The Messiah of Howard Street

Book excerpt: Hayden Bell has successfully evaded University of Nebraska at Lincoln by employing himself as a street performer in the Old Market. Kelly Erickson is watching her mother die of cancer, and Jane Harris is watching her best friend march off to Iraq. Frank Kuzchenitsh is stuck in a dead end job, Ryan Fairfield just filed for divorce, and Thomas Stall is successfully making his escape via an impromptu Colorado road trip. Through Jennifer Castello's small portraits of those who have found themselves on the threshold of change and monotony, the city of Omaha comes to life in a story of growing up, standing up, and taking chances.