[R7N]≡ Read A Long Way From Chicago Puffin Modern Classics Richard Peck 9780142401101 Books

A Long Way From Chicago Puffin Modern Classics Richard Peck 9780142401101 Books

Download As PDF : A Long Way From Chicago Puffin Modern Classics Richard Peck 9780142401101 Books

A Long Way From Chicago Puffin Modern Classics Richard Peck 9780142401101 Books

Thanks to a librarian friend of mine, I've been slowly making my way through a long list of books she recommended, and thanks to her, I've been discovering a new slew of reading material I otherwise would've never given a second glance. Case in point, this short little novel that can be breezed through in an afternoon, yet contains some of the most outrageous and funny stories you'll ever hear about living in the countryside during the early years of the 20th century.

Set during the years of 1929 to 1942, during the times of Al Capone, two siblings, Joey, and his younger sister, Mary Alice, are sent during the summer, every year, to spend a week away from Chicago, out in the countryside, with their grandma. But their vacations with her are anything but boring, and grandma is far from your average, quiet homemaker. She's arguably the toughest person in town, and when one spends a day with her, you never know what you're in for. We're taken through nine short episodes as the kids grow up and get into all sorts of misadventures with their grandma, from cheating their way to a free plane ride, feeding some local drifters without getting caught by the sheriff, helping two star crossed lovers elope, and getting back at a group of teenage vandals, among other, even more outlandish schemes.

The book does a great job of painting a vivid picture of what life was like back in the olden days. But even reading it today, the audience can still greatly relate to (or at least get a laugh) out of this small town community and its many wacky residents. Everyone knows everyone, and secrets can't be kept for long, least of all, from Grandma Dowel, who's tough as nails and doesn't take kindly to manipulative or stuck up people. And the various situations she gets her grandchildren into are at turns harrowing--at other turns, hilarious, but all end with grandma coming out on top. (My personal favorite being the one about her trying to win a pie baking contest. I won't spoil the ending, but let's just say that sometimes it really IS best not to cheat...)

But for all her grit and moxie, it quickly becomes apparent that under grandma's tough exterior, there DOES lie a heart of gold that cares for the decent people in town, such as when she helps two young lovers escape their abusive parents; goes illegal fishing to feed the homeless, and helps a friend to not lose her house. She stands up for what she believes to be right, and isn't afraid to fight for it, whether it's using her wits or her handy shotgun. And as the kids eventually learn, love and care can come in many forms, even if it's not totally visible at first...

A fun and lively series of stories, this book is the perfect read for anyone who's either grown up on a farm, or in a small or quiet town. If you've known anyone like Grandma Dowel, then you know you're in for a wild ride.


Tags : A Long Way From Chicago (Puffin Modern Classics) [Richard Peck] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Join Joey and his sister Mary Alice as they spend nine unforgettable summers with the worst influence imaginable-their grandmother!,Richard Peck,A Long Way From Chicago (Puffin Modern Classics),Puffin Books,0142401102,Family - Siblings,Country life - Illinois,Country life;Illinois;Fiction.,Depressions - 1929,Depressions;1929;Fiction.,Grandmothers,Grandmothers;Fiction.,Illinois,1929,Children's BooksAges 9-12 Fiction,Children: Grades 4-6,Country life,Depressions,Family - Multigenerational,Fiction,Historical - United States - 20th Century,JUVENILE,JUVENILE FICTION Family Siblings,JUVENILE FICTION Historical United States 20th Century,JUVENILE FICTION Short Stories,Juvenile Fiction,Juvenile FictionFamily - Multigenerational,Juvenile Grades 4-6 Ages 9-11,Monograph Series, any,United States,national book award winners; national book award finalists; award winning childrens books; classic children's books; classic books; historical fiction for children 9-12; newberry award books ages 9-12; newberry award books ages 12-15; newberry award books ages 9 12; newbery award books; newbery award winners; family; books for kids age 9 12; chapter books for kids age 9-12; kids books ages 9-12; chicago; realistic fiction books for kids 12-15; 5th grade reading books; 5th grade books,national book award winners;national book award finalists;award winning childrens books;classic children's books;classic books;historical fiction for children 9-12;chicago;realistic fiction books for kids 12-15;newberry award books ages 9-12;newberry award books ages 9 12;newbery award books;newberry award books ages 12-15;newbery award winners;family;books for kids age 9 12;realistic fiction;5th grade reading books;5th grade books;chapter books for kids age 9-12;kids books ages 9-12,Family - Multigenerational,Historical - United States - 20th Century,JUVENILE FICTION Family Siblings,JUVENILE FICTION Historical United States 20th Century,JUVENILE FICTION Short Stories,Juvenile FictionFamily - Multigenerational,Children's BooksAges 9-12 Fiction,1929,Country life,Depressions,Fiction,Juvenile Fiction,Children: Grades 4-6

A Long Way From Chicago Puffin Modern Classics Richard Peck 9780142401101 Books Reviews

Although the town where grandma lives is fictional, much of the rest of this book rings true to time and place. I have read this to several sixth grade classes and they have enjoyed the humor of it immensely. This book takes me back to the stories my grandma told of ice wagons and to my own childhood memories of visiting the outhouse at my aunt's Illinois farm. Peck helps me see and remember the stories of my parents' youth more clearly and I can tell them to my class in the context of literary comparison. Though I am almost 60 and my dad has been gone since I was 14, I fight the tears when I get to the end of the book and the young man is heading off to WWII on the troop train, because my dad took a similar train from his home in Illinois to Texas for his training before leaving for the war in Europe. The end is touching, otherwise, hilarity reins. This is truly funny, honest historic fiction.
This book is so great, every kid should read these. It is truly a classic, the characters are wonderful. The grandma is a super cheap lady that never wastes anything and takes crap off no one. I'm feeling inarticulate right now, so my review is just -- read it, you will love it. good for adults and kids.
This is one of my favorite series of books.
I've given many copies to friends.
Richard Peck did a fabulous job with the writing of this book. It is part of a two book series, with A Year Down Yonder being the other in the series. Both books are very well written and full of humor, as well as candid looks into early post depression life in the mid-west. My children have been reading and re-reading these two books since they were in elementary school and are still reading these books from time to time for the sheer joy of it and they are 19 and 20 year-olds, now. This is one of those books which a young child can read and enjoy, but as an adult, I laughed even harder and understood even more of what goes on between the pages. If you are interested in a good laugh-filled book and enjoy a well written story that is entertaining, you will probably find this book a great read as me and my family have.
Given the number of reviews already here, I would not have bothered except that sells two slightly different editions of it -- at the same price -- and one is slightly larger, and thus easier to read.

I would not have known this except that our 5th grader is reading this for school, and the school hands out the other edition, which (today at least) you can also find on  A Long Way From Chicago A Novel in Stories. Same price, and same promo deal as this one.

The "Puffin Modern Classics" version has the same number of pages, but is about 10-15% smaller in length and width. Do the math and you realize, the typeface has to be smaller, and the original was not oversized to start with. The size difference sounds trivial, but if you get used to reading the original (Scholastic) paperback edition, your eyes have to adjust if you switch to the smaller (Puffin) one.

I can't say that it's a major problem, and it is readable. If you never saw both versions you'd never know. Now you do! Personally, if given the choice (and better information!) I would have ordered the larger one instead at the same price.

Regardless of size, the book is hilarious and unique. A great change of pace from the usual kid's book and highly recommended.
I had this title for some years in my extensive middle school classroom library. However, when I moved to teaching high school, I donated all the middle school books. Now I find myself teaching an after school enrichment program for writers with both high and middle school-age students. Naturally, I had to purchase this title again because it is awesome for teaching idea development and organization.
Thanks to a librarian friend of mine, I've been slowly making my way through a long list of books she recommended, and thanks to her, I've been discovering a new slew of reading material I otherwise would've never given a second glance. Case in point, this short little novel that can be breezed through in an afternoon, yet contains some of the most outrageous and funny stories you'll ever hear about living in the countryside during the early years of the 20th century.

Set during the years of 1929 to 1942, during the times of Al Capone, two siblings, Joey, and his younger sister, Mary Alice, are sent during the summer, every year, to spend a week away from Chicago, out in the countryside, with their grandma. But their vacations with her are anything but boring, and grandma is far from your average, quiet homemaker. She's arguably the toughest person in town, and when one spends a day with her, you never know what you're in for. We're taken through nine short episodes as the kids grow up and get into all sorts of misadventures with their grandma, from cheating their way to a free plane ride, feeding some local drifters without getting caught by the sheriff, helping two star crossed lovers elope, and getting back at a group of teenage vandals, among other, even more outlandish schemes.

The book does a great job of painting a vivid picture of what life was like back in the olden days. But even reading it today, the audience can still greatly relate to (or at least get a laugh) out of this small town community and its many wacky residents. Everyone knows everyone, and secrets can't be kept for long, least of all, from Grandma Dowel, who's tough as nails and doesn't take kindly to manipulative or stuck up people. And the various situations she gets her grandchildren into are at turns harrowing--at other turns, hilarious, but all end with grandma coming out on top. (My personal favorite being the one about her trying to win a pie baking contest. I won't spoil the ending, but let's just say that sometimes it really IS best not to cheat...)

But for all her grit and moxie, it quickly becomes apparent that under grandma's tough exterior, there DOES lie a heart of gold that cares for the decent people in town, such as when she helps two young lovers escape their abusive parents; goes illegal fishing to feed the homeless, and helps a friend to not lose her house. She stands up for what she believes to be right, and isn't afraid to fight for it, whether it's using her wits or her handy shotgun. And as the kids eventually learn, love and care can come in many forms, even if it's not totally visible at first...

A fun and lively series of stories, this book is the perfect read for anyone who's either grown up on a farm, or in a small or quiet town. If you've known anyone like Grandma Dowel, then you know you're in for a wild ride.