Nemesis

Set against the backdrop of a polio outbreak in Newark during the summer of 1944, Nemesis follows Bucky Cantor, a dedicated twenty-three-year-old playground director grappling with his inability to serve in the war due to his poor eyesight. As the epidemic strikes his community, Roth delves into a profound exploration of the emotions that arise from such crisis, including fear, anger, and despair. The narrative shifts between the streets of Newark and a summer camp in the Poconos, illustrating how the wartime polio epidemic impacts childhood and the close-knit bonds within the community.