The Real Question

by Adrian Fogelin

When Fish tries to escape from the responsibilities of his overachieving life, he gains a new understanding of the dangers of neglecting his connections and commitments to others For Fisher Brown, bearing the responsibility for the well-being and happiness of the people around him is a heavy burden to shoulder. Not long after his mother’s sudden departure, Fisher lost interest in school and was well on his way to becoming a classic underachiever at school. But now—under the strict supervision of his high school counselor father—he is jockeying for position at the top of his high school class. It’s a challenging role, and one he has doubts about. But as long as Fisher single-mindedly prepares for college and practices for the SATs, he can keep his father happy.   So when Fisher meets Lonnie Traynor, whose rootless, carefree existence is so markedly different from his own, he is drawn to his take-life-as-it-comes attitude. Lonnie easily cons him into accompanying him on a weekend outing that turns into an extended road trip. But Lonnie’s footloose ways reveal a troubled man with a long history of letting down the people he loves. As Fisher becomes an unwitting participant in Lonnie’s hapless adventure, he begins to rethink what it means to be responsible for other people. In the end Fisher finds his way home as well as a way to redefine his own complex relationships.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Contemporary, Adventure

242 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 24, 2006

About the author

Adrian Fogelin is the author of several novels for middle readers and young adults, including Crossing Jordan and The Real Question. She lives in Florida.

Reviews

[Joe suriner is super coolio in the club. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Real Question by Adrian Fogelin. This book most likely takes place in modern Florida. A teenager named fisher, who is one of the smartest kids in his class is the main protagonist. A man named Lonny who is also another protagonist, and also an antagonist at the same time, is a older man who is living on the streets. One day Lonny asks Fisher if he wants to go on an “adventure”. Long story short it isn’t an adventure, Lonny just wants help repairing his ex-girlfriends roof and Fisher seems like the only one that will help. Many things happen on this trip, Fisher figures out that Lonny is a huge liar, and that his ex-girlfriend and son are very poor and in need of help. Fisher ends up getting stuck trying to help the family or leaving to get home.
To be honest I think the only people I would recommend this book to teens and parents. This is because is shows how the kids feel about situations even if they seem like they are fine. Although I enjoyed it, I don’t think young adults, kids or older people could relate to this story because either they grew up in a different time or they won’t find it interesting. In the end I will say that this book really shows the inside of what normal teens think, which in my opinion not a lot of other books do.

[American Mensa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Real Question is an intriguing. This book would be considered realistic fiction and is for ages 12 and up. The Real Question is filled with adventure and humor, taking place in various places! It has a great storyline, where Fisher Brown is trying to “challenge the status quo”… It all started when Fisher begins to panic during exams and his life seems confusing. The main character of this book is unique… Fisher is intelligent and has a weird relationship with his dad! Desiree, his friend, wants more with their relationship that the level they were at. And Lonny is the one who challenges Fisher to challenge the status quo… By the time you finish reading this, you will not regret it. The only downside was that the story got dull at various points for a while, but the author picked it right back up. He has created an amazing story!
Reviewed by Ryan B, age 14, Broward County Mensa

[Sierra Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a good read I wish it had a more emotional ending though like there was kind of one with the dad but I wanted like more of a reaction i guess to finding out your son almost jumped then started talking about him mom who walked out on him but overall intriguing and good shortish read

[Ian Venice · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's fine... I found some writing weird

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

Study, study, study. Fisher Brown is a junior in high school and his life consists of studying. Son of the high school guidance counselor, Fisher feels the pressure to excel in academics.

Ever since the day Walt Brown's wife left and never came home, he has focused his life on doing the best for his son. He leaves inspirational sticky notes everywhere, and urges Fisher to make every effort count. "THE BIG DAY" is coming up - the SAT test - and he considers it Fisher's ticket to a scholarship and an Ivy League school.

A week before the SAT, Fisher's grandmother is scheduled to be moved into a nursing home. Mr. Brown agrees that Fisher should stay at home and study while he takes care of the move. He knows Fisher is dependable and can take care of himself over the weekend and get himself to school the following week, so he can concentrate on getting Grandmother moved.

However, no one counted on Fisher meeting Lonny, a drifter whose brother lives next door to the Brown's. When Fisher's dad leaves on his trip, Lonny invites Fisher to take the weekend off from studying to help him with a little project. The two take off by Greyhound bus on what Lonny promises to be an adventure.

THE REAL QUESTION takes Fisher on an amazing and at times dangerous journey. His experience, although taking him away from home, helps him learn more about himself, his dad, and perhaps see another side to the mother who left years ago. Adrian Fogelin's writing is filled with humor, emotion, and heartwarming characters that make the story truly remarkable. This is a book well worth having in any collection.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fisher Brown is one of the smart nerds in high school and, with tremendous pressure from his guidance counselor father, he needs to ace all his classes and the SAT to get where he needs to be. Or so he thinks. Tired of the pressure, he makes friends with his bad dude neighbor Lonny and Lonny leads Fisher on a long week of highjinks. Actually Lonny and Fisher are to roof Lonny's ex-wife's crumbling roof. When Lonny takes off, Fisher feels responsible. Working, seeing how a broken family hurts a child and remembering his own hurt, dealing with Lonny's underhanded ways, Fisher comes to understand himself.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book got off to a great start. I know many of my students can identify with the kid who is on the fast track at school--working very hard not just to get As but to have the highest grades in the class. Yet somehow the book gets off track toward the middle. There is an action sequence so convoluted I just couldn't create a picture for it as I was reading. I did enjoy the Florida setting from Tallahassee to Chiefland and beyond. In fact, I was reading it as we were driving the same route in reverse up to Tallahassee for a football game, so that made it kind of fun.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Over-achieving high school student + pressure from guidance counselor dad + upcoming SATs + off-the-wall drifter in the neighborhood = a road trip that accomplishes the goal of getting the student's mind off the SATs but not in the way he expected. Give it to those geeks who are buried under the prep-test books and give them an idea of what life COULD be like.

[Amanda B · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you liked "An Abundance of Katherines," give this one a try, too.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think Adrian Fogelin is totally underrated. This book was great.