Schtick is the tale of Jewish assimilation and its discontents. It is a sweeping exposition on Jewish-American culture in all its bawdy, contradictory and inventive glory. Exploring how Jews shed minority status in America - in his own family and in culture and politics at large - up-and-coming poet Kevin Coval illustrates a people's transformation out of diaspora, landing on both sides of the colour line. Coval has been described as a new, glowing voice in the world of literature' by Studs Terkel.'