Fair Weather

Richard Peck's story of Rosie Beckett's adventure to the 1893 World's Columbian Expo is, in a word, enchanting. This was my first time reading anything by Peck, and I'm sure to find more by him.

Rosie, her mother, sister and brother are invited by their Aunt Euterpe to travel to Chicago to see the World's Fair. Their mother decides not to go, but thinks it might be a good idea to send the children. Never having traveled farther from home than their horse could travel, Chicago might as well have been an entirely different country for the children. Upon arriving in Chicago, through several accidents of fate, the children and their Aunt's lives are never going to be quite the same. Sprinkled throughout with historical names and places from show more Chicago's past, Peck deftly recreates that White City and the people that made it happen.

I love the city of Chicago. I visit there all the time, and someday would like to live there. When I can't make it to the city, I love to read about it, and one of my favorite subjects is the World's Fair. I would have loved to have been there, to have seen it firsthand and feel that rush of the possibility of tomorrow that it brought to so many people and Peck's book delivers that thrill through the eyes of his characters.

Recommended. show less

Set during the Chicago World's Fair in 1893, Fair Weather is a hilarious portrayal of a farm family learning about the wider world of Chicago. Thirteen year old Rosie Beckett's idea of traveling is shopping at the dry goods store "in town," but when their wealthy but unhappy aunt invites their family to Chicago to attend the fair and "learn about the world," Rosie and her siblings Lottie and Buster - and the uninvited Granddad - get the chance of a lifetime. Rosie's innocence leads her to make colossal mistakes while trying to help her aunt, while her granddad's intentional crudities earn them box seats at Buffalo Bill's Wild West show. Peck has created warm, hilarious characters with authentic voices and an interesting historical show more spotlight on a world-changing event. Recommended for ages 10-14. show less

It's 1893 and Chicago is hosting the World's Columbian Exposition, also known as the World's Fair, and people are coming from all over to see the sights. Rosie, her older sister and younger brother are invited to attend as guests of their aunt, a rich widow who lives in the city. As usual with this author's tales, things don't always go as planned, but with smile-inducing results. Fun read as an adult, probably would be a good book to eventually pass on to my grandchildren, who live in Chicago!

“Fair Weather,” by Richard Peck is a story about the Beckett family and their trip to Chicago to see the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893, also known as the World’s Fair, which was held to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America. Rosie, narrator of this story, tells of how her poor, but hard working farm family from Illinois travel to the big city of Chicago upon invitation by her Aunt Euterpe. Accompanied by her brother, Buster, sister, Lottie, and Grandad Fuller, the small town family experiences something completely new and foreign in Chicago. Not only does the Beckett family have an amazing time in this humorous historical fiction, but end up inspiring and cheering up the recently widowed Aunt Euterpe show more on their trip as well.

This book is great because not only do readers learn of the World’s Fair and history of Chicago, but also come to understand more about the way of life in the late 1800’s. The photos throughout the book of the actual fair make it much more real to younger readers, and the historical note about the fair and it’s fate at the end of the book is a nice touch for readers. The characters are funny and easy to warm up to, making this book a fun read.

After reading this book, children could create their own postcards similar to those displayed throughout the book. They could create these postcards as if they were at the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 and use facts from the book to make the postcards more realistic. Children could also use this book as a source in writing a research paper about the World’s Fair. They could acquire another source of their own and learn how to properly cite sources in their papers. show less

Aunt Euterpe sends Mama a letter...in it are 4 tickets to Chicago and an invitation to visit the World Columbian Exposition (1893) for Mama, Lottie, Rosie, & Buster. Granddad, however, is Not Invited! Mama decides to send the kids and returns her ticket to Aunt Euterpe.....

Well don't you know as the train heads out of town towards Chicago, it makes a sudden stop....lo & behold, it's Granddad....who snagged Mama's ticket out of the letter going back to Aunt Euterpe...

Things get off to a rocky beginning...the first night's dinner was the worst food Granddad & the kids have ever eaten, and Granddad makes sure everyone in the house knows it. The next morning the girls get up earlier than the housekeeper and find the kitchen filthy...well show more growing up on a farm they did what they were taught...they clean (scour & scrub) the kitchen and proceed to make a hearty breakfast, whereupon arriving to find the kitchen clean and a decent meal cooked, Mrs. O'Shea the housekeeper quits. But not before she sticks her hands in her pocket to retrieve the house keys, but instead draws out Buster's snapping turtle quite securely attached to her finger.

The family's exploits are funny and warm the heart.....The descriptions are true to life and makes us feel as if we were there for the trip to the Fair.

" 'I suppose you won't be good for anything until you've heard Euterpe's letter,' Mama observed. Wisely no one spoke."

" 'I ain't gonna wear any of it,' Buster declared. Granddad considered. 'Well boy, you can't go neekid in Chicago. The wind comes right off the lake.' "

"We got it sorted out. Lillian Russell-the real one-was a woman, an actress. Admiring her, Granddad named his horse for her. It was the kind of thing he'd do."

" 'It is you, isn't it, Si? You old owlhoot.' Buffalo Bill sat back in his saddle and tipped his hat. Yes it was. It was Silas Fuller, our Granddad."

" ' Boy, come and meet the greatest lady of American stage.' Granddad grabbed for him. 'Ma'am,' he said, 'this here's my grandson, Bus-LeRoy. Boy this here is Miss Lillian Russell!' Buster beheld her, this perfect woman in her unforgettable hat, with her armload of roses, her lovely smile. 'Did they name you for our horse?' Buster inquired."

I was happy to reread this book show less

In 1893 Rosie Beckett’s family got a letter from their Aunt Euterpe in Chicago. They’d never had a letter from her before.

It’s the year of the Columbia Exposition and Aunt Euterpe has sent her invitation and railroad tickets for Rosie, her older sister Lotti, her younger brother Buster and their mother to travel to Chicago and see the Exposition. Euterpe feels she is making a great offer to give her backwoods family to see what the world has to offer. A once-in-a-lifetime experience.

As Euterpe has lived in Chicago for a good number of years, the question is can she handle her family and their lack of sophistication. Especially when one member shows up unexpectedly.

Author Richard Peck writes in the voice of his characters. This show more book is in Rosie’s voice and tells of each family member’s experiences and the surprises they have during their week-long visit. The incredible sights and the people they meet.

There are historical photos to help set the scene of the era, which I feel adds to the over-all story telling. It may be a book for kinds, but adults can enjoy it too. It is also a story that tells how family can be important even though not everyone lives in a particular style/place. show less

This is a fun and funny story narrated by a 13-year-old named Rosie. It is set in 1893 during the time of the first World's Fair. Rosie's family lives on a farm in Illinois and gets an opportunity to go to the Fair. Her small town family, including her colorful Granddad, make the journey and take the reader with them. As a reader, you are invited to experience the wonder of the fair and the adventure for Rosie!