Richard Peck (1934–2018)
Author of A Long Way from Chicago
About the Author
Richard Peck was born in Decatur, Illinois on April 5, 1934. He received a bachelor's degree in English literature from DePauw University in 1956. After graduation, he served two years in the U.S. Army in Germany, where he worked as a chaplain's assistant writing sermons and completing paperwork. show more He received a master's degree in English from Southern Illinois University in 1959. He taught high school English in Illinois and New York City. He stopped teaching in 1971 to write a novel. His first book, Don't Look and It Won't Hurt, was published in 1972 and was adapted as the 1992 film Gas Food Lodging. He wrote more than 40 books for both adults and young adults including Amanda/Miranda, Those Summer Girls I Never Met, The River Between Us, A Long Way from Chicago, A Season of Gifts, The Teacher's Funeral, Fair Weather, Here Lies the Librarian, On the Wings of Heroes, and The Best Man. A Year down Yonder won the Newbery Medal in 2001 and Are You in the House Alone? won an Edgar Award. The Ghost Belonged to Me was adapted into the film Child of Glass. He received the MAE Award in 1990 and the National Humanities Medal in 2002. He died following a long battle with cancer on May 23, 2018 at the age of 84. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Series
Works by Richard Peck
River Between Us, The 2 copies
The Teachers Funerall 1 copy
Associated Works
Time Capsule: Short Stories About Teenagers Throughout the Twentieth Century (1999) — Contributor — 58 copies
From One Experience to Another: Award-Winning Authors Sharing Real-Life Experiences Through Fiction (1997) — Contributor — 43 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 1934-04-10
- Date of death
- 2018-05-23
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Decatur, Illinois, USA
- Place of death
- Manhattan, New York, USA
- Places of residence
- Illinois, USA
New York, USA - Education
- University of Oxford (Exeter College)
- Occupations
- teacher
lecturer - Organizations
- United States Army
- Awards and honors
- National Humanities Medal (2001)
Boston Globe - Horn Book Award (2017)
Members
Discussions
1980s? fiction novel involving time travel, the Titanic and Adoph Hitler in Name that Book (June 2016)
Reviews
Archer has been in two weddings, he tells us, and beginning with the first in which he has a hilarious mishap as ringbearer, and ending with the second in which he is the best man, gives us an account of his life so far between them.
Like Peck's historical fiction, this contemporary story set in Chicago has great characters, funny over-the-top moments, and a lot of heart. Archer's voice is unique and carries you along in his storytelling. His role models are his dad, his grandpa, and his Uncle Paul, and I enjoyed the relationships he has with each man. The story missed a few beats for me in its lack of direction. Archer meanders through 1-4 grade before the meat of the story, which primarily covers 5th and 6th. And he doesn't really pick up on things so the astute reader will have no problem figuring out certain things long before Archer does, such as that his Uncle Paul is gay. Finally, there are references to YouTube and a "hashtag" and such that felt a little too forced in trying to sound current. A solid read overall, but not my favorite of Peck's.… (more)
Like Peck's historical fiction, this contemporary story set in Chicago has great characters, funny over-the-top moments, and a lot of heart. Archer's voice is unique and carries you along in his storytelling. His role models are his dad, his grandpa, and his Uncle Paul, and I enjoyed the relationships he has with each man. The story missed a few beats for me in its lack of direction. Archer meanders through 1-4 grade before the meat of the story, which primarily covers 5th and 6th. And he doesn't really pick up on things so the astute reader will have no problem figuring out certain things long before Archer does, such as that his Uncle Paul is gay. Finally, there are references to YouTube and a "hashtag" and such that felt a little too forced in trying to sound current. A solid read overall, but not my favorite of Peck's.… (more)
We will miss Grandma Dowdel's fun adventures!
The PHANTOM was the best one.
"Movies is all pretend.
They're made in California, you know. But they prove a point.
Make something SEEM real and people will believe it.
The public wil swallow anything."
(1/2 star off for hunting and trapping fish was awful.)
The PHANTOM was the best one.
"Movies is all pretend.
They're made in California, you know. But they prove a point.
Make something SEEM real and people will believe it.
The public wil swallow anything."
(1/2 star off for hunting and trapping fish was awful.)
It's 1893 and Chicago is hosting the World's Columbian Exposition, also known as the World's Fair, and people are coming from all over to see the sights. Rosie, her older sister and younger brother are invited to attend as guests of their aunt, a rich widow who lives in the city. As usual with this author's tales, things don't always go as planned, but with smile-inducing results. Fun read as an adult, probably would be a good book to eventually pass on to my grandchildren, who live in Chicago!
Lists
4th Grade Books (3)
grrrrrl power (1)
Ghosts (1)
Newbery Adjacent (1)
Awards
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Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 59
- Also by
- 20
- Members
- 23,017
- Popularity
- #919
- Rating
- 3.9
- Reviews
- 605
- ISBNs
- 494
- Languages
- 12
- Favorited
- 22
The Barnhart family has recently moved from Terre Haute to a small, rural town. The Reverend, his wife and their three kids — Phyllis, Bob and Ruth Ann. Being new in a small town is tough, but being a preacher’s family makes it more difficult.
The Methodist Conference had provided the house for the family…a pretty rundown, saggy structure. It just happened to be next to an older house that was the last house in town. Their neighbour was Mrs. Dowdel, a widow, who had lived there the majority of her life and knew everyone and all their business. A gruff, not-very-sociable, no-nonsense person was what she was. But there was more to her than she showed.
The story is told by Bob, age 12, and is the story of the family’s time there. The toughness of being accepted by the town and the people who lived there.
Phyllis has a passion for Elvis (it is 1958) and she is in her teen years. Ruth Ann, the youngest, fascinated by Mrs. Dowdel and her activities, soon becomes Mrs. Dowdel’s shadow. The parents are busy with raising the kids but also restoring the church building that is not in the best of shape.
There is humour to be found in the telling of events, in this small town. Lessons are learned and friends are made.
Peck writes of an earlier time when things were simpler and slower, but common sense was important…sometimes seasoned with humour.… (more)