The Town of Babylon by Alejandro Varela

 

As Andres, the gay son of Hispanic immigrants finds out, cookie-cutter suburbia smothers individuality. But in high school, rigid hierarchies twisted into helixes. When his father’s illness brings Andres back to Babylon, the small New York town where he grew up, he has to confront many unresolved issues. These include a lingering crush on a classmate and possible homophobia that mars another’s character. Describing classism and racism, Varela movingly illuminates the evolving suburbs as well. Their embrace of Trumpism while being forced to make room for assimilation over the years, leaves folks like Andres forever on the outside looking in.