A gritty, all-American Rust Belt coming-of-age story set in a declining industrial town in Ohio. Centered on the Coale family’s struggle to get by, it follows Jess, the youngest son, who is spoiled by his family. Caught between street thugs, school drama, and gang conflicts, he relies on his natural high IQ and his family’s protection to grow from a rebellious boy drifting through life into a man who can hold on to his principles and support his family. The violence stays true to the logic of American street life, while the story’s fiery heart lies in protecting family and a young man’s awakening. Its emotional arc balances the attention of a wealthy heiress with the resonance of a fractured soul.
