Author
Richard Peck
3 books here
A Year Down Yonder
Chapter book · ages 10–14 · 780L · 2009
A Depression-era gem that feels lived-in and funny—Grandma Dowdy is one of children's literature's most memorable adults, and the year-long structure lets Richard Peck build genuine affection for rural Illinois.
Are You in the House Alone?
Young adult · ages 12–16 · 820L · 1977
A frank 1977 YA novel about sexual assault that still lands because Peck trusts teens to handle nuance and doesn't sentimentalize Gail's experience—useful for parents wanting to open that conversation early.
A Long Way from Chicago
Middle grade · ages 10–14 · 730L
A beautifully constructed episodic novel that uses humor and warmth to teach Depression-era history and the particular resourcefulness of rural American women—the kind of book that makes kids actually want to know more about their grandparents' lives.