The Dinner Debates

by Pete Fanning

Twelve-year-old Marcus Hawthorne has never taken a stance on much of anything. But when a Mega More Super Store plans to open up shop in the small town of Newburg, Virginia, he has no choice but to make a choice.

Marcus’s parents have never seen eye to eye on politics, but their debates turn heated when the company his father works for lands the gig to build the Mega More—the same store his mother will stop at nothing to halt. No stranger to his parents’ differences, Marcus remains neutral, until an impromptu field trip to the tranquil build site opens his eyes to what’s at stake: the tiny old clapboard church, the buried fieldstones beneath a sprawling, century old chestnut tree, and especially the majestic blue heron perched atop his father’s ripper.

Marcus joins his mother’s cause. Along with a feisty new neighbor, they form a rag-tag team of resistance. Posting flyers, pulling pranks, even taking on the mayor, soon Marcus is enjoying his new life as an activist—all behind his father’s back. His old friends think he’s lost his mind. The town wants their store. And with the ground-breaking ceremony looming, the sacred land seems destined to be bulldozed. But as Marcus learns that summer, when it comes to politics, nothing is predictable.

Unknown Binding

About the author

Pete Fanning is the author of several middle grade and young adult novels. He can be found at www.petefanning.com, where he's posted over 200 flash fiction
stories.

Reviews

[Jane Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading it. Once again, another great book!!! Great characters and a truly eye-opening topic. Who knew you could disagree on something without insulting or trashing each other or “caving”. Everyone can have their own opinion and stand by it. Thanks for making that point! Can’t wait for the next book…

[Pat Trattles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Members of the Hawthorne family don’t all think alike and dinnertime is often punctuated with debates, which can be as heated as the presidential ones on TV. Mom, a staunch Democrat backs Clinton, Dad, a staunch Republican backs Bush. Marcus is “Switzerland.” He tries to stay neutral. But the biggest debate is local. Mega More, a superstore development is proposed for the tiny town of Newburg and Mom is doing everything she can to stop it and preserve the natural surroundings. Dad is the construction foreman on the team slated to build the store and as the song goes, “tear down the trees, put up a parking lot.” Marcus can see both sides but tries to stay out of the fray. Over the course of the summer Marcus, with the help of a new friend slowly realizes neutrality is not the answer. He takes a stand which he knows will alienate one of his parents but is the right thing to do. Recommended middle grade read. I received a free advance copy and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Betsy Ashton · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the surface, Fanning has crafted a straight-forward coming-of-age tale about a 12-year-old boy and his parents. Marcus looks ahead to a normal summer vacation, when his parents become embroiled in a battle to block a superstore from building on historic land. Marcus's mother is against the project on ethical, historical, and ecological grounds. His father is head of the construction crew which will clear the land and build the store.

Dinner-table discussions escalate to arguments. Marcus tries to blend into the woodwork, but he can't. Ultimately, he will have to make a choice. Will he support his mother's side or his father's? Both can't be right. Both can't be wrong. The importance of the debates and how they are handled will help shape his life.

Wonderful book for young adult and not-so-young adults alike.