Newbery Books discussion

I enjoyed reading this book about the escapades a teenage girl has when, in 1937, her father loses his job and home and she has to leave her parents in Chicago and go live in the country with her eccentric grandmother. There are crazy outings in the night, and tender moments when Mary Alice sees the goodness behind her larger-than-life grandmother's tough exterior.

I LOVE Richard Peck. I liked "A Long Way from Chicago" a bit better but he's an amazing writer.

I didn't read it because it's a sequel and I want to read the first one first . . . I'll get around to it soon, I hope . . .

I love both of these books. A Long Way From Chicago was a Newbery Honor the year Holes took the Newbery. I read A Year Down Yonder first but I still enjoyed both of them. Grandma is so funny, I have always appreciated the Halloween chapter, with the reproachful father to his son "You picked the wrong privy boy." I read this one to my daughter and we had a good laugh. I just love grandma. Both are great stories, but I always liked A Year Down Yonder better just because of the nice, touching, ending.

I also love Richard Peck! Great humor plus touching insights at times, and some good lessons underneath the humor. Besides the two books already mentioned, I've also enjoyed Fair Weather, The Teacher's Funeral, and Here Lies the Librarian. Kristine, these books are pretty quick reads, so it won't take you long to read Chicago, Yonder, or any others.

I love Richard Peck's books. I use The Teacher's Funeral and Fair Weather as read-alouds. The boys love them.

I also love Richard Peck's books. I've only read three so far, other than A Long Way From Chicago and A Year Down Yonder, I read Fair Weather. I've enjoyed them all and I plan to read many more of his books. They are totally fun to read!
Like Kristen, I also enjoyed A Year Down Yonder a little more because you get to see more of the tender side of Grandma Dowdle.