“Evoking the beauty of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, To Be Marquette is a captivating novel with an introspective heroine.”
-Kristen Rabe, Foreword Reviews
2025 U.P. Notable Book Selection
ABOUT TO BE MARQUETTE
In this compelling campus novel, a college freshman exposes hidden secrets as she fights for environmental justice in Marquette.
Arriving in Marquette for her freshman year at Northern Michigan University, Molly enrolls in Dr. Robinson’s ecology studies class, hoping to learn more about the natural world and how to protect the planet from human impact. She befriends her classmates, Dr. Robinson’s Crusoes, who share her love of hiking, camping, and building bonfires on the shores of Lake Superior.
Together, Molly and the Crusoes protest the development of Project ELF, a Navy program that is installing a series of extremely low-frequency transmitters across the Great Lakes. The US government claims Project ELF will help the country defend itself in the event of a nuclear invasion, but Upper Peninsula residents fear the communications lines will disrupt the natural environment that they hold sacred.
Initially preoccupied with the contingencies of freshman year—roommate problems, dormitory life, and dating—Molly begins to sense that the Project ELF protests may mask a more problematic dynamic between the students and faculty. As she struggles to find her purpose, Molly uncovers layers of lies and misunderstandings about campus life, Project ELF, and her time in Marquette that make her question her place in the community.
As in other notable campus novels, like Donna Tartt’s The Secret History or Elif Batuman’s The Idiot, Sharon Dilworth’s To Be Marquette portrays an undergraduate narrator groping for meaning in a world where personal transformation takes place alongside conflicting cultural paradigms.
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Sharon Dilworth Featured on CMU Booked Podcast
In this wide ranging conversation, Sharon sits down with Hannah and Sam to discuss the inspiration for her latest novel, her messy writing process, freshman roommates, and the classic novels they just can’t get through.
From the novel:
“If you lived up here, you’d know what it was. It’s all anyone talks about. You’re either for it: it’s going to create jobs. Or you’re against it: it’s bad for the environment. No one’s neutral.”
Interview: Sharon talks with Kurt Hauswirth on Public Radio 90 about the inspiration for To Be Marquette
From the Public Radio 90 WNMU-FM Upper Great Lakes, Music, and Arts & Culture Website
Sharon Dilworth’s latest novel, "To Be Marquette," has earned a spot as a 2025 U.P. Notable Book. In an interview with Public Radio 90's Kurt Hauswirth, Dilworth shares how her experiences as a student at Northern Michigan University in the early 1980s, the fervor of local activism, and the natural beauty of Marquette have intertwined to shape this deeply personal narrative.
When asked what compelled her to transform her college years into a novel, Dilworth reflects on both personal and environmental concerns. “I was like most people these days—really depressed about climate change,” she explains. “And I have a daughter who was trying to get involved in activism to protest all the changes. It made me think back to when I went to Northern and I was a freshman. At that time, Project ELF was really front and foremost in our minds.”
The government-funded project, which sparked debates throughout the Upper Peninsula, is woven into the fabric of the novel. Dilworth recalls the polarized opinions of the era: “There was always this idea that you were either for it or against it—either you believed it would hurt the environment or that it was a boon for the region. Most of my friends, of course, thought it would have a negative impact, which is why we protested it.”
Environmental responsibility is at the heart of To Be Marquette. Dilworth draws clear parallels between the environmental debates of the 1980s and today’s concerns about climate change. “Project ELF was about more than just a government initiative,” she observes. “It was about a community that loved its environment and feared that changes would ruin its natural beauty. That same debate continues today.” While the novel is rooted in a specific time, its themes resonate with contemporary audiences who are increasingly mindful of environmental impacts.
The city of Marquette itself plays a vital role in the narrative. Dilworth describes it as a place that transforms its inhabitants. “You’d just walk down the street and see Lake Superior, feel the beauty of the region—it was all so gorgeous,” she recalls. The memories of quiet moments at local landmarks like the Crow’s Nest, where she once worked as a waitress, evoke the nostalgic and enduring charm of the Upper Peninsula. “It’s a love letter to Marquette,” she adds, “a place where the landscapes and community leave an indelible mark on your soul.”
To Be Marquette Press
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CMU Booked
Podcast
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Northern Today
Alumna’s “To Be Marquette” Novel Published
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U.P. Notable Books
“To Be Marquette” named 2025 U.P. Notable Book
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U.P Book Review
Review by Mack Hassler
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Pittsburgh Quarterly
Review by Fred Shaw
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BELT Magazine
Interview with Jennifer Bannan
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Littsburgh
Q&A with Sharon