Books with title A Long Way From Chicago

Set during the years 1929-1942, and told in eight engaging episodes, this fresh and funny novel recounts a boy and his sister's annual summer trips to rural Illinois to visit their eccentric grandmother. Grandma Dowdel, a remarkable larger-than-life character, continually astounds her "city-slicker" grandchildren with her nonconformist behavior and her gutsy, take-charge attitude.

Set during the years 1929-1942, and told in eight engaging episodes, this fresh and funny novel recounts a boy and his sister's annual summer trips to rural Illinois to visit their eccentric grandmother. Grandma Dowdel, a remarkable larger-than-life character, continually astounds her "city-slicker" grandchildren with her nonconformist behavior and her gutsy, take-charge attitude.

Raised as house slaves, Susie, her daughter Clara, and her granddaughter Susan dream of better lives. Living on the plantation of President James Madison, the 3 African American women are united by love, fierce devotion, and a desire for freedom that may be fulfilled for Susan as the Civil War comes to an end. Author Connie Briscoe vividly describes their joys, pain, and triumphs, evoking a powerful portrait of Southern life and the clash between master and slave.

The Foundation Level Stories are part of the third wave of Headwork Reading: special needs reading resources for Key Stage 3. These stories come in at a reading level below Level 1. They offer 350-450 words per story in Pack A and 650-800 words per story in Pack B at reading ages of 6-7. Largetype and plenty of black and white illustrations aid reluctant readers at this very low level. Progression of reading stamina is provided between Packs A and B which themselves act as stepping stones to Level 1 stories already published.

What happens when Joey and his sister, Mary Alice -- two city slickers from Chicago -- make their annual summer visits to Grandma Dowdel's seemingly sleepy Illinois town? August 1929: They see their first corpse, and he isn't resting easy. August 1930: The Cowgill boys terrorize the town, and Grandma fights back. August 1931: Joey and Mary Alice help Grandma trespass, poach, catch the sheriff in his underwear, and feed the hungry -- all in one day. And there's more, as Joey and Mary Alice make seven summer trips to Grandma's -- each one funnier than the year before -- in self-contained chapters that readers can enjoy as short stories or take together for a rollicking good novel. In the tradition of American humorists from Mark Twain to Flannery O'Connor, popular author Richard Peck has created a memorable world filled with characters who, like Grandma herself, are larger than life and twice as entertaining. Richard Peck lives in New York City.