Brothers, Boyfriends & Other Criminal Minds

Characters: April Lundquist (main character); Matt (April's older brother); Bettina Bocelli (Matt's crush); Sammy (April's younger brother); Brandi (April's best friend); Dominick DeMao (April's crush); Little Joe (Matt's Friend/likes April); Larry (special neighbor); "Soft Sal" Luciano (Larry's dad/mobster); "Frankie the Crunch" Consiglione (mobster); Vincent "Gorgeous Vinny" Persico (mobster); Mr. Cornelius (English teacher); Walt and Umberto (friends who like Brandi & April)

Setting: Brooklyn area of New York; late 1970's (After Elvis died)

Exposition: April is a sophomore in high school. She likes to read, and dark, scary, eerie books are her favorite. April's parents don't quite understand her attraction to morbid things like scary books, skulls, the Mafia, or her interest in boys like Dominick DeMao. Her best friend, Brandi, who likes Walt, doesn't understand April's interest in Dominick either, and she drags April on several double dates with Walt's friend, Bert (Umberto), in hopes to keep her away from Dominick.

Plot: April lives in Brooklyn in a neighborhood filled with men who are connected to the Mafia. She and her brother, Matt, go to school with their children. Matt is secretly dating Bettina Bocelli, whose father is "Bobby the Bull Bocelli." When Matt gets the lead role as Romeo in the school play and Bettina lands the role of Juliette, April worries that her brother will be "taken out" by Bettina's father. April unintentionally and unwillingly becomes connected with the mob when she and Brandi accept payments from Soft Sal Luciano for walking his special needs child, Larry, to school each day. In return, she asks for protection for Matt, who refuses to end his relationship with Bettina. Along the way, April struggles with her own boy problems. She is attracted to the rebellious musician, Dominick, but her parents and friends have trouble accepting him. In addition, he seems to still be involved with his ex-girlfriend, Roxanne. Although April's heart is set on Dominick, she seems to be tangled in a not-so-fantastic foursome, consisting of April & Umberto, and Brandi & Walt.

Point of View: April Lundquist tells the story from 1st person point of view. She is involved in the action.