Haley Tanner's unforgettable novel Vaclav and Lena fuses two very distinct yet equally legendary approaches to American literature: symbolism within symbolism, and a romantic theme of star-crossed lovers torn apart. Leaping from being termed "stink-lunch kids" to the ultimate Brooklynese teenagers, protagonists Vaclav and Lena share the dream of one day performing magic tricks on the Coney Island Boardwalk. The purposeful employment of an over the shoulders narration, unfortunately, folds away much information regarding Lena's mysterious thoughts in comparison to Vaclav's, which largely remain in the spotlight. Ironically, the few instances that she does seem to capture the audience's attention can in fact be an unlikely foreshadowing of characters