A Long Way from Chicago

A Long Way from Chicago	Puffin Books
Written by Richard Peck	2000
Holocaust Autobiography	148 pages
Reading Level ages 9-12	National Book Award Finalist

Summary

Joey and Mary Alice have to spend a week each summer in Illinois at their Grandma’s home while their parents work and stay in Chicago. The first chapter spoke about how Grandma Dowdel watched over the body of Shotgun, a friend as the open house was in her home. It introduced Grandma Dowdel perfectly. She spoke as if she didn’t care, but showed how much she took care of those around her and the elders of the community everyone passed over. She puts mice in the milk when the boys of the family are tormenting the town. Grandma Dowdel snuck the children under a No Trespassing sign and into a boat. They rowed to a spot where she took out a bag of smelly cheese and put it into a trap. Inside were huge catfish, which Grandma Dowdel took out and left in the bottom of the boat. They park the boat and take the fish to an elderly lady that thinks Grandma Dowdel is still a young woman working as her housekeeper and maid. Grandma Dowdel pretends she doesn’t know what her grandchildren want, but always finds ways to make them happy. Like when they go to the fair and Joey wants to ride on the airplane. Grandma tries to ride but is too heavy, so she says that Joey should just have her ride instead. Then for the centennial celebration, she brought an old veteran to have one older than the prim busybody’s father and had Mary Alice dance in the talent show. At the last chapter, Joey signed on the Army Corps and the train went through Grandma’s town. She never once gave them hugs or welcomed them in any way when they came to visit, but when the train roll straight through all the lights in the town are on, with Grandma standing there waving.

Reaction

I loved reading this book. The characters were well developed. Grandma Dowdel is had really an interesting personality. She takes care of her own and those who she thinks had wrong done to them. When Grandma Dowdel’s enemy neighbor, Elfie Wilcox’s home was taken by the bank, Grandma Dowdel talked the banker into giving it back by creating a false stir about her house being full of Lincoln relics. Even afterward, Grandma Dowdel didn’t behave any differently. She showed her love through what she does without changing her words. The descriptions were great and did a great job in involving you into the story. Grandma Dowdel is literally larger than life. I could really relate to the character of Granma Dowdel. She was a combination to my grandmothers. She is loving but in her own way. She has funny sayings that are completely unique to her. She makes amazing breakfasts each morning and spends a large amount of time baking and making sure her pies are perfect. She makes Mary Alice work on learning how to make pie crusts and cutting it just right.

Potential Problems

Grandma Dowdel lives on a higher law and sometimes works around the law to get what she wants. She trespassed and stole the Sheriff’s boat to deliver her trapped fish to Aunt Puss. She puts mice in the milk in order to stop the milkman’s boys from misbehaving.

Recommendations

I would recommend this book to anyone who has ever lived with their grandparents and learned how to react to their different way of life. It is a great read.