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Summary: Appeals to Adult
Review: I read this book as an assignment in my college Children's Literature Class. I completed the assignment, never expecting to fall in love with this book. The characters are interesting, Grandma is a hoot and seeing the ways that the relationship between the children and their grandmother evolves is a delight. I have found that books labeled "Children's Literature" is often extremely enjoyable reading for adults and this book is no exception. I have recommended it to many people and enjoyed the sequel "A Year Down Yonder" almost as much as I enjoyed this book.
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Summary: A Long Way from Chicago review
Review: A Long Way from Chicago is about two kids who visit their grandma every year. It's a story that will send you into hysterics. Joey and Mary Alice are two fun loving kids who don't like visiting their grandma's at first but get used to it after a while. The adventures begin in 1929. Joey and Mary Alice are from Chicago, but the story takes place in the small country town of Joliet, Illinois. Joey and Mary Alice go to visit their grandma one summer for one week. They didn't know it would become an annual event. Every year they have sidesplitting adventures. They decide to stop going after a while.
This book is hysterical! For example, Grandma's cat knocks the gauze off the dead Shotgun Cheatham's coffin. Grandma has a chance to scare away her unwanted guests. Pretending to shoot Shotgun, she shoots close to her guests and scares them off. You'll laugh so hard you might end up in tears. This book is different because it's written in first person.
You will be amazed with how Richard Peck describes the 1930's. The fact that it was $0.75 to ride in an airplane and an "expensive" $2.00 to learn to drive will astonish you and leave your mouth hanging wide open!
A Long Way from Chicago is a great book. You won't want to put it down.
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Summary: not a long way from our hearts
Review: Everyone has known somebody, that through the course of years, has gotten more interesting, and Joey's Grandma Dowdel is no exception. In these fun loving, turn-of-event vignettes Joey's memory shades the truth or serves him too well as we come to know the unforgettable Grandma Dowdel. From pie baking to rifle-toteing she always proves that the underdog can have the last word, and eat it too! Ages 12 and up will enjoy this Newberry Honors book and it's annual antics in an illinois small town during the depression, and laugh out loud at each twist and turn that happened a long way from chicago, but not a long way from our hearts.
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Summary: Best Book I've ever read!
Review: This Is the funniest book you will ever pick up. A Long way From Chicago is told by Joey. He's an average kid until he goes to his grandmas for a summer. They have all sort's of laughable, funny, and exciting, adventures. From the the time period that Joey was nine and his sisiter Mary Alice was seven they go from 1929-1935. Starting with Shotgun Cheatham to Centenial Summer I totally recommend this book.
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Summary: A Long Way From Chicago
Review: Who could call this grandma old? That's what Joey and Mary Alice Dowdel learn when they spend a week during their summer vacation with Grandma Dowdel in her sleepy old town. They do the same thing for nine summers, nine summers that they'll never forget!
I thought that A Long Way from Chicago was a really good book. It was so funny! The book never got boring- you almost couldn't put the book down! A really good part was when the old men were singing a song about Paddy Murphy (a dead guy) in the beginning of the book. Richard Peck is a really good author, and this isn't the only book he's written in this series. The other book, A Year Down Yonder, is just as hilarious and exciting as A Long Way From Chicago.
Yes, A Long Way From Chicago certainly deserves a five star rating!
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Summary: A long way, but a good journey
Review: Joey and Mary Alice are sent to their grandmother's country home from their apartment in Chicago for a week in August for their formative years. Each chapter follows a year in their life and the incredible event that occurred during that week. Each year, the reader can see a difference in the two kids, as they are growing older. More importantly this book could be very useful in teaching about the depression and its effects in the cities and farming towns of the Midwest. There are many historical references that can be used to support lesson plans or to spur discussions. Several times, I was reminded of the farming town that my grandmother's family came from in rural Illinois - towards the end of the book the town was actually mentioned - Farmer City. The story is well crafted and kept me entertained. However, I would feel that the chapters are a bit lengthy and therefore should not be used until middle school.Why 5 stars?:
This book is simply captivating. Several times since finishing it I have craved to be there again. It will make you laugh and cry. This is a wonderful piece of literature and should be enjoyed by all.
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Summary: Who says old ladies are boring!
Review: The world's most memorable characters are those that don't fit neatly into the role we want them to play. Grandma Dowdel is definitely one of those characters. Just as soon as you start thinking she's a typical grandmother she does something totally outrageous like steal the sheriff's boat while he stands there watching. It's all for a good cause, though, so it's hard to think of her as a villain. She is the Pippi Longstockings of grandparents, reminding us that life should be enjoyed while we have the chance.
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Summary: Wonderful
Review: This book is an outstanding work of art. It is hillarious yet sincere at the same time. And if you look close enough, you might find a little message.
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Summary: A Long Way From Chicago
Review: A Long Way From Chicago is about two children, Joey and Mary Alice Dowdel, who spend every summer with their grandmother. Each chapter is another year explaining many of the adventures that take place. Joey, Mary Alice, and Grandma have many adventures, some of which include, the legend of the Phantom Brakeman, feeding all of the homeless, entering Grandma's famous blackberry pies in the town fair, flying planes with a famous pilot, and much more.
My favorite character is Grandma. She is a loving grandmother who has many little quirks about her. She is funny, yet she can be very serious at the same time. Another thing about Grandma is that she is very wide and tall. I think it is very fun to read about her because she is a very funny and strict person. I think that my grandmother seems very much like Grandma Dowdel. The only difference is that my grandmother is not nearly as big as Grandma Dowdel, but they both have the same personality. One of the things that I can relate to is when Joey receives a ride from the amazing pilot. I can relate to his excitement of flying because Joey loves planes and has always wanted to fly in one. I think it is cool to be in a plane, it is neat to be so high up and you look down and see everything really small.
I like this book because it has so many adventures all completely different. The book never really seems like it is going to end. My favorite part in the book is when Joey, Mary Alice, and Grandma all go to the town fair and have a big and very funny adventure. The adventure involves entering Grandma's her famous blackberry pie in the baking contest. Grandma thinks that the person next to her will win so she switches the two pies and it ends up that her pie wins! I think that I don't have a least favorite part because it is all so exciting and I loved every bit of it. I wouldn't change one part of the book because it isall so good.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who feels like reading a very thrilling adventure story. Someone who enjoys reading books set in the late 1800's with tons of humor would love to read this. I think that Richard Peck did a great job in writing A Long Way From Chicago. I hope whomever reads this will like it just as much as I do.
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Summary: My very own review....
Review: really great book. I would recommend this book to girls that like books that are about girls their age. If you decide to read this book, you will enjoy it so much, you will want to read it again and again. I hope someday you will read it
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