"The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros follows the story of a Jewish teenager named Alter who moves to Chicago in the early 20th century. He becomes entwined in a dark mystery when his friend goes missing, prompting him to delve into the city’s hidden underbelly. As he navigates the challenges of identity, friendship, and love, he grapples with his own sense of belonging in a world filled with prejudice and danger. The novel blends historical context with themes of acceptance and resilience, showcasing the struggles and triumphs of a young man seeking to carve out his place in a vibrant yet tumultuous city. [Generated by language model - please report any problems].

This book is aimed at Young Adult readers. The term Young Adult (YA) is used for books which have the following characteristics: (1) aimed at ages 12-18 years, US grades 7-12, UK school years 8-15, (2) around 50-75k words long, (3) main character is aged 12-18 years, (4) topics include self-reflection, internal conflict vs external, analyzing life and its meaning, (5) point of view is often in the first person, and (6) swearing, violence, romance and sexuality are allowed. This book was published in 2021 by Recorded Books, Inc. .

Aden Polydoros grew up in Long Grove, Illinois, and now lives in Arizona. He is a writer of young adult fiction. When he isn't writing, he enjoys reading and going on hikes in the mountains. Aden Polydoros is a 2015 Gold Medalist in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards and has published two short stories in Best Arizona Teen Writing of 2015.