Twelve-year-old Maggie and her parents, Tommy and Connie Scanlon, are the main characters in this coming-of-age story. Tommy's father, John Scanlon, is a force to be reckoned with. He is an outspoken Catholic, angry that the Mass is now said in English instead of Latin. His opinions are harsh and his sons and wife dare not cross him, although Tommy did that just once when he married Connie, his pregnant girlfriend. Connie feels that she has been the scapegoat of the family and avoids the Scanlons when possible. Maggie has been the most comfortable with her gruff grandfather, but when he becomes hospitalized one summer, the family dynamics seem to be in flux. Meanwhile, a developer is building new houses in a wooded area behind Tommy and Connie's house. The neighborhood kids can't stay away from the construction work. Maggie's friendships are changing, to her dismay. Her mother seems less available lately. Her parents don't seem to spend time together anymore. This book is a trip back in time, but its lessons are current for any modern time period.
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