A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck
Winner, 2001 Newbery Award
Quick Summary
During the recession of 1937, fifteen-year-old Mary Alice moves from Chicago to rural Illinois to live with her unpredictable grandmother.
Favorite Quote
Of course, I should be sound asleep in bed by now, and I couldn't feel my toes. And Grandma was packing a pistol.
About the Author
Richard Peck is the author of more than 40 books, writing a book a year. He's the author of Are You In the House Alone? which won an Edgar Allan Poe award. (I remember that scary book from my childhood.) He still types his books on a typewriter.
My Project
Holidays play a major role in this book, plus there are a couple of minor love stories. One funny scene in the book deals with a Valentine's Day joke on a snobby classmate. I decided to feature one of the handmade heart cards for my project. Here's how the book describes it: "It was homemade to a fault. It looked like it had been whittled, not cut out." I used a mixed background of paint, ribbons, and lace since this book was set during a recession and scraps were typically put to good use during that time period.
Final Thoughts
This is the first award-winning book so far that's a sequel. The first book was titled A Long Way from Chicago. I hadn't read the first one, so I can attest that this book works fine as a standalone novel. It's packed with humor, an enjoyable and quick read. The heroine felt younger than her years to me, but that seems like a true reflection of the times rather than a flaw in the book. Grandma plays the starring role, livening up every scene that she's in. If you have older Midwestern relatives, you'll probably relate to at least a few scenes or details.
Your Turn
Readers: If you read this book, I'd love to hear what you think in the comments.
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