P. S. 201 takes place in a jungle-like section of Brooklyn during the Thirties. Son of dysfunctional parents, Sal D'Angelo suffers from attention deficit disorder (unknown then). Though petrified when Mom starts putting him in the dark basement at age four for not drinking his milk which he hates, he is happy about starting school. Intelligent, creative, and loving, he assumes others are similar, and is shocked. Bullies abound, kicking small boys including him, even girls during recess and after school. Though he reciprocates, they beat him up regularly. Blaming Sal for inciting them, Mom constantly slaps him across the face for arriving home late, disheveled, or both.
Lacking parental love and attention, Sal soon becomes the class clown. Receiving D's in conduct throughout the grades, he infuriates Dad, especially when Sal blames his teachers for being mean and unfair.
Dad finally appears unexpectedly at the class door, embarrassing Sal as an eighth grader. Miss O' Malley, his teacher, is prejudiced against Italians. Refusing to discuss Sal, she practically slams the door in Dad's face. Humiliated, Dad blames Sal and explodes unmercifully at him that night.
Moved to the last seat in the last row days later, Sal manages not to utter one word during the last six school weeks. Happy about graduating, and expecting an 'A' in conduct, he receives another 'D'. Stunned, he breaks down and retreats from reality. School and houses appear to fade away before his eyes while he pauses on the school corner to look back. Amazed, frightened, and almost fainting, he waits until they seem to start edge back before heading for Grandma's house. Barely discerning someone playing The Rustle of Spring emanating through a nearby opened window, he breaks into tears.
