The Wednesday Wars

Locations
Call Number: R Newbery Honor 2008, Teen Book / Fiction / Historical / Schmidt, Gary D, Teen Book / Fiction / Historical / Schmidt, Gary
On Shelf At: Westgate Branch

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Downtown Kids Reference 0-week checkout	R Newbery Honor 2008	0-week checkout	Library Use Only
Westgate Teen Books 4-week checkout	Teen Book / Fiction / Historical / Schmidt, Gary D	4-week checkout	Reshelving
Traverwood Teen Books 4-week checkout	Teen Book / Fiction / Historical / Schmidt, Gary	4-week checkout	Due 05-02-2024

During the 1967 school year, on Wednesday afternoons when all his classmates go to either Catechism or Hebrew school, seventh-grader Holling Hoodhood stays in Mrs. Baker's classroom where they read the plays of William Shakespeare and Holling learns much of value about the world he lives in.

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

OK submitted by glennauerbach on June 24, 2011, 7:29pm This book is okay, but not that great. I read it, but didnt really like it.

great story submitted by camelsamba on July 26, 2011, 3:53pm I really enjoyed this book - it's funny, touching, and bittersweet at times. It was especially poignant for me because I was reading it 40 years after the setting (1968), so many of the events that Holling was experiencing through the news were being retold and relived on the radio. I suspect this may be a 'young adult' fiction book that parents appreciate more than their teens, but it really is a great story.

Solid submitted by kittenkat101 on August 11, 2011, 6:08pm I found that this book gave wonderful historical details about the late 60s without sounding like a book written to teach children about history. Even though this is a "young adult" book, I would recommend it for anyone because in addition to the teen protagonist, the adults in the book have a pretty powerful storyline.

Awesome book!! submitted by pbapat on August 25, 2011, 11:31am this is a awesome book about a 7th grader named holling hoodhood. the events that take place in this book are hilarious, sad, and everything in between. The author makes the characters real and believable.

Holling Hoodhood submitted by Caser on September 8, 2011, 1:56pm The good: Holling, the narrator/protagonist, is a likable 7th grader with a mostly reliable, compelling voice. The development of his relationship with his teacher comes off without the nostalgia that we often get from adults writing about school days of yore. Furthermore, the adults that are central to the story are often unique, non-stereotypical characters, who have compelling subplots of their own, such as Mrs. Baker's secret history and her husband fighting in Vietnam. The war violence happens somewhat off the page, but nonetheless carries an emotional impact.

The bad: many of the scenarios are far fetched at best and they don't need to be. The book sells itself as an historical fiction, but some events are practically out of a cartoon, and this made me care less about the characters because they lost that realness factor. Also, it's not totally clear whether the author is writing for adults or for teens. I doubt that teens would care much about all the Shakespeare quotes or get much out of them, especially as 5th-6th grader readers who haven't read the plays themselves.

History and Humor submitted by sdunav on July 2, 2012, 4:23pm This is a beautiful, down-to-earth, touching book about a boy's year in 7th grade, in 1967-8. The historic stuff doesn't overshadow the personal at all - it's absolutely perfectly intertwined. The war of the title is what happens every Wednesday afternoon when Holling - the main character - is stuck alone in his classroom with his teacher when the rest of his class goes off to religious education of various kinds.

Shakespeare, flower children, voracious rats, cream puffs, bullying, baseball, cross-country, Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy, parental kindness (or lack thereof) - this book's got it all. It's wonderful. I think I like it even more than Schmidt's 2011 book, "Okay for Now", which features a minor character from "The Wednesday Wars".

Recommended for ages 9-15, especially boys.

Teen book submitted by hjaworsk on August 27, 2012, 6:03pm I am 10 and I read this book and it was good for my level!

Great submitted by peterflorence on August 29, 2015, 1:00pm This is a great book and a must read. Holling's teacher is making him read Shakespeare and he hates it.

A Truly Incredible Book submitted by NC on June 19, 2018, 7:26pm I read this book for a reading assignment, and, at first, it seemed kind of boring. The story is about a middle schooler named Holling Hoodhood's 7th grade year in the 1960s. During the assignment, I would not only read the book but answer comprehensive questions that would lead a weekly discussion. Each week, I would read the chapter, and think about how what has happened in the book can connect to other aspects of life. My eyes slowly opened... until when I was pumped for the next chapter, we learned we had to start another book. I was heartbroken. I still worked through the sadness, and I picked the book up at... you guessed it... the AADL. As I read the last few chapters of the book, I couldn't put it down! The late-book revelations and good fortune amazed me! Anyway, enough about my experiences, I should tell you about the book! During the school year, Holling falls in love and rides a roller coaster of emotions. From dealing with his overly-ambitious father to cream puff death threats- you heard me, there are cream puff death threats, Holling thrives and struggles to survive middle school and home life. I recommend this book to 12+, although exceptionally bright/mature 9+ could read it. it is also a great book for adults. In conclusion, this book is a life changer that needs a sequel.

the next book! submitted by manz on October 23, 2020, 3:36pm There isn't a sequel, but a companion book by same author! If you like The Wednesday Wars, check out Okay For Now by Gary Schmidt.

Wow submitted by ann arbor air on June 12, 2021, 2:17pm Kapaa hawks

Wonderful submitted by sarajowaycee on July 27, 2023, 6:38am This book is one of my favorites. The narrator is engaging, the book is funny, and I love a story with some redemption in it!