Behind the Story

Dancing in the streets of Brooklyn is a story that comes from my imagination, but it is also mixed with the memories of my childhood and the stories passed down to me by my parents and grandparents.  The characters are fictional, but some of them are loosely based on real people in my family.       Like Judy and Jacob, my parents grew up in the Norwegian community of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, in the 1940s. They experienced World War II on the home front.  This was a time of great patriotism and self-sacrifice. They enjoyed simple pleasures like games of stickball with their friends, swimming in the Sunset Park pool, and trips to Coney Island.  My mother had a younger brother with a fantastic imagination, much like Roy. My parents knew each other from a very young age and later became high school sweethearts.     While doing research on this time period, I called my parents constantly, asking them all kinds of questions on what it was like growing up during the war.  They were always (I hope) happy to hear from me.

My Uncle Roy - age seven, professional street sweeper.  Charges one penny a storefront.

My dad (Jacob), thirteen, trying to look cool.  My mom (Judy ), is in the background, ignoring him.

April Lurie Children's and Young Adult Author

My mom (Judy), age thirteen, on her confirmation day.  Her parents (Ma and Pa) on either side, and Roy doing his best to make an awful face and spoil the photo.