A long way from chigago

Title: A Long Way from Chicago

Author: Richard Peck

Date Finished: September 19, 2011                                      Genre: Fiction

Number of pages: 148                                               Number of stars:  1/2

What is the main setting of the novel?

The novel takes place in the Country right in a town where the railroad tracks cut in two.

Describe the main characters.  Who is the protagonist? Who is the antagonist?

Mary Alice is the young sister, nice, and has a good hear. Joey is the older brother, he is very loyal to his family, and Grandma Dowdel who is old but funny. She is a different kind of grandmother because she doesn’t like gossip about her, and she loves to black mail people. The protagonist changes a lot in the story, one of them is Eiffie Wilcox and the other one is the Cowgill’s brothers. The antagonists are Mary Alice, her brother Joey and grandma Dowdel.

What is the main conflict of the novel? How is the problem resolved? Explain.

The main conflict changes during the visits of the protagonists. One of them happens when the Cowgill brothers blow up grandma’s mail box. The other conflict happens when the sheriffs accused grandma of stealing their boat, and giving food to the hungry without a permit. Problem resolved by grandma finding out that the Cowgill’s brothers did it and tells their parents.

From what point of view is the story told?

The story is told by Joey’s point of view.

Choose one of the following elements and describe how the author implements it into the novel: irony, foreshadowing, suspense or symbolism.

I chose suspense because I waited eagerly for the characters next movie.

Describe each part of the plot in detail.

Exposition:

The background of the story shows how Mary Alice and Joey dread going to their grandmother’s house. They rather stay in Chicago with their parents and friends.

Rising Action:

A part of the rising action is when everyone thinks Shotgun Cheatman moved after his death but ends up being the cat that moved the corps.

Climax:

The climax of the story is when grandma threats the bank to give Effie’s house back free of charge, and still convince the banker to give two dollars to Mary Alice, and two for Joey.

Falling Action:

Most of the falling action happens when grandma has a showdown with Mrs. Weidenback about whose family has the most talent and the country’s oldest living citizen.

Resolution:

Joey and Mary Alice grow old. Joey joins the Army during the World War II and during his trip by train he passes through grandma’s town and she waves at him.

Describe one theme of the novel in detail.

My favorite theme of the novel is doing the right thing. Grandma helps a person even though she was not her friend.

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Yes, I would recommend this book to a friend, because it’s funny, thought me how to be a good person and do the right thing.