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Book Review: A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck

[button color=”black” size=”big” link=”http://affiliates.abebooks.com/c/99844/77798/2029?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.abebooks.com%2Fservlet%2FSearchResults%3Fisbn%3D9780142401101″ target=”blank” ]Purchase here[/button]

This Newbery Honor Book was followed by a sequel, A Year Down Yonder, which won the Newbery gold in 2001. It takes place during the great depression, when a boy and his sister from the big city (Chicago) are sent to stay with ther large, scary, big-hearted, trigger-happy Grandma in a hick town in Piatt County, Illinois, during a succession of summers.

Joey and Mary Alice start out at about ages 9 and 7 respectively, riding the train all by themselves to spend a week each summer with Grandma Dowdel. At first they hate it. But as one summer follows another, they become co-conspirators in Grandma’s schemes. She is basically a “one-woman crime wave,” borrowing all sorts of things from her neighbors, but using them for (mostly) charitable purposes. And everyone is a little frightened of her.

This book is a “novel in the form of stories,” and good stories they are indeed, each summer having a sparkling highlight of its own. Full of humor, love, and nostalgia, and even a touch of spookiness, I think you’ll enjoy it.

Recommended Age: 10+

  • Post date
    January 1, 2013
  • Posted by
    Robbie
  • Posted in Book Reviews
Previous post: Book Review: Drift House: The First Voyage by Dale Peck Next post: Book Review: A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck

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