A Year Down Yonder

By: Richard Peck

Narrated by: Lois Smith

Mary Alice and Grandma Dowdel return for more astonishing, laugh-out-loud adventures when 15-year-old Mary Alice moves in with her spicy grandmother for the year. Her extended visit is filled with moonlit schemes, romances both foiled and founded, and a whole parade of fools made to suffer in unusual (and always hilarious) ways.

©2008 Richard Peck (P)2008 Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"In this hilarious and poignant sequel to A Long Way to Chicago, Peck once again shows that country life is anything but boring." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

"Again, Peck has created a delightful, insightful tale that resounds with a storyteller's wit, humor, and vivid description." (School Library Journal)

"With the same combination of wit, gentleness, and outrageous farce as Peck's Newbery Honor book, Long Way from Chicago, this sequel tells the story of Joey's younger sister, Mary Alice, 15, who spends the year of 1937 back with Grandma Dowdel in a small town in Illinois." (Booklist)

Entertaining Audio Book

The reading is spot on. The book is laugh out loud funny and touching. Highly recommend anything Richard Peck writes.

Such a delightful story!

I just loved this one. Funny and tender and caring. A wonderful story of a beautiful relationship between a Grandmother and her grandchildren.

Where is Grandma Dowdle's personality?

What did you love best about A Year Down Yonder?

I loved the continuing story of Mary Alice and Grandma Dowdle, and her antics. It was a great story!

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Lois Smith?

I would like to have the narrator who was cast for "A Long Way from Chicago" in spite of the fact that the book is from the perspective of Mary Alice. He did such an excellent job with all of the characters, especially Grandma Dowdle. I did not enjoy Ms. Smith's interpretation at all.

love it.

It's been over 3 years since I listen the first book "Long away from chicago" which i really loved it. This book is awesom, I'm glad I listened to it.

love it!

once you start its hard to stop absolutely amazing i do love it so much

Nice and short!

I remember reading this book in elementary school, so it was nice to revisit it. At about 3hrs long it’s a good short read/listen, especially if you listen to books at work.

This is probably the best fiction book i have read

It is the best!! I would 100% recommend it for everyone of all ages! It is well written and humorous. It is definitely the best fiction book- on par with the other books in this series.

Another Great Production

I was a little leery at first that there was a different narrator for the second book in this series because I had so much enjoyed the narrator of the first book. However, the narrator did a fabulous job. Now onto the third book in this series… will it be as good as the first two?

Great quick read...

What did you love best about A Year Down Yonder?

Loved the down to earth country feel of the book.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The grandmother was the best character in this book. You never know what she was going to do next.

Which scene was your favorite?

The Christmas pageant was the best scence in the book.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The ending of this children's book left the reader wanting more.

Absolutely Delightful!

I could recommend this for my 10-year-old grandson just as readily as for my aging mother. There’s not a swearword in it. The characters are lovable and believable. There’s even a tiny bit of history included. I loved it.