A Long Way from Chicago

The main problem in A Long Way from Chicago is Joey and Mary Alice's initial misunderstanding and lack of appreciation for their Grandma Dowdel, whom they find unapproachable and unconventional. As...

In "A Long Way From Chicago," Grandma Dowdel commits several illegal actions, including stealing a boat belonging to Sheriff Dickerson, setting illegal fish traps in Illinois, and brewing liquor in...

Mary Alice is a curious and adaptable young girl. Initially, she feels out of place in her grandmother's rural town, but over time, she grows more confident and independent. Her observations and...

In A Long Way from Chicago, the Cowgill brothers are depicted as destructive bullies who prey on defenseless older women. They engage in various acts of vandalism, including uprooting a privy and...

When Grandma fired her gun at the wake, Joey, who had been dozing in a corner, was startled but remained in his spot. He observed the chaos as Grandma shot at the coffin, causing a reporter and Mrs....

In A Long Way from Chicago, Grandma Dowdel's lies about Shotgun Cheatham create an exaggerated legend that the townspeople eagerly believe. Her fabrications transform Cheatham from an obscure figure...

The pie contest result is a joke on Grandma Dowdel because she cheats by switching her pie card with Rupert Pennypacker's, aiming to win first prize. Ironically, her gooseberry pie wins the contest,...

In A Long Way from Chicago, Grandma's story about Shotgun earning his name and the moving gauze on the coffin are examples of her colorful and possibly exaggerated storytelling. Shotgun got his name...

Mr. and Mrs. Stubbs oppose their son's marriage to Vandelia Eubanks because they view the Eubanks family as socially inferior and fear Vandelia's mother, Miz Idella, is mentally unstable, potentially...

Grandma Dowdel took smelly cheese to the creek as catfish bait in Richard Peck's A Long Way from Chicago. In Chapter 3, "A One-Woman Crime Wave—1931," Grandma and the kids venture to a creek,...

Effie Wilcox is a local gossip and friend of Grandma Dowdel. Described as "humped-over" and "bucked teeth," she is characterized by Grandma as untrustworthy due to her appearance. Despite this,...

Shotgun Cheatham died penniless because he was an incompetent and unproductive individual. According to Grandma Dowdel, he was an "old reprobate" who "lived poor and died broke." His nickname...

Grandma felt insulted by Mrs. Weidenbach's visit because Mrs. Weidenbach, as the banker's wife, represented the wealthy class responsible for foreclosures in their town, which angered Grandma due to...

A commotion at Shotgun's wake was caused when gauze over the coffin moved mysteriously, creating the illusion that the deceased was coming back to life. Grandma Dowdel fired her rifle, further...

A stringer, or freelance journalist, shows up at the Coffee Pot Café asking questions. As it's August, normally a slow month for news, he's looking for information about a recently deceased local...

Grandma Dowdell lives in a small, unnamed town in central Illinois, described as being somewhere between Chicago and St. Louis along the Wabash Railroad. The town is characterized by a slow pace,...

Grandma Dowdel swapped pie cards to improve her own chances of winning. In "A Long Way from Chicago," she believed Rupert Pennypacker's pie had a better chance of winning first prize, so she switched...

The main characters in chapter 5, “The Phantom Brakeman—1933,” arethe novel’s protagonists—Joe and Mary Alice Dowdel—and their Grandma. Additional important characters are the young lovers Vandalia...

Mrs. L.J. Weidenbach is the banker's wife and a neighbor of Grandma Dowdel. She is portrayed as pompous, and Grandma often exploits her attitude for personal gain. Mrs. Weidenbach seeks Grandma's...

Aunt Mae Griswold's tendency to give wrong answers to Grandma's questions highlights her humorous and unreliable nature. This characteristic adds a layer of comedy to the story, emphasizing her role...

Grandma reacts strongly to seeing Joey and Mary Alice in old attic clothes because the outfits remind her of her own wedding day with Grandpa Dowdel. The sight of the children dressed in historical...

The main characters in "A Long Way from Chicago" are Mary Alice, Joey Dowdel, and Grandma Dowdel. The story follows the siblings' annual summer visits to their eccentric grandmother, who teaches them...

Joe and Mary Alice took home a book, a jump rope, and a jigsaw puzzle on the train in Richard Peck's A Long Way from Chicago. Mary Alice brought "The Hidden Staircase" to read and a jump rope for...

The children didn't tell their father about their fishing trip because it involved illegal activities orchestrated by their Grandma Dowdel. She took them trespassing, stole a boat, and used a fish...