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The Wednesday Wars
- By Gary D. Schmidt
- Genre: Coming of Age
Common Sense Media says
Funny, breathtakingly poignant '60s coming of age.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that there is little of concern here: some products mentioned, two references to students smoking, and a scene of two rats run over by a bus.
What's the story?
On Wednesdays afternoons half of Holling's class leaves school early for Catechism class. The other half leaves early for Hebrew School. That leaves Presbyterian Holling alone every Wednesday afternoon with his teacher, Mrs. Baker. Neither of them is happy at the prospect, and Holling is sure Mrs. Baker hates him as a result.
At first Mrs. Baker just has Holling clean erasers, but then decides to make better use of the time by introducing him to Shakespeare. And as events in the larger world during the 1967-'68 school year unfold in the background, Holling begins to learn about himself, his family, friends, and the mysterious adult world.
Is it any good?
It's a wonderful thing when an author can bring the reader to tears without anything sad happening, even better when it's done in the course of what would normally be described as "hilarious misadventures." Gary Schmidt accomplishes it by getting inside the head of a bright but fairly typical goofball seventh-grader who is doing the opposite of what so many kids at that age do -- opening his heart to the world.
With the prim prodding of his dry, no-nonsense teacher, and a big dollop of help from the Bard, Holling learns to see into the hearts of others, which causes him to stand up to his overbearing father, to care for his floundering older sister when she needs him, to recognize the depth of his friendships, to see the humanity in his teachers, and ... to begin to really understand Shakespeare. This is a funny and breathtakingly moving book, because in the end there's little that's as funny and moving as growing up -- except perhaps growing into a wise and loving person.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the ways in which Shakespeare helps Holling understand his life, and the ways in which his life helps him understand Shakespeare. Why does he like using Shakespeare's phrases so much? How does reading Shakespeare relate to the rest of his life?
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AGE
A great "growing up" story
The author does a great job in creating the time period and being true to the life of a seventh grader. I just love how grows in maturity and with his relationship with his teacher. It had to be scary knowing you were going to spend one-on-one time with your seventh grade teacher. While some behavior is not great the warm feeling overcome that.
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AGE
Read this before you are out of junior high!
Middle school and junior high students should love this book. I read it to my students every year and they are spellbound throughout. I've noticed many have improved their own writing as they pick up on the author's style. Schmidt does a great job of referencing Shakespear and atheletics.
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AGE
Tweens and Under
It's more for kid's age 8 to 12 but I read it, I liked it but also it's more of a book for boys then girls
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AGE
Read when you are in Middle School
I can relate to a lot of the stuff in this book because I am in Middle school. I think this is a great story, if you are mature enough to handle it and don't get bored easily.
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AGE
Boring...
I don't love it or hate it... BUT IT WAS BOOO-RING! The idea wasn't bad, but it's not a book I would choose, considering I had to read it for school. I am a Sisterhood of the Traveling pants and Harry Potter person. But this was just stupid. Sorry to Wednesday Wars fans!!!
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Kid, 10 years old
April 8, 2010
AGE
seventh grade troubles
great! it was interesting,had good and bad points,and many others. overall,it was good.
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Kid, 11 years old
August 4, 2011
AGE
A great book for all ages, but badly written
I really enjoyed this book because it is good for all ages. You can definitely relate to this book if you are in or going into seventh grade. This book had laughs at parts, and was very enjoyable. I noticed that through out the book that it had stuff have as "coincidence", but really Schmidt needed something to have an excuse for adding something else. For example, the baker says, " you never meet a boy who knows about shakespeare." "Coincidentally", the main character knows about shakespeare and goes in a play. The book would have been completely different without a play. But, if you were alive during the Vietnam war, you can definitely relate.
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AGE
I didnt like it
My daughter found it dry and not a good read.
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| Author: | Gary D. Schmidt |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Coming of Age |
| Publisher: | Clarion Books |
| Publication date: | May 1, 2007 |
| Number of pages: | 264 |
| Hardcover price: | $16.00 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 10 - 14 |
| Read aloud: | 10 |
| Read alone: | 11 |
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