By shining a brilliant light on the mundane struggles between gentry and working class residents locally in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, DeSena reveals the class conflicts produced by capitalism globally. As in her previous works, she again demonstrates the value of theoretically informed urban ethnography in bringing to the foreground important, but often overlooked, aspects of urban social life.

Jerome Krase, Emeritus and Murray Koppelman Professor, Brooklyn College, The City University of New York

As an urban sociologist with young children, DeSena brings a fresh perspective to gentrification research. She identifies how schools and playgrounds – places at the heart of every neighborhood – become significant, on a daily basis, in reinforcing class inequalities. DeSena has brought families back into the study of the city, and we should thank her for doing so.

Daphne Spain, James M. Page Professor and Chair, Department of Urban and Environmental Planning, University of Virginia