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richard peck is an award-winning young novelist who is famous for having won the newberry medal. He was born in Decatur, Illinois, which he believed was the epitome of Central America. when he was a child, he was surrounded by elders of all ages, as his mother was one of seven siblings, while his grandmother also had many sisters. In addition, he was able to enjoy the many stories told by his uncles, aunts, grandmother and the many men who met at the old gas station run by his father. From his father, he learned the art form known as nostalgia and this, combined with the many experiences of growing up in the countryside, created a rich palette for writing his stories. In his early childhood and teenage years, he grew up in a house that bordered a large park and spent much of his time exploring the grounds. Although he would spend much of his adult life in New York City, the sense of place he gained from his childhood was maintained, as he went on to set most of his works in the Midwest. Another important person who helped cultivate his love of storytelling was his mother, who read to him from a very young age.
During his senior year in high school, Richard Peck was challenged to master meeting deadlines, writing, rewriting, and research by a tough English teacher. After graduating, he was awarded a scholarship to college in Indiana, where he would study to become a teacher. in his third year at depauw, he was part of an exchange program and spent a year at the university of exeter in england before graduating with a degree in english literature. he then served in the us army as a chaplain’s assistant, writing sermons and filling out a variety of documents, before going to the university of southern illinois to earn his master’s degree in english. He would go on to teach at Glenbrook North High School and Hunter College High School. he believes that his time in the classroom was the inspiration for many of his novels. He published Don’t Look and It Won’t Hurt, a novel about teen pregnancy in 1972. The novel would later be adapted into the 1992 film Gas Food Accommodation.
Richard Peck’s novels have received critical acclaim for their insights into the death of loved ones, suicide, and rape. “a long way from chicago” the first in the “a long way from chicago” series began as a series of short stories that was later expanded into a novel. It was in the novel that he first introduced Grandma Dowdel, one of his most popular characters. it also provides insight into the workings of the rural town in which he was born and lived with his grandmother for most of his early years. the novel was a finalist for a national book award and paved the way for his career as an author. he now has over 30 young adult novels and several adult titles in the “blossom guilty” and “lost cyberspace” series.
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“a long way from chicago” by richard peck is the story of mary alice and joey, who are always sent to live with grandma dowdel in illinois every summer. Over the years, Dowdel has kids involved in all sorts of interesting adventures. they show off the snooty banker’s wife, help some unlucky lovers elope, and catch some criminals. Grandma Dowdel isn’t afraid to steal someone’s boat or stretch the truth to achieve her goals. according to the sheriff, she’s so bad she’s a one-woman crime spree. in fact, despite her age, she is as tough as an old boot and she wants to pass on her toughness to the children. her after meeting them at the train station on her first visit, she no longer comes to meet them because she thinks they should find their own way. but deep down, she is a sweet old lady and a charming character. Given that the author grew up in the Midwest, it is clear that he was inspired by his experiences to write the work of hysterical and historical fiction. Written from Joey’s perspective, we get a glimpse of Grandma Dowdel’s heroism as she seeks to rid her town of her thugs.
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Richard Peck’s “A Year Down Yonder” is set in 1937, when many Americans learn that the Great Depression they thought was over, was not. more people are losing their jobs and receiving eviction notices while others search for food. Mary Alice’s family is also in dire straits and so when her brother decides to join the Civilian Conservation Corps; mary alice is headed downstate where she will be living with grandma dowdel for a year. mary alice is just a teenager and so she takes a radio and a cat with her on the bus to st louis. but she mary alice is headed to a small town on the way to st louis and not to the big city. The story is told from Mary Alice’s perspective and depicts Grandma Dowdel as a woman most of the townspeople want to get away from. Most people in the city see Mary Alice as a rich city girl even though her outfits (most of which are tattered) tell a different story. The story is a twelve month adventure where Grandma and Mary Alice spend interesting times together. With excellent characterization and descriptions of rural life, this is a story that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages.
“A Season of Giving” by Richard Peck is a novel set in 1958 where Grandma Dowdel just got new neighbors. they are very poor people since the man of the family is a Methodist minister. they have three children bob, phyllis and ruth anne. Ruth Anne is very lost until she meets the inimitable Grandma Dowdel. Bob is a boy who remarkably becomes a target for local thugs just one day old in town. her sister phyllis is obsessed with one of the thugs named elvis who looks a lot like the king. Over twelve months, we get an inside look at the interactions between Grandma Dowdel and the new neighbors. she has always insisted that she neither goes to church nor to the neighbors, but she always manages to be both. Unlike previous novels where we experience Grandma Dowdel through the children’s eyes, this time it is from the perspective of the Methodist preacher and his family.
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