In the early part of the book, Peter (by relaying conversations among his parents and aunts) outlines critiques and defenses of American suburbia. To Arax, suburbia was supremely comfortable and represented the utmost safety and prosperity available in the United States. She says, “there’s more community and goodwill” in their suburbs “than anywhere in America […] or anywhere in the world, for that matter” (41). Some aunts see it as a cultural wasteland with no character, and favor New York City for its high culture and international intellectual community instead.

The lack of a storied past or enduring traditions in suburbia come to light throughout Peter’s childhood and adolescence. The specter of the unspoken truth about Armenia and his family’s journey from there to the US routinely haunted his adolescent homes in the suburbs. Armenian traditions define the author’s life and family routines, which occasionally isolate him from his friends. In his first suburban neighborhood in Teaneck, New Jersey, Jewish culture defines daily life for all of his friends and neighbors. The meeting ground for all the children, however, is street baseball. There is no room for engagement with diverse cultures, as neighborhoods are so homogenous, but American pastimes imbibe the author’s and his friends’ lives with great meaning and interest.