Meet the Cast
Joey Dowdel
From wee tadpole to young man in uniform, this cup of Joe is our main man. After all, over the course of this novel, he goes from thinking that jigsaw puzzles are pretty much the best thing since s...
Grandma Dowdel
Joey Dowdel may be the narrator of A Long Way from Chicago, but Grandma Dowdel is the star. She's nuttier than a Snickers bar, more independent than a cat, and more full of energy than a Formula 1...
Mary Alice Dowdel
Although Joey Dowdel is the main character and narrator in A Long Way from Chicago, his sister, Mary Alice, is also a pretty big presence. She's not just some annoying younger sibling: she's a stro...
Effie Wilcox
When Joey and Mary Alice first arrive in town, they hear a lot about Effie Wilcox from Grandma Dowdel, who seems to dislike the woman and disapproves of her rampant gossiping. And it's true—Effie...
The Weidenbachs
Mr. and Mrs. Weidenbach are definitely not Grandma Dowdel's favorite people in town. The banker and his wife represent what Grandma disdains the most—rich people who turn a blind eye on the suffe...