Andrew Cotto's Blog - Posts Tagged "coming-of-age"
The Domino Effect - trailer
I tried to post this link to The Domino Effect trailer in the video section of my profile, but it wouldn't work. So, here it is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gY5jsm...
The trailer was created by me and my friend using an imac. We took many of the photos in the Queens neighborhood and boarding school that inspired the respective settings.
The music is from the amazing Chris Cubeta.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gY5jsm...
The trailer was created by me and my friend using an imac. We took many of the photos in the Queens neighborhood and boarding school that inspired the respective settings.
The music is from the amazing Chris Cubeta.
Review of THE DOMINO EFFECT by Chapters & Chats
The Domino Effect is Andrew Cotto’s debut novel. Having said that, I actually read his second novel ‘Outerborough Blues’ first. Yeah, that’s me, shun what society thinks right? But I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed this coming of age novel just as much.
With Danny Rorro, Cotto creates a character that teens and adults will relate to as many have faced bullying in their lives. The Domino Effect is about rising above adversity, racial tension and obstacles placed our paths. Told with a combination of humor and drama the story carries the reader on a wave of emotions in the fluent writing style that Cotto does so well.
Danny Rorro, called Domino by everyone, is a normal kid living in Queens. He has been taught by his parents to accept people at face value and champion for the underdog. This creates a chain of events that will change Domino’s life in ways that leave him withdrawn, sullen and damaged. Eventually sent to a boarding school, The Hamden Academy, Domino begins to heal his demons and befriend a group of his dorm mates. When the only black student Terence, becomes the target of the campus thugs, Domino becomes entangled in the fray when Terence is assigned as his roommate. During the turmoil Domino meets the girl of his dreams; Brenda Divine who is swept away by one of his acquaintances adding more burden to his already troubled mind.
Given the choice of distancing himself from the drama surrounding him or championing the wrongs done to his friends, Domino chooses the latter with consequences that find him once again in Queens with his future in question.
The Domino Effect is one of those books that will have you up until the wee hours of the morning unable to put it down. It would make a great choice for a reading club. Bottom line, you should buy the book as it is a touching story that will draw you in, make you wince and smile as the story unfolds.
With Danny Rorro, Cotto creates a character that teens and adults will relate to as many have faced bullying in their lives. The Domino Effect is about rising above adversity, racial tension and obstacles placed our paths. Told with a combination of humor and drama the story carries the reader on a wave of emotions in the fluent writing style that Cotto does so well.
Danny Rorro, called Domino by everyone, is a normal kid living in Queens. He has been taught by his parents to accept people at face value and champion for the underdog. This creates a chain of events that will change Domino’s life in ways that leave him withdrawn, sullen and damaged. Eventually sent to a boarding school, The Hamden Academy, Domino begins to heal his demons and befriend a group of his dorm mates. When the only black student Terence, becomes the target of the campus thugs, Domino becomes entangled in the fray when Terence is assigned as his roommate. During the turmoil Domino meets the girl of his dreams; Brenda Divine who is swept away by one of his acquaintances adding more burden to his already troubled mind.
Given the choice of distancing himself from the drama surrounding him or championing the wrongs done to his friends, Domino chooses the latter with consequences that find him once again in Queens with his future in question.
The Domino Effect is one of those books that will have you up until the wee hours of the morning unable to put it down. It would make a great choice for a reading club. Bottom line, you should buy the book as it is a touching story that will draw you in, make you wince and smile as the story unfolds.
Review of THE DOMINO EFFECT by Mother-Daughter Book Club
Danny Rorro is happy growing up in his mostly Italian neighborhood in Queens, where he is known as Domino, or little Dominick, after his dad. But the neighborhood is changing, and as much as Danny would like to believe that ethnicity doesn’t count, not everyone feels that way. When he tries to bridge the gap by playing basketball with a group of Latins, older kids call him “Spic lover,” and “traitor.” Before long, they decide to teach him a lesson with a baseball bat that lands him in the hospital.
With his world uprooted, Danny begins to act out at home until his parents give him a choice: military school or boarding school. The boarding school he attends is a relief in some ways, but there are still racial conflicts between an African American basketball player and white wrestlers. Once again Danny finds himself in a situation that won’t be easily solved, but he’s figured out a thing or two about fighting back without throwing a punch.
The Domino Effect by Andrew Cotto is a thoughtful coming of age story that quietly reveals Danny’s struggle to understand ethnic polarization, first love, the meaning of friendship and how to do what he knows is right. He is a flawed character who doesn’t always do the right thing, which makes him even more believable. Yet, as he comes to grips with the challenges he has faced in his life, he learns how to decide what’s right for him and move toward his future.
A book for both boys and girls, I recommend The Domino Effect for readers aged 14 and up.
The author provided me with a copy of this book to review.
With his world uprooted, Danny begins to act out at home until his parents give him a choice: military school or boarding school. The boarding school he attends is a relief in some ways, but there are still racial conflicts between an African American basketball player and white wrestlers. Once again Danny finds himself in a situation that won’t be easily solved, but he’s figured out a thing or two about fighting back without throwing a punch.
The Domino Effect by Andrew Cotto is a thoughtful coming of age story that quietly reveals Danny’s struggle to understand ethnic polarization, first love, the meaning of friendship and how to do what he knows is right. He is a flawed character who doesn’t always do the right thing, which makes him even more believable. Yet, as he comes to grips with the challenges he has faced in his life, he learns how to decide what’s right for him and move toward his future.
A book for both boys and girls, I recommend The Domino Effect for readers aged 14 and up.
The author provided me with a copy of this book to review.
THE DOMINO EFFECT is up for an award!
THE DOMINO EFFECT has been named a Finalist in the coming of age category for this year's Readers Favorite Award. Oh, yeah.
