MMGM-A Season of Gifts

I loved A Year Down Yonder and A Long Way From Chicago, so when I saw A Season of Gifts, which was also written by Richard Peck, I had to read it.


This is a companion book to the above books that he has written featuring Mrs. Dowdel!  I love Mrs. Dowdel. She is hilarious!

A Season of Gifts

by Richard Peck

2009

Dial Books for Young Readers

On the inside flap it states  -  This story takes place in 1958, and a new family has moved in next door to Mrs. Dowdel - a family in desperate need of her help (whether they realize it or not). There's twelve-year-old Bob, shy on courage in a town full of bullies; his Elvis-obsessed older sister,  Phyllis,  who just might be on the verge of spinning out of control; Bob's little sister, Ruth Ann,  ready and waiting for a  larger-than-life role model; and even Bob's two parents,  the young minister and his wife,  who are amazed to discover that the last house in town might also be the most vital.

I love Ruth Ann. She is a little girl who takes to Mrs. Dowdel and helps her with just about everything and even starts talking like her. "Hoo-boy" being one of their favorite sayings.
They have a green car, they call the Pickle, and Mrs. Dowdel has twelve-year-old Bob driving it in the last section of the book which takes  place at Christmas  time.

The book is divided up into three sections titled, The Last House in Town, The Fall of the Year and E'er the Winter Storms Begin.  But I must admit, I was not as impressed with this book, as I was with the others, until I got to E'er the Winter Storms Begin. When I got to that section, I didn't want to put it down.

It wasn't quite as funny as I thought it would be, but it was a good read, especially the last part. If you like Mrs. Dowdel, you'll like this book.

For more Middle Grade Reads, check out Shannon Messinger's Blog!

Janet Smart  

Characterization

What makes a story good? What makes a story memorable?

After reading a book what do you remember most about that book? The setting, the plot or the characters.

I think a great character makes a story memorable!

How do we make them memorable?

Is it through their description (black hair, blue eyes, short), or where they live or come from or by their actions and words?

I think their actions and words are what make them special. Their quirks, uniqueness, habits, abilities, etc.

So, if your character is a blond, blue eyed person who offers no uniqueness or lasting impression to your readers, then he may be a character they will soon forget after they've read the book.

Our goal, as a writer, is to  make our story and our character something readers will remember long after finishing the book.

One of my favorite characters is Grandma Dowdel in A Long Way from Chicago and A year Down Yonder by Richard Peck.

 

Mary Alice is a great character all on her own, but she has to deal with living with her larger than life Gandma Dowdel. And she is quite a character!

Here are a few small snippets from the first chapter about her:

You couldn't call her a welcoming woman, and there wasn't a hug in her.

"Hoo-boy," Grandma said.

She aimed one of her chins down the platform.

"How about some supper? My stomach's flapping against my backbone," she said. "If I don't eat, I get cranky."
     And heaven knows, we couldn't have that.

That is just the tip of the iceberg.

Other things to remember when making your character is to exaggerate some of his characteristics. Give them flaws. Have them easily fascinated or accident prone. Make them a nerd or a hypochondriac. Make them unpredictable and have them do something completely out of character every once in a while.

Who is one of your favorite characters?

What is some advice you can give us on how to make a character memorable?

Posted by Janet F. Smart on Creative Writing in the Blackberry Patch.