THE BOOK FAIR

Review:

The Turnaround depicts a brutal racial incident in the 1970’s, and the effects on the boys and their futures from that night of the crime.  White boys enter a black neighborhood looking for trouble, and find it.  Years later, the evolution of the boys turned men, and the decisions they make in their lives becomes the heart of the novel.

 

Alex Pappas owns a diner, handed down from his father that he intends to hand down to his sons.  His teen son, Alex, works for him in the diner.  Alex, a dutiful son on the job, struggles in school, and befriends teens of poor character.  The Pappas family is of Greek heritage.

Earnest Monroe, African American is father to two teen sons, James and Raymond.  Raymond keeps bad company.  James tries to keep his younger brother out of trouble and tells him to cut his sorry, trouble making friends loose.  The Monroe’s live in an all black neighborhood in Maryland.  Race baiting is not new for the residents.  Raymond and his friends have their backs up. 

Both families are hard working and have raised their sons with ethics and morals.

One night with nothing to do, high and drunk, Alex and his two friends enter the Black neighborhood.

More than three decades later, a chance circumstance brings the survivors of that tragic night together again. 

 

Excellent writing in a beautifully told, detailed, well plotted story with believable and personable characters.