Long Way from Chicago

Every summer from 1929-1935, in A Long Way from Chicago, Joey Dowdel and his younger sister, Mary Alice, are sent to spend a week with their grandmother in her small Illinois town located halfway between Chicago and St. Louis. Not even the big city crimes of Chicago offer as much excitement as Grandma Dowdel when she outwits the banker, sets illegal fish traps, catches the town's poker playing business men in their underwear, and saves the town from the terror of the Cowgill boys. Now an old man, Joe Dowdel remembers these seven summers and the "larger than life" woman who out-smarted the law and used blackmail to help those in need.  (From Penquin USA)

The Story happens during the Great Depression

The Great Depression Photo Essay

Let's take a look at the conditions during the great depression through this photo essay

This extensive collection of photographs shows how the standard of living in the United States declined after the stock market crash of 1929.

http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/depression/photoessay.htm

Big Ideas to Think About

#1 Story Elements

What are three possible functions of a title?

What is the simplest definition of plot?

What are the three parts of setting?

What is indirect characterization?

#2 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS from Penquin Reading Guide

1. Describe Joey and Mary Alice's relationship with Grandma Dowdel. Discuss why their parents thought it so important that they get to know their Grandma. What kind of mother do you think Grandma Dowdel was to Joey and Mary Alice's father? Joey says that Grandma frightens his mother-Grandma's daughter-in-law. What characteristics of Grandma make her so frightening?

    

2. Joe Dowdel is an adult sharing his memories of Grandma Dowdel. He says, "Are all my memories true? Every word, and growing truer with the years." (p. 1) What does Joe mean when he says, "growing truer with years?" What kind of relationship do you think Joe Dowdel has with his grandchildren? Discuss whether the summers spent with Grandma Dowdel might have shaped the kind of grandfather he became.

    

3. Why does Mary Alice say, "I don't think Grandma's a very good influence on us"? (p. 61) How is she a good influence on her grandchildren? Ask the students to debate whether Grandma is a "bad influence" or a "good role model."

    

4. Grandma Dowdel never seems to shows affection. How do you know that she loves her grandchildren?

    

5. Why does Grandma Dowdel display the body of Shotgun Cheatham in her parlor? Discuss what Grandma means when she says, "A rumor is sometimes truth on the trail." (p. 115)

    

6. During their visit in 1931, Joey and Mary Alice realize that Grandma Dowdel runs illegal fish traps. Why is it important to have hunting and fishing laws? What department in state government is responsible for monitoring such laws? They vow never to tell their dad about this. Discuss what other things Joey and Mary Alice discover about Grandma that they are likely to keep to themselves. Why does Sheriff Dickerson call Grandma a "one-woman crime-wave"? (p. 57)

    

7. One of Grandma's weapons is blackmail. Discuss the numerous times in the novel that she uses blackmail to help people. What does the phrase "larger than life" mean? How does this fit Grandma?

    

8. During which summer do you think Joey and Mary Alice learn the true character of Grandma?

    

9. Joey says, "As the years went by, we'd seem to see a different woman every summer." (p.1) Discuss whether it's Grandma that changes, or Joey and Mary Alice.

Projects for Points

20 points Pick A or B

A. In the summer of 1930, Mary Alice brings her jump rope to Grandma's house and occupies herself by jumping rope to rhymes. Use books in the library or the Internet to locate popular jump rope rhymes.

or

B. A reporter from the "big city" of Peoria comes to Grandma Dowdel's house to cover the death of Shotgun Cheatham. He streaks out of the house when Grandma fires a shotgun at the coffin. Write a newspaper story that describes this entire incident. Give the story an appropriate headline.

20 points Pick A or B

A. Joey and Mary Alice visit Grandma Dowdel each summer from 1929 to 1935. Make a timeline of national events that occurred during this time span.

or

B. Create a crossword puzzle using characters and events from the book

http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/crossword/

60 Points Choose A B or C.

A.Write a persuasive Essay . You may use the on-line tool below to help you!

Persuasion Map

The Persuasion Map is an interactive graphic organizer that enables students to map out their arguments for a persuasive essay or debate.

or

 B. The kids found out a lot about their family by visiting Grandma Dowdel and listening to her stories.  Find an older family member and ask them to tell you a story about your family.  You may ask them to tell you a story about their childhood or something that happened to them when they were your age. Summarize the story into paragraph form.

or

C. Colloquialisms are words or phrases that are often or spoken in certain areas.  These phrases are informal and are often not understood by those unfamiliar to the particular area.

Grandma Dowdel uses several informal phrases.  Locate these in the book and then identify the more formal way of saying the same thing.

Also, try to think of a saying or word that we use in our area or that may be unique to your family.  Share this word and its meaning.

Check for Understanding

Take the on-line quiz to see how much you rememer about the elements of a Story

http://palc.sd40.bc.ca/palc/Quiz/character.htm

More Resources

eThemes Resource: Decade: 1930-1939

These sites are about the history and events of the 1930s. Learn more about the causes and effects of the Great Depression. There are many primary documents, including oral histories, photographs, newspaper articles, and audio files. Also includes maps and timelines. There are links to eThemes Resources on books set in the 1930s.