The Domino Effect [Kindle Edition]

Andrew Cotto (Author), John Passineau (Illustrator)

Book Description

The Domino Effect is the story of Danny Rorro, a charismatic kid from Queens poisoned by the past. A series of painful defeats have left him scarred and isolated from his neighborhood, his parents, and, most significantly, the benevolent ways of his childhood when he was known as “Domino.” With great insight, imagery and wit, Danny recalls his past in Queens and his coming-of-age at Hamden Academy. This fast paced and powerful story is rich with conflict, humor, tenderness and music—just like life, especially when coming-of-age.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Domino Effect is full of charming characters and the narrative really grips your attention. There are resonances of To Kill A Mockingbird in the incontrovertible morality guiding the story. I found it hard to put down." - BookStackReviews

"Cotto's coming-of-age story left me invigorated, and thinking to myself, "Now, that's how you tell a story." - Underground Book Reviews

"There is an honesty and humor in these pages that doesn't come along every day, but when it does, it is something that should be acknowledged and paid forward." - Lisa Dawn Martinez

"The prologue in this has got to be one of the shortest I think I've ever read, but the most powerful.  It had me wanting to start Danny's story fast and I'm glad I did." - Spellbound by Books

"It was a really, really good coming of age story with a lot of heart and a lot of personality." - This Is from My Heart

From the Author

THE DOMINO EFFECT is a story about growing up. It is intended to be a coming of age story, as opposed to strictly a YA novel, with the idea of appealing to both those experiencing adolescence and those who have survived it as well. It is also intended to be funny and heartbreaking and, in the end, touching and real.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 709 KB
• Print Length: 231 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0615479677
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0068NOYX2
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #285,305 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars In Full Effect May 18, 2011

By Kevin Mangini

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I really enjoyed The Domino Effect. Its main character, Danny Rorro, reminds me a lot of myself in high school. Confident and outgoing at the same time vulnerable and confused. The years 14-18 are packed with so many firsts and unknowns. You're finding friends and girls at the same time trying to get to know what you like and don't. There's no preparation for being a teenager, just one day, bam, you're there. The Domino Effect captures the chaos and climax of those years with great style and storytelling. It's nice to revisit high school in this book. I'm just glad I don't have to live it again.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Terrific novel with wonderful three dimensional characters July 28, 2012

By Christina (Ensconced in YA) TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback

I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

While this is in the realm of YA, this is not the typical book that I read. That said, I really enjoyed The Domino Effect. This book focuses on the internal and external journey of Danny (Domino) as he goes through his turbulent teenage years. We travel with him through his rough childhood and growing up in his Italian family as well as going with him to boarding school where he juggles a beautiful girlfriend, wrestling bullies, and a nerdy roommate.

The strength of this novel is in its characters. Danny himself is painfully unaware of the teachings of his father for most of the book-- like most teenagers, all he can think about is himself and his problems. I loved how he grew and developed throughout the book and finally learned how to care for others the hard way (which always seems to be the case in the teenage years!!!). I thought that Brenda Divine was a terrific character, and she got her moment of glory in the end, which I appreciated.

The one thing that I was less enamored with was the conversations between Danny and the guys. It was harder to read because most of them had some type of lingo, and there were pages of just joshing around-- which while accurate, took away from the main storyline for me. That said, there was a wonderful moment between Danny and his roommate Sam, which I loved.

Overall, this was a wonderful book, and I greatly enjoyed reading it.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Coming of Age Story March 20, 2012

By Katie French

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Every once and a while a young adult book comes along that surprises me. The Domino Effect falls into this category, both thoughtful-- yet humorous, moralistic-- yet light-hearted. Cotto's coming-of-age story left me invigorated, and thinking to myself, "Now, that's how you tell a story."

Though The Domino Effect has not seen the rampant readership like current fantasy and sci-fi novels, it should. The story chronicles the high school career, particularly the senior year, of Danny "Domino" Rorro. After a violent attack at his old school, Danny's parents enroll him in Hamden Academy, a prestigious boarding school far different than life at home. Danny manages to maintain his comical out-look on life in this new setting, though he carries scars from the past. Things begin to change for Danny when he is assigned a roommate, Terance King, the only African American at Hamden Academy. This event propels both boys into a conflict of race that tests them to the core and changes them forever.

Though the novel takes a while to warm up, the depth of Danny's character will draw you in and keep you captive. Danny's wise-cracking, street-wise Italian voice will keep you chuckling. Cotto is a master at the adolescent banter and the descriptions of Hamden, told through Danny, were pitch perfect. The tender romance between Danny and Brenda Devine is touching and heartfelt. My one complaint would be that Cotto opens with pages of exposition on the previous three years, much of which could have been dealt out later or cut completely. I fear that readers may get bogged down in the first few pages and miss the gold lurking beyond.

Overall, The Domino Effect, does not disappoint. You'll find yourself cheering for Danny through the end. But more importantly, you'll find yourself reflecting on deep issues, something that is often lacking in teen literature of today.

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More About the Author

Andrew Cotto is a writer and teacher who lives in Brooklyn, NY. He is the author of two novels: "The Domino Effect" - winner of the 2012 Readers Favorite Silver Medal - is a coming of age story about a kid from Queens with a damaged past and a complicated present at a boarding school in rural New Jersey; "Outerborough Blues: A Brooklyn Mystery" is an unconventional noir about a drifter seeking a missing person and a remedy to his family's curse on the dawn of urban gentrification. His novels are represented by Dunow, Carlson and Lerner Literary Agency. Andrew's articles have appeared in many national journals, including the New York Times, Men's Journal, The Huffington Post, Salon.com, Deadspin, the Good Men Project and Teachers & Writers Magazine. He has an MFA in Creative Writing from The New School.