A small town in southern Illinois during the Depression era sets the scene for A Long Way from Chicago. The economic hardships are evident in the townspeople's thrifty habits and Peck's portrayal of a line at the store waiting for day-old bread to go on sale at half price. At one point, the town even forbids men seeking work from lingering around. Joey and Mary Alice, originally from Chicago, take a train trip each August to visit their Grandma Dowdel for a week. They leave behind modern conveniences when staying with Grandma. Her house, located at the edge of town just across the county line, has the Wabash Railroad tracks running behind it. A path leads to the privy, and nearby is the cobhouse, "a tumbledown shed full of stuff left there in Grandpa Dowdel's time. A big old snaggle-toothed tomcat lived in the cobhouse, and as quick as you'd come out of the privy, he'd jump at you. Mary Alice hated that." In the kitchen, a pump draws water from the well, milk is delivered by the Cowgill boys using a horse and wagon, a chain turns on the ceiling light, food is cooked on a corncob-fed stove, and screens on doors and windows serve as air conditioning. Grandma wears aprons over her wash dresses and only dons men's pants under her skirts for activities like hiking and fishing.

Grandma Dowdel's town is quite small, featuring a bank, an insurance agency, Moore's Store, and the Coffee Pot Cafe. It is inhabited by some narrow-minded individuals, such as the banker who forecloses on Grandma Dowdel's enemy, forcing her out of her home, and the sheriff and townspeople who drive drifters away. Although Grandma always "claimed she didn't give two hoots" about the town or its residents, each summer reveals that her claim isn't entirely true.

A Long Way from Chicago is narrated by an elderly Joe Dowdel, who reminisces about the week-long summer vacations he spent with his Grandma Dowdel in a quaint southern Illinois town. Peck's choice of language and dialogue captures the essence of small-town life, adding vibrancy to the story. His inclusion of humorous situations and vivid imagery results in plenty of chuckles and laughter. Readers can vividly picture Grandma Dowdel in her quirky outfits for hiking and fishing, Shotgun Cheatham's body displayed in her parlor for the wake, and fair-goers struggling to hoist her substantial figure into a biplane.

The novel's episodic chapter structure allows readers to enjoy each chapter as a standalone short story or to read them consecutively for an uproarious experience.

A Long Way from Chicago provides a vivid portrayal of a distinctive family member. Many students have relatives who are unique, unconventional, or quirky. Peck's Grandma Dowdel is a lovable yet decidedly unconventional grandmother. Readers might compare their own relationships with older adults to the bond between Joey, Mary Alice, and their Grandma. Recognizing that Grandma Dowdel defies norms can help readers appreciate that there is no single mold for people. Everyone is unique.

At the story's outset, Mary Alice feels that she and Joey are being left with Grandma as a burden. This sentiment may resonate with young people today. Parents and caregivers sometimes give the impression that they lack the time or desire to engage with children and end up leaving them with someone else. Statistics indicate that grandparents are increasingly becoming the heads of households in this country.

The young woman working at the Coffee Cup Cafe experiences abuse from her mother, and Mary Alice steps in to correct the injustice, much like Grandma Dowdel would. Abuse is widespread today. Some readers may be victims of abuse from parents, relatives, or bullies. They might find solace in Grandma Dowdel's approach to the Cowgill boys when they attempt to bully and terrorize elderly women. Like the young woman, they may find someone they can trust and seek help from.

The townspeople harbor prejudice against homeless men who travel the rails seeking work. Prejudice often stems from misunderstanding, lack of education about others, or a mean-spirited and selfish attitude. If readers recognize any prejudice within themselves, they can learn from several instances where Joey and Mary Alice learned compassion from Grandma Dowdel. She defended Shotgun Cheatham's reputation, upheld Mrs. Wilcox's dignity, addressed Aunt Puss Chapman's material needs, helped rescue seventeen-year-old Vandalia from her abusive mother, and fed the hungry. Without knowing the circumstances of someone's life, we might prejudge them. Peck's characters demonstrate a more compassionate way to treat others.

Young people crave and need truth, justice, and strong ethics as guiding principles in life. While some of Grandma Dowdel's methods of administering these principles may be questionable at times, readers will undoubtedly understand her stance on every issue. Like Grandma, with a strong foundation, readers can take a stand when the situation requires it.

The Ghost Belonged to Me was recorded on audio cassette by Live Oak Media in 1976. Don't Look and It Won't Hurt was adapted into a filmstrip with an accompanying cassette by Random House. Richard Peck himself read Remembering the Good Times, which was then recorded on audio cassette by Listening Library in 1987.

Several of Peck's novels have been adapted into television movies, including: Child of Glass (based on The Ghost Belonged to Me), produced by Walt Disney Productions in 1979; Father Figure, produced by Time-Life Productions in 1980; and Are You in the House Alone?, aired by CBS in 1997.

Most of Peck's novels center on young individuals navigating the challenges of adolescence. A recurring element in his stories is the presence of an older or elderly figure, as seen in A Long Way from Chicago. Peck once remarked that when writing for young readers, it’s essential to incorporate the wisdom of those at the "other end of life." Readers exploring the bibliography will find that many themes from A Long Way to Chicago are echoed in other works. For instance, characters in Lost in Cyberspace and The Great Interactive Dream Machine also experience the realization of their dreams.

Gallo, Donald R. Presenting Richard Peck. Twayne, 1989.

Mercier, Jean F. "PW Interviews: Richard Peck," Publishers Weekly (March 14, 1980). Peck, Richard. "Autobiography Feature: Richard Peck," Something about the Author, Vol. 110. Edited by Alan Hedblad. Gale Group, 2000, pp. 159-70. In this essay, Peck discusses his life and work, accompanied by photographs.

"Richard Peck." In Fifth Book of Junior Authors and Illustrators. Edited by Sally Holmes Holtze. H. W. Wilson Co., 1983.

"Richard Peck." In Children's Literature Review, Vol. 15. Edited by Gerard J. Senick. Gale, 1988, pp. 146-66.

"Richard Peck." In Authors & Illustrators for Young Adults, Vol. 24. Edited by Thomas McMahon. Gale, 1998, pp. 151-61. This section includes personal details, awards, a complete bibliography of Peck's works, and a summary of his career and achievements.

Silvey, Anita, ed. Essay on Peck in Children's Books and Their Creators. Houghton, 1995, pp. 512-14.