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by Adria Quiñones (Author), Richy Sanchez Ayala (Illustrator)
Author Adria Quiñones invites readers back to her home of Washington Heights in New York City with her second title for Reycraft Books, When They Tore Down the Palace! Aracelys lives in Washington Heights, an eclectic neighborhood in northern Manhattan in New York City. One day, her father tells her a story of The Palace, an old-time movie theater at the corner of Broadway and 181st Street. "It was grand and mysterious like a hotel in a far-away land," says Papa. After a while, the theater got old and fewer people continued to visit to watch movies and it was shut down. Her uncle, Tio Manolo, hoped one day it would show movies again, but it wasn't meant to be. One spring day, Aracelys and her family see the construction crew arrive to take down The Palace brick by brick until all that is left is empty space with a large fence around it. While this makes them sad, they soon realize they could now see other buildings on the other side of Broadway! Who lives there? What are they doing? Were there kids looking for them? Aracelys and her family soon find creative ways to communicate with the people across the street, hoping to meet new friends. It doesn't take long before they get a response, sparking a brand-new friendship! When They Tore Down the Palace is a heartwarming story about a family learning about the history of their neighborhood and how they interact with neighbors around them. Author Adria Quiñones, a life-long New Yorker and resident of Washington Heights, introduces readers to local history and how it shapes the characters' desire to make new friends. Readers will become immersed in the story with such topics as: History of "The Palace" The Palace, originally built in 1920 as B.S. Moss' Coliseum Theatre, was a movie palace located on the corner of Broadway and 181st Street in northern Manhattan. The theater was a staple of the community for nearly 100 years, even going through renovations for modernization until it was closed for good in 2011 and demolished in 2020 to make room for future developments. Author Adria Quiñones conveys this history through the words of the father and uncle, which are filled with fondness for what was and a longing for a new place to bring the community together. New Friendships: Despite a piece of neighborhood history going away, Aracelys and her family are excited at the endless possibilities to meet new friends when they can see apartment buildings across the street from their own building for the first time ever! Community Development: There is a piece of history in every town in the United States, whether it be a theater, a park, or a library. When They Tore Down the Palace provides the perfect opportunity for readers and communities around the country to dive into the history of their own town and build friendships around these central locations.
