Talk:YA Book Reviews for October 17, 2007

From CRBSLS

Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt Holling Hoodhood happens to be a Presbyterian. This isn’t a bad thing, except it means he’s the only one left behind with his teacher, Mrs. Baker, on Wednesday afternoons, when his other classmates are off to their religion classes. Mrs. Baker isn’t too happy about this either. At first, she gives him mundane jobs to do for her, but then she induces him to read Shakespeare and lots of it! It grows on him and pretty soon she convinces him to perform it on stage. Much happens to Holling in this 7th grade year, including rescuing his older sister who runs away, attending opening day at Yankee Stadium, and trying to stay one step ahead of the bullying Doug Swieteck. Despite all of this, there are many hilarious moments involving escaping rats, freshly-baked cream puffs and Holling in a Puck-like outfit riding the city bus! The ongoing conflict in Vietnam also has an impact on Holling as he hears Walter Cronkite every night on the news, a Vietnam refugee comes to his school, and Mrs. Baker’s husband is an MIA. Schmidt has delivered a wonderful coming-of-age story sure to appeal to middle schoolers. (Reviewed by Sheila Di Maggio)