A Long Way from Chicago: A Masterpiece of Story-telling!
Pros:
Seven laugh-out-loud stories wrapped up into one wonderful book! Makes a great "read-aloud" book, too!
Cons:
Gun-totin' Grandma Dowdel doesn't make the best of role models. Some might take offense...
The Bottom Line:
This 1999 Newbery Honor book appeals to young people and adults. It has it all: Hilarious and outrageous story-telling, plus lovable and memorable characters.
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
Richard Peck has authored more than 20 books for young people. Until a few months ago, though, when Peck was awarded the 2000 Newbery for his latest book, A Year Down Yonder, I'd never heard of the man. I'd been rooting for Kate DiCamillo's delightful Because of Winn-Dixie to win the Newbery, so when Yonder beat it out, I had to find out more about Peck and his books. In my quest, I learned that Yonder is a sequel to another book, A Long Way from Chicago.
I decided I'd best read the first book first. I'm so glad I did!
A Long Way from Chicago is absolutely HILARIOUS! My ten-year-old daughter and I started it together, reading the first chapter, entitled "Shotgun Cheatham's Last Night Above Ground," out loud. We were howling with laughter long before the chapter came to an end!
Starting in 1929 when Joe Dowdel was still called "Joey," he and his younger sister Mary Alice made annual trips from their Chicago home for a week's visit with their Grandma Dowdel in rural Illinois. Years later, a now-elderly Joe reminisces about those summer visits and the outrageous antics of gruff, very un-grandmotherly, double-barreled shotgun totin' Grandma Dowdel. His recollections make up the eight chapters--seven summer visits and one war-time troop train ride through town--and we readers are treated to some masterful and lively story-telling.
To the wonder and amazement of her grandchildren (not to mention the reader!), Grandma Dowdel lies, cheats, and trespasses her way through amazing, humorous and even poignant adventures. Her deep-rooted sense of Justice (on her own terms, of course!) and her keen, down-home wisdom and wit somehow turn all these faults and wrong-doing around for Good, helping Depression-era underdogs and down-and-outers. At the same time, she manages to work her way into our hearts as a truly memorable and lovable character.
I didn't want the book to end.
If you're like me and you enjoy Mark Twain's short stories, I'm certain you'd enjoy Chicago, too. If you liked Louis Sachar's Holes and/or Christopher Paul Curtis' Bud, Not Buddy, then Chicago is right up your alley.
Chicago won a Newbery Honor Award in 1999. You could go a long way before you find a better and more thoroughly entertaining book. Now I'm looking forward to reading A Year Down Yonder!
Other Awards for A Long Way from Chicago:
1998 National Book Award Finalist
ALA Best Book for Young Adults
Riverbank Review 1999 Book of Distinction
More Info About the Book:
Reading age: The publisher says "9-12," but I'd say 10 and up.
148 pages
Published by Dial Books for Young Readers, 1998
