A Year Down Yonder

I was asked to read this book as a part of volunteering for my daughter's school. Even though my daughter is a Kindergartner this year, I volunteered to help with "Book Bowl" a competition for junior high grades sponsored by Barnes and Noble. This is one of their books for this year. The librarian at my daughter's school asked for me to read this book and provide some Jeopardy like questions and answers for practice for her students. Other than my life having no free reading time, well, almost none, this volunteer opportunity seemed right up my alley. Funny, I found audio copies at the library so that I could utilize my hour commute each way per day. Yes, I did do some jotting of questions while driving down Interstate 80 between Gretna and Lincoln (and even some on way West Dodge Road in Omaha). Shh! Don't tell anyone!

Anyway, I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I think it was a good story and a story that a junior high student might like. However, if I had been told I had to read it in junior high, I may not have enjoyed it too much. Then again, I did like a lot of the force fed stories/books throughout school, so maybe I would have liked it just fine.

The story is about a 15 year old girl who has to move from Chicago to her grandmother's in rural Illinois due to her dad losing a job due to the recession. This is the story of her year down yonder and coming of age.

Lois Smith did an admirable job narrating. However, her voice is too old. She did all the "old folk" in the novel just fine. However, she was completely unbelievable when narrating the prime narrator, a 15 year old girl. She sounded whiny, and I know I would have read the tones differently if I had read the print. I even repeated lines the way I thought they should have been said on occasion.

Since I had to write questions and answers, I thought I'd include them here. Since these are just for practice, I don't see why any other book bowlers who may stumble on this should not benefit.

Mary Alice's cat. Who is "Bootsie"?
The types of pies that Mary Alice and Grandma served at Halloween. What are pecan and pumpkin?
Grandma sent her horse off with her boots. Who is Meredith ....?
Grandma ran into this with a tractor. What is Mr. Nigel's pecan tree?
Mary Alice's hometown. Where is Chicago?
The recession of 1937. What is the Roosevelt Recession?
The activity on armistice day. What is a Turkey Shoot?
The armistice day Turkey Shoot was held here. Where is the Abernathe Farm?
Mary Alice's teacher. Who is Miss Butler and Mr. F...?
Grandma trapped these in the winter. What are foxes?
Grandma sold these. What are fox furs?
Grandma wore these. What are every peice of Grandpa's clothing?
Mary Alice's nativity role. Who was Jesus's Mother? (note: the book never gave her name.)
He visited Mary Alice at Christmas. Who is Joey?
Mary Alice made these for Ina Ray. What are Valentines?
Mary Alice's move on Royce McNabb. What was study on a Sunday afternoon?
Maxine Pratch's event that goes down in history. What was run through town naked?
Lived in the attic. What was a snake?
Mary Alice ran home from school during this. What was the tornado?
Grandma invited them for supper. Who were Arnold Green and Miss Butler?
He went to New York to wait for her. Who were Arnold Green and Miss Butler?
Mary Alice was married here. Where was Grandma's house?