"The Wednesday Wars"
Written by Gary D. Schmidt
Published in 2007 by Sandpiper
264 pages
Genre: History, Friends/Social Issues
Summery:
The main character is Holling Hoodhood, a 7th grade boy in the 60's. He is the only Protestant kid in his class; everyone else is Jewish or Catholic. So on Wednesday afternoons, he's left with his teacher while all the other kids leave for their religious classes. His teacher, Mrs. Baker, has him read Shakespeare. As the Vietnam War drags on, his sister runs away to join other flower children, his father loses a business deal, he has a crush on a girl, and the pet rats escape, Holling finds truth and strength in the words of Shakespeare and Mrs. Baker.
Response:
Loved this book. La la loved it. Holling is a delightful and well-written character. The story made me laugh out loud many, many times. It helps readers understand the world of 1967 and the Vietnam war in a new way. While it's very funny, there is a underlying current of the fear and grief that the war brought. It's an easy and engaging read; I sat down and read it cover to cover in a few hours. It's a delightful book. Read it.
Word of Caution: Several of your responsibilities may be neglected due to this book.
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