A Long Way from Chicago Themes & Characters

A Long Way from Chicago Themes and Characters

A Long Way from Chicago is a coming of age novel. Joey Dowdel grows from a nineyear-old child who is intimidated by Grandma Dowdel to a young man of fifteen who has gained respect and love for his grandmother. As a young child he took Grandma at face value, but as the summers progressed, a more mature Joey grows in his understanding of human nature and insight in respect to Grandma Dowdel and who she really is.

The themes of truth, justice, and ethics— Grandma Dowdel-style—permeate each chapter. Although Grandma says she does not care about her neighbors, her actions speak otherwise as she rights wrongs using somewhat unorthodox methods.

A sense of family and place surfaces as a theme in the story as Joey, Mary Alice, and Grandma join together to work toward common goals. A sense of loyalty to each other develops. The children...
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