A Long Way to Chicago by Richard Peck evokes childhood reminiscences of summers and holidays spent at grandparents’ house. The author manages to portray the kids’ reluctance to leave their friends and go to a place that can only be described as dull, tasty breakfasts that win them over and the difference between younger and older generations. The novelist’s love for that grumpy Grandma and the slow pace of life that still exists in small towns across the country make these stories especially heart-warming.
The story is told from the perspective of a child. However, Joey would probably disagree with that. He didn’t like being called a kid back then. Like any other boy of his age, he doesn’t want to waste his summer on being bossed around by his grandma and being forced to play with his younger sister in a sleepy town. As it often happens, adventures wait for us in the most unlikely places! Joes and Mary Alice’s initial reluctance to notice that their old Grandma is actually a person with impressive life experience, rather wicked sense of humor and an ability to achieve the set goals is soon to be destroyed. Mrs. Dowdel is not afraid of confrontations with a local banker, his wife, one of the most influential families in the town, a reporter from Chicago and many others. Mrs. Dowdel is a person with a strong set of values and she is always ready to protect them. The woman also has a thing for her property. If anyone dares to intrude into her territory, he/she can get acquainted with her shotgun. It sounds too extreme, but let’s not forget about the historical period our protagonists live in. Grandma teaches Joey and Mary Alice to stand up against injustice and loyally support the values they believe in. The summers they spend at her place shape their personalities and prepare them for the future hardship. Her trust in her own strengths is so impressive that it is next to impossible not to fall in love with her personality.
Everything has its end and so does childhood. The kids grow up and stop coming to their Grandma every summer to enjoy her antics and the most delicious breakfasts in the world. Joey’s decision to join the army air corps and an approaching departure to Europe, the World War II and many other troubles leave a bitter feeling. Times flies too quickly for us to be able to understand how many wonderful things are left unnoticed by us.
A Long Way to Chicago by Richard Peck is a perfect leisure reading. It can make its reader laugh, cry, feel sad or happy. This novel in short stories can take you back in time and revive the most heart-warming and tearful moments of your childhood years. A Long Way to Chicago can catch interest of both children and adults. The first group will surely enjoy Grandma’s unusual ways of solving her problems. The latter one is going to fall in love with it because of sweet nostalgia that rekindles every time they open a book.
