The Bells of Bleecker Streets primary themes revolve around the sometimes subtle harm of untruths, the importance of friendship and the factors that test its limits, family loyalties, cultural differences, and the role of the artist.

The story also provides a colorful portrayal of the urban ethnic neighborhood, demonstrating the effects of World War II on family and community, and illustrating the influence of Catholicism on daily life in the Italian community.

Treating the concepts of faith, grace, and sin, the story centers on a group of boys who belong to a church ensemble that performs during the Christmas mass.

The Bells of Bleecker Street holds both religious and universal implications, maintaining a balance of deep religiosity and common-sense ethics. Angelo sees the struggle to learn how to live morally as a crucial aspect of the human condition, and this novel depicts characters who...