Monday, March 14, 2011

A Year Down Yonder

A Year Down Yonder - Richard Peck
Penguin - 2000
Purchase at Amazon.com 


Reading Level: 10+  Number of Pages: 130 Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary: Mary Alice is out to the country to live with her grandmother, a severely tough but kind woman. In the process of the book, we see Mary Alice learn from her grandmother and develop confidence as she learns from her quirky grandma. The book is filled with several antics that are quite funny, and the story is set during the great depression.
    
"'Grandma, it's the program tonight.' Waving away her own forgetfulness, she said, "Well, then,' you better wear this.' She produced something from a big apron pocket that looked like a coil of baling wire. She handed i over. It was a coil of baling wire. Twisted in it were tiny tin stars, cut from cans. A day's work to make. Grandma stood back, her hands clasped, a little eagerness in her eyes. 'Watch out them stars don't dig your scalp.'
She'd made me a halo so Carleen Lovejoy in all her tinsel wouldn't outshine me. It looked more like a crown of thorns, but I handled it carefully. I'd have come dangerously near to kissing Grandma then, if she'd let me."

My Impressions: I actually laughed out loud while reading this book. There are some seriously funny parts, and there is no real serious conflict to make the story uncomfortable or tense. If anything, this story is driven by and all about the characters, who are interesting enough to hold my interest. The historical context is supplementarily educational and informative.

Parent's Guide: Nothing real serious. Mischief and antics, but nothing crude.

Recommendations: A definite read.

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