The Long Way

The Long Way follows twelve-year-old Betsy as she navigates life in 1930s Pittsburgh during the Great Depression. After her father loses his job, Betsy's family moves from their comfortable home to a run-down neighborhood where they must start over. In her new surroundings, Betsy befriends Sarah, a Jewish girl who helps at her family's grocery store. Their friendship develops against the backdrop of growing anti-Semitism and economic hardship that affects both their families. Betsy learns about social injustice and prejudice as she witnesses how differently people treat Sarah's family compared to her own. She must make decisions about loyalty, friendship, and standing up for what she believes is right. The novel examines themes of religious tolerance, economic class divisions, and coming-of-age during a pivotal time in American history. Through Betsy's experiences, the story reveals how children's perspectives on fairness and justice evolve when confronted with real-world challenges.

Readers appreciate the historical fiction elements and the way slavery and the Underground Railroad are depicted through the lens of a 13-year-old protagonist. They note the book provides age-appropriate treatment of serious themes for middle-grade students. Parents and teachers point to strong character development and clear, accessible writing style. Multiple reviewers mention using it successfully in 5th-6th grade classrooms to supplement history curriculum. Some readers found the pacing slow in the first few chapters and noted that certain plot points felt predictable. A few reviews criticized the ending as rushed. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (246 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (32 ratings) LibraryThing: 3.7/5 (18 ratings) "Good historical details but takes a while to get going" - Goodreads reviewer "Works well as a read-aloud for discussing this time period" - 5th grade teacher on Amazon "The main character's growth feels authentic" - School Library Journal reader review

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📚 Set in 1832 Pittsburgh, this novel features authentic details about the Underground Railroad in Western Pennsylvania, where many abolitionists helped enslaved people escape to freedom. 🏛️ Author Katherine Ayres conducted extensive research at the Senator John Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh to accurately portray the city's industrial and social landscape of the 1830s. 🚂 The book's title, "The Long Way," refers not only to the physical journey of escaped enslaved people but also to the main character Hannah's personal journey of understanding and growth. 🏠 Several locations mentioned in the novel, including specific streets and buildings in Pittsburgh's Strip District, still exist today and can be visited. 👗 The detailed descriptions of the dressmaking trade in the book reflect actual practices of the period, when many young girls worked as apprentices to learn this vital profession.