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votesforwomen's review against another edition
5.0
School reading. Awesome. I need to get back into reading older Newbery books because they are impeccable. xD
book_concierge's review against another edition
5.0
Audiobook performed by Ron McLarty
When Joey was nine and his sister Mary Alice was seven their parents put them on the train to go visit their Grandma Dowdel. They were city kids and you’d think they’d seen everything. But it was over several summer “vacations” in Grandma’s sleepy small town in Southern Illinois that they: saw their first corpse, helped Grandma get back at a gang of thugs trying to terrorize widows, trespassed on private property, illegally trapped fish, caught the sheriff in his underwear, and witnessed firsthand the toll the Great Depression took on people.
What a wonderful novel of a time gone by. There’s a certain innocence to having Joey narrate, although he and Mary Alice do grow up over the seven years the novel’s stories span. I was laughing aloud at several of the shenanigans Grandma perpetrated. The writing is action-packed and very atmospheric. I itched with the memory of chigger bites, felt the torpidity of a humid summer day, smelled the heavenly aroma of fresh fruit simmering on the stove, and heard the sounds of a summer night. I couldn’t help but think of my own summer vacations at Grandma’s house in the dusty little Texas town she called home. With no television, no air-conditioning, and no car we had to find ways to amuse and entertain ourselves. And if we dared to be “bored” she’d find something for us to do (usually involving hard, sweaty work). A lot like Grandma Dowdel!
Ron McLarty is marvelous performing the audiobook. His voice for Grandma is priceless! When I finished listening, I immediately picked up the hardcover book and started reading from the beginning.
This may be a children’s book, but I’ll wager that adults will appreciate it even more.
When Joey was nine and his sister Mary Alice was seven their parents put them on the train to go visit their Grandma Dowdel. They were city kids and you’d think they’d seen everything. But it was over several summer “vacations” in Grandma’s sleepy small town in Southern Illinois that they: saw their first corpse, helped Grandma get back at a gang of thugs trying to terrorize widows, trespassed on private property, illegally trapped fish, caught the sheriff in his underwear, and witnessed firsthand the toll the Great Depression took on people.
What a wonderful novel of a time gone by. There’s a certain innocence to having Joey narrate, although he and Mary Alice do grow up over the seven years the novel’s stories span. I was laughing aloud at several of the shenanigans Grandma perpetrated. The writing is action-packed and very atmospheric. I itched with the memory of chigger bites, felt the torpidity of a humid summer day, smelled the heavenly aroma of fresh fruit simmering on the stove, and heard the sounds of a summer night. I couldn’t help but think of my own summer vacations at Grandma’s house in the dusty little Texas town she called home. With no television, no air-conditioning, and no car we had to find ways to amuse and entertain ourselves. And if we dared to be “bored” she’d find something for us to do (usually involving hard, sweaty work). A lot like Grandma Dowdel!
Ron McLarty is marvelous performing the audiobook. His voice for Grandma is priceless! When I finished listening, I immediately picked up the hardcover book and started reading from the beginning.
This may be a children’s book, but I’ll wager that adults will appreciate it even more.
agmcculloch1's review against another edition
3.0
It took a couple chapters for me to settle in to this book. In the end, I appreciated that Grandma represented a strong, independent woman who takes a creative approach to seeing justice for the underdog. And, while she never seemed to outwardly show her feelings for her grandkids, the closing chapter spoke to her heart. A good read with my upper elementary daughter and our book club. It lead to dicussion on being an individual, standing firm on what is right, and opinions on the difference between a story and a lie.
alidottie's review against another edition
4.0
Companion book to a Year Down Yonder (this one is first). Fun for adults and kids.
11/15: Fourteen years later and I am enjoying this book again!!
11/15: Fourteen years later and I am enjoying this book again!!
sallyavena's review against another edition
5.0
Peck's writing is witty and a joy to read. It was fun to see things from Joey's perspective after having read 'The Year Down Yonder' first.
shortsm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
pipin's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Good for kids I had to read this for English class
sapphiresoul's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
domarisdione's review against another edition
4.0
I really like this book. The narrative voice is clear and believable and all of the characters are interesting and very well developed in a fairly short time. The historical bits feel real and unforced as elements of the story, and there is a realism to the book that is very enjoyable.