From: Steven
Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 13:22:22 PST

I haven't got response from library patrons yet, but did read "A Long Way from Chicago" to my own two kids (ages 8 & 11). They enjoyed it a lot (though both still "voted" for "Holes"). They thought it was
"kind of funny," which I think is about right. When I first read it to myself I found it very funny, but reading aloud made me see it's not really laugh out loud humor. It's a very subtle understated book, but not so understated that kids don't get it. At times I couldn't resist checking with my kids to see if they were following Grandma's various schemes and notions, because Peck lets his characters tell the story so completely. The kids always followed it just fine. It's one of those historical fiction books that gives just enough of the interesting details to make you really remember and feel like you know the era. But not so much that it's boring or forced. The format also makes it a great read aloud...you get a nice conclusion every night, along with the continuity as the characters grow and we get to know Grandma and her town a little better each time.

-------------------------------------------------------Steven Engelfried, West Linn Public Library 1595 Burns Street West Linn, OR 97068 ph: 503e6x57 fax: 503e6'46 e-mail: steven at westlinn.lib.or.us
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Received on Thu 25 Feb 1999 03:22:22 PM CST