Schmidt, Gary. 2007. The Wednesday Wars. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 0-618-72483-4.
Holling Hoodhood is in the seventh grade. While all his friends are in either Hebrew or Catechism class, he stays in Mrs. Baker's class. Holling believes Mrs. Baker hates him because she makes him do chores, reads Shakespeare to him and is then, made to write essays and take exams on the plays. Everything seems to go wrong with Holling. Misadventures at school, at home and even meeting his hero, Mickey Mantle leads him to rely on his teacher and Shakespeare to come into his own.
Set in Long Island in 1967, the Vietnam War is raging. According to my readings for this unit, the setting is an integral part to the story. Holling's family life is torn apart because of the war. His sister works for Bobby Kennedy's campaign, opposes the war and wants to go to Columbia University. Schmidt's in depth setting adds to the credibility of the story, especially featuring the Yankees, Mickey Mantle and the World Series. Young readers may identify with Holling because of his misfortune. Teens always think everything is going wrong in their lives. Holling deals with a teacher he thinks hates him, a couple of crazy rats, a bully who is after him for cream puffs, always fighting with his sister, a father who neglects him and a mother who sides with his father over her children. He and his sister are constantly arguing and fighting. But Holling saves her, not once but twice- once from a car accident and then, he goes after her after she is stranded across country. Teens are always fighting with the siblings but realize sooner or later, they love and care for another. I can see how teens may relate to Holling. Holling stands up to his father. It was refreshing how Schmidt's ties in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing with Holling's "becoming a man" and a happy ending.
The strength of The Wednesday Wars was the setting of the late 1960's. Holling's sisters involvement with civil right protests and Bobby Kennedy's campaign of course leads to discord within the family thus leading to Holling's family dynamics. I enjoyed how Schmidt integrates Shakespeare into the story: since I love Shakespeare.
Holling Hoodhood is in the seventh grade. While all his friends are in either Hebrew or Catechism class, he stays in Mrs. Baker's class. Holling believes Mrs. Baker hates him because she makes him do chores, reads Shakespeare to him and is then, made to write essays and take exams on the plays. Everything seems to go wrong with Holling. Misadventures at school, at home and even meeting his hero, Mickey Mantle leads him to rely on his teacher and Shakespeare to come into his own.
Set in Long Island in 1967, the Vietnam War is raging. According to my readings for this unit, the setting is an integral part to the story. Holling's family life is torn apart because of the war. His sister works for Bobby Kennedy's campaign, opposes the war and wants to go to Columbia University. Schmidt's in depth setting adds to the credibility of the story, especially featuring the Yankees, Mickey Mantle and the World Series. Young readers may identify with Holling because of his misfortune. Teens always think everything is going wrong in their lives. Holling deals with a teacher he thinks hates him, a couple of crazy rats, a bully who is after him for cream puffs, always fighting with his sister, a father who neglects him and a mother who sides with his father over her children. He and his sister are constantly arguing and fighting. But Holling saves her, not once but twice- once from a car accident and then, he goes after her after she is stranded across country. Teens are always fighting with the siblings but realize sooner or later, they love and care for another. I can see how teens may relate to Holling. Holling stands up to his father. It was refreshing how Schmidt's ties in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing with Holling's "becoming a man" and a happy ending.
The strength of The Wednesday Wars was the setting of the late 1960's. Holling's sisters involvement with civil right protests and Bobby Kennedy's campaign of course leads to discord within the family thus leading to Holling's family dynamics. I enjoyed how Schmidt integrates Shakespeare into the story: since I love Shakespeare.
The Wednesday Wars won the 2008 Newberry Honor Book. Gillian Engberg for Booklist wrote: "Holling's unwavering, distinctive voice offers a gentle, hopeful, moving story of a boy who, with the right help, learns to stretch beyond the limitations of his family, his violent times, and his fear, as he leaps into his future with his eyes and his heart wide open." Another review from Booklist, which as starred noted: "Schmidt...makes the implausible believable and the everyday momentous...a gentle, hopeful, moving story."
My favorite scene almost brought a tear to my eye. Holling goes to retrieve his sister:
" 'Holling,' she said, 'I was so afraid I wouldn't find you.'
'I was standing right here, Heather,' I said. 'I'll always be standing right here.' "
My favorite scene almost brought a tear to my eye. Holling goes to retrieve his sister:
" 'Holling,' she said, 'I was so afraid I wouldn't find you.'
'I was standing right here, Heather,' I said. 'I'll always be standing right here.' "
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