gave a great history of the era and the area...in the shadow of NYC and Coney Island ..this park with the fabulous wave pool provided lot of us the opportunity for fun summers

The George Washington Bridge goes from New Jersey to New York City. Palisades Park was on the Jersey side of that bridge and author Alan Brennert actually grew up within a mile of that park. This is an ode to the memories of that park that alternates between a recitation of facts and a story developed around characters who live the "carney" life. The bulk of the story takes place in the 40's and 50's and Brennert's excellent research provides a super review of where men & women have come from socially and culturally in the U. S. A little girl who dreams of becoming a high diver has her work cut out for her in the 1940's! If the reader lived through any of these decades, there are unending touchstones of memory--the hair rollers we slept in, the radio shows, the Diving Horse in Atlantic City, the smell of French fries from the stand in the park. So much more is told in a pleasant linear story. Not as good as Molokai, but a nice expansion of childhood memories and what lives were lived behind the carnival facades.

Good Book!

Our group loved this one! As one member put it, it was a seamless blend of fact and fiction that made the fictional characters as real as the authentic historical figures. Fun, fun read and great discussion

The nostalgia of Palisades Park and its location is just wonderful. Allan research on the Parks history was right on the mark and a big part of the book. The saga of Stopka family, the heart beat of the book, was just as intoxicating. Beautifully written, immensely consuming, LOVE IT! Bravo :)
Palisades has the rides...
Palisades has the fun...
Come On Over
Ride the coaster...
Get cool...
In the waves in the pool.
You\'ll have fun... so...
Come On Over.

Great read! Lots of interesting and multi-dimensional characters. Historical fiction and a pleasure to read. Each time I put it down, looked forward to when I could read it again. Book discussion was full of reminiscences from all the members of life in the 30's,40's and 50's.

Growing up in Northern New Jersey, Palisades Amusement Park was the place everyone wanted to visit during the summer. With its rides, saltwater pool, concessions, games and the midway there was always a great time to be had. Alan Brennert does a wonderful job describing the workings of the park as well as the people who made it all come together. Not only is it a story if the park, but there is history through the story.