Fine Young People

Bruno’s second novel introduces not-yet-18 Frankie, a Princeton-bound senior at St. Ignatius near Pittsburgh, where academic prestige has been eclipsed by decades of hockey victories. Frankie’s mother’s teacher job allows Frankie to attend the elite institution. During Frankie’s last semester, a senior hockey player takes his own life, sparking renewed interest in two past suicides of St. Ignatius hockey players. Pairing with her BFF Shiv for their journalism final project, the duo reexamines the older death of hockey star Woolf Whiting, whose corpse was found in the school chapel 18 years ago. Unexpected truths abound. Perennially youthful Powers is a careful Frankie, who looks in from the outside at the privilege that surrounds her. Powers easily lowers her registers for male characters—solemn Father Michael, most-of-the-time amiable Woolf, and quietly questioning Vince.