From: Kay Weisman <weisman>
Date: Sat, 27 Feb 1999 11:38:01 -0600 (CST)

Although I usually just lurk on this list, I would like to respond as someone who enjoyed Richard Peck's book.

Actually, I am a long time Peck fan--he and I grew up in the same small midwestern town, and whenever I read his books I find characters and settings that I remember well. I do agree that most of the characters are exaggerated, like a lot of tall tale characters in family reminiscences. For me it adds to the humor--there's just enough truth to make the characters come to life.

I also liked the use of short stories revealing just that window of experience from every summer of his childhood, and it seems perfectly logical that we don't learn anything about the parents or their relationship with the grandmother. It's not the parents story, afterall. We sometimes forget that in the 1930's and 40's people didn't travel that often or even talk long distance on the phone. Even if the Grandmother and his parents corresponded by letter, the boy's relationship with her is defined by these summer trips. In the days before everyone went away to camp, this was a safe summer adventure.

I would agree that there were several strong contenders that I was surprised did not make the list for Newbery honor books, but I would not quarrel with the committee on this choice.

Kay Weisman

I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.
                --Jorge Luis Borges-

On Fri, 26 Feb 1999, Chris Dowling wrote:
Received on Sat 27 Feb 1999 11:38:01 AM CST