Peter's coming-of-age is the center of Dinosaur Summer and most of the events in the novel are significant because of how they color and shape Peter's development.

Therefore, a good place to begin a discussion is with Peter himself. Is he a believable character? How does he change as events unfold? From Peter, a discussion could move to other characters, a few of whom are historical figures. How ethical are they?

How do their actions shape the plot? It is very likely that members of the discussion will wish to talk about the dinosaurs. It is worth noting that the dinosaurs are characters in the novel, with personalities and motivations of their own. How do they affect the other characters? Is the decision to return them to the wild a good one?

Through the dinosaurs, Bear makes observations on the ethics of keeping wild animals in...