A Year Down Yonder facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
A Year Down Yonder

First edition (publ. Dial Books)
Author	Richard Peck
Illustrator	Ashlea Shaffer
Cover artist	Lily Malcom
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre	Children's historical fiction
Publisher	Dial Books Scholastic Inc. Penguin Putnam Inc.
Publication date	October 2000
Media type	Print (hardback & paperback)
Pages	144 pp (first edition, hardback)130 pp (2000)
ISBN	0803725183
OCLC	42061114
LC Class	PZ7.P338 Yh 2000
Preceded by	A Long Way from Chicago
Followed by	A Season of Gifts

A Year Down Yonder is a popular novel by Richard Peck. It was published in 2000 and won the famous Newbery Medal in 2001. This book is a sequel, meaning it continues the story from A Long Way from Chicago. That first book also received a special award called a Newbery Honor.

Plot Summary

This story takes place in 1938, during a tough time called the Great Depression. Money was scarce, and many families struggled. Fifteen-year-old Mary Alice Dowdel is sent away from her home in Chicago. She goes to live with her Grandma Dowdel in a small farming town. Her parents stay in Chicago, and her brother, Joey, joins the army. Mary Alice is not happy about this big change.

Mary Alice Arrives

Mary Alice arrives by train in September. She brings her beloved cat, Bootsie, and her special Philco radio. The small town of Hickory is very different from busy Chicago. Grandma Dowdel is a strong, no-nonsense country woman. She is just as Mary Alice remembers her from childhood visits.

Dealing with Bullies

On her first day at the new high school, Mary Alice meets Mildred Burdick. Mildred is a local bully. She follows Mary Alice home and demands money. But Grandma Dowdel is clever. She secretly unties Mildred's horse. Mildred has to walk five miles home barefoot. After that, Mildred stops bothering Mary Alice.

Tricky October Nights

October brings more trouble. A teen named August Fluke Jr. enjoys knocking over outhouses before Halloween. Grandma Dowdel has a plan. She uses a wire and a pan of glue. Augie trips and gets covered in sticky glue. It stays on him for a long time! But Grandma also knows how to be kind. She bakes delicious pies for a party. She uses "borrowed" pecans and pumpkins.

Winter Fun and Family

In the winter, Grandma and Mary Alice go fox trapping at night. They earn extra money from the furs. With this money, Grandma buys Joey a train ticket. He comes home just in time for the Christmas pageant.

Spring Surprises

Mary Alice starts writing anonymous articles for the local newspaper. This stirs up the town. A new boy, Royce McNabb, arrives for Valentine's Day. Mary Alice's friend Carleen immediately likes Royce. Mary Alice and her best friend, Ina-Rae, play a trick. They make Carleen think Royce sent Ina-Rae a valentine.

Grandma also hosts a tea party for a group called the Daughters of the American Revolution. During the party, a country woman named Effie Wilcox learns something surprising. The fancy Mrs. L.J. Weidenbach is her long-lost sister!

New Friendships and Goodbyes

In the spring, Grandma takes in an artist named Arnold Green as a boarder. He pays a good amount of money. Mary Alice invites Royce over for a "study" date. Grandma also tries to set up Arnold Green with Mary Alice's English teacher, Miss Butler.

Mary Alice experiences her first tornado. The school year ends with a fun hayride. Royce and Mary Alice promise to write letters to each other. After a year in the country, Mary Alice has a new view of rural life. She also understands Grandma Dowdel better. She feels sad to leave and go back to Chicago.

Years later, after World War II ends, wedding bells ring. Mary Alice returns to marry Royce McNabb. Their wedding takes place right in Grandma's front room.