A Year Down Yonder

A Year Down Yonder is a novel by Richard Peck that won the Newbery Medal in 2001. It is a sequel to A Long Way from Chicago, which itself received a Newbery Honor. In the book, Mary Alice takes the train from Chicago to spend a year with her Grandma Dowdel, whose actions resemble an old-fashioned Tyler Perry's Madea character. Set in 1937, 15-year-old Mary Alice and her grandmother experience funny and exciting adventures in a small town in centr... more

A Year Down Yonder is a novel by Richard Peck that won the Newbery Medal in 2001. It is a sequel to A Long Way from Chicago, which itself received a Newbery Honor. In the book, Mary Alice takes the train from Chicago to spend a year with her Grandma Dowdel, whose actions resemble an old-fashioned Tyler Perry's Madea character. Set in 1937, 15-year-old Mary Alice and her grandmother experience funny and exciting adventures in a small town in central Illinois possibly Montecello. Mary Alice runs into many troubles and hardships in the small town, like bullies(Mildred Burdick), poverty, tornadoes, and adapting to the new way of life. Mary Alice spends a whole year at her Grandma Dowdel's home trying her best to fit in. Mary Alice soon meets a boy named Royce McNabb, and he is also from the city.Carleen a popular gal has a crush an him too,just like Mary Alice. Mary Alice decides to stay with her grandma until she graduates.In their home a aritist pays her grandma two dollars to stay at... less