"There's no being free on the outside without being free on the inside," proclaims the Mighty Matthias in Venessa Vida Kelley's lush and luminous debut novel, "When the Tides Held the Moon." The themes of freedom, agency, self-empowerment, community and resilience play out in a nostalgia-tinged kaleidoscope in this historic romantasy set in 1911 Coney Island.
The iconic amusement park will open for the season on Saturday, March 29. Opening day festivities kick off at noon in front of the beloved Cyclone roller coaster with entertainment, speeches and the coaster's traditional egg cream christening ceremony.