A Year Down Yonder

My seventh graders read the sequel to A Long Way from Chicago--Richard Peck's A Year Down Yonder.  In a poll of the class, it is their favorite novel to date (this is the fourth we've read this year).  They now really know and have (at least most of them) have grown to love the main character Grandma Dowdel.

Grandma Dowdel has given us many opportunities for interesting discussions.  Her methods for doing "good" is often a little naughty.  I am fascinated how for some students "wrong is wrong," but others can forgive the wrong if it outweighs the good.  Because Grandma Dowdel is such a complex character, she is the perfect specimen for the students' character analysis paper.