The Way to Schenectady

June 1, 1999
Gr 4-6-Written with a light and lively touch, this is an enjoyable family story with a few flaws. Jane Peeler relates the events as she, her brothers Ben and Bernie, and their father embark on a long car ride from Toronto to Massachusetts to meet their mother, who has been away on business. Jane is sure the trip is doomed when they must make room for their grandmother, who is long and thin and stringy and rather stern. Along the way, Jane befriends Marty, a homeless man, and allows him to stow away in their van (one of those dont-try-this-at-home plot devices). Long estranged from his family, he is trying to get to Schenectady for his brothers funeral. By the end of the journey, most of the characters have grown: Bernie is finally willing to be toilet trained, Jane has discovered that her grandmother isnt so bad after all, and Marty has been reunited with his family. The plot strains credulity at times, and some of the characters are nearly caricatures (the father is much too nice to be believed and the grandmother is far too nasty) but readers will enjoy getting to know the likable Peeler family. A humorous romp.Cyrisse Jaffee, formerly at Newton Public Schools, MA

Copyright 1999 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 1999
Gr. 4^-6. Traveling from Ontario to Massachusetts with her father, her ill-tempered grandmother, and two brothers (one not "quite" toilet trained), Jane meets up with Marty, a homeless man who needs a ride to his brother's memorial service in Schenectady. Acting on impulse, she hides him in the back of the family van and hopes for the best. Her plans go awry, but all ends happily. Jane's first-person narrative flows along at a brisk pace, punctuated with humor. Although the jokes are sometimes coyly ingenuous or above kids' heads, most often the humor will amuse young readers. An entertaining story with some original characters and a satisfying conclusion. ((Reviewed May 1, 1999))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1999, American Library Association.)