Book cover of A Year Down Yonder

Book description

A Newbery Medal Winner

Richard Peck's Newbery Medal-winning sequel to A Long Way from Chicago

Mary Alice's childhood summers in Grandma Dowdel's sleepy Illinois town were packed with enough drama to fill the double bill of any picture show. But now she is fifteen, and faces a whole long year…

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Why read it?

1 author picked A Year Down Yonder as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Two words. Grandma Dowdel. She is one of the many reasons I love this book. Fifteen-year-old Mary Alice is forced to leave her parents and her home during a difficult time in 1937. A city girl, it’s no easy feat moving from the big city of Chicago to a small town and in with her larger-than-life grandmother who will have you laughing out loud at her very un-granny-like antics. Peck’s punchy, smart, and often hilarious prose, parallels nicely with undertones of a more serious and difficult period of time for many families. Mary Alice is easy to root for as…

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“It’s going to be a good year for readers if William Durbin’s funny and timely new novel is an example of what’s to come.” Book Editor, St. Paul Pioneer Press

Luke Collins, an eighth grader who’s previously been a slacker in school, becomes engaged when an English assignment leads him…

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