A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck
About four years ago, I had the pleasure of listening to Richard Peck present a variety of workshops about writing. Ever since then, I’ve been meaning to pick up something that he wrote. It took me a while but I finally did.
A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck is a 1999 Newbery Honor book (see entire Newbery list here). The book spans the time between 1929 and 1934 where Joey and his sister Mary Alice from Chicago are sent to visit with their “crazy old” grandma for a week each summer. The novel loosely connects each summer as a different story. At first, Joey and Mary Alice are apprehensive but as each summer arrives they are more and more eager to visit. And why wouldn’t they? Grandma gives them one crazy adventure after another.
There’s the time Grandma fires a twelve-gauge Winchester out their living room window during a casket-side vigil, the time she put mice into their delivered milk, she also cheats in order to win the pie baking contest, and trys unsuccessfully to gain altitude in a two-seater airplane. Joey and Mary Alice never know what their Grandma is going to do next. And neither is the reader, which is what makes this such a fun read.
Richard Peck knows how to tell a story and keep the reader engaged. I loved Grandma. She’s strict, sassy, clever, bold and has the whole town scared of her. She’s the type of Grandma you almost wish you had but thank your lucky stars that you don’t. The only thing counting against this book is the cover which I don’t think gets kids begging to pick it up. If you can get past that, there’s a great story inside that will keep you wanting more. Luckily there is. My review of the sequel, A Year Down Yonder, coming up next.
Hey you! Yes. You! I've noticed that you've stopped by to visit a few times! But I don't know who you are. Why don't you take a moment and introduce yourself. Don't be scared. I try not to bite. I know you're a lurker but I'd love to hear your thoughts about what's been bringing you here. And if you haven't done so already, don't forget to never miss a post by subscribing to my feed or receiving updates by email. Thanks for visiting!
Category: Book Reviews, Fiction, Middle Readers
Tags: historical fiction, I-L Title, M-P Author, National Book Award, Newbery
Enjoy this post? Then subscribe to receive updates in your favorite reader or by email.
[...] Yonder by Richard Peck, a 2001 Newbery Medal winner, is the sequel to A Long Way from Chicago (read my book review), which won Peck the 1999 Newbery Honor (see entire list [...]
on September 13th, 2008 at 11:18 amYou know, I have this book on my shelf of “school books” for kids. I got it before I knew which grade I would be teaching 7 years ago. I have yet to read it. I should bring it up from downstairs and read.
on September 13th, 2008 at 11:22 amI loved both of these books. Peck is such a great storyteller.
on September 13th, 2008 at 3:38 pmI know I read some of Richard Peck books a few years ago but I honestly cannot remember which ones. I think I might have read this but I can’t day for sure…Good thing I have a blog now to help me keep track of the books I read!
on September 14th, 2008 at 10:42 amhm. i think you’re right about that cover but i’ll check it out anyhow. =]
on September 14th, 2008 at 1:13 pmI started this book and quickly stopped. I could not get into it. I should put it on my “try again someday” list.
on September 15th, 2008 at 1:40 amI read this book with my class and loved it!
on October 8th, 2008 at 7:29 pmI just loved this book and A Year Down Yonder too (there’s supposed to be a new one with Grandma Dowdel in it called A Season of Gifts coming out later this year). I sure hope I get to meet the author one day
on May 3rd, 2009 at 12:25 pm