Okay for now

I totally loved this book. I still liked "The Wednesday Wars" a bit more. But this was a great stand-alone novel, that also acts as a sequel to "Wednesday." This book focuses on one of the side characters in the previous novel. I love Gary Schmidt's writing, and the characters are such fun. It's great to get to read more about a background character from another book.

this is an awesome book! its so heartfelt and i laughed and both cried while reading this book! i lovedd this book and would recomend it to people 11+ ( even adults!)

A fantastic book. I'd recommend reading The Wednesday Wars first if you can, since this book would contain a couple spoilers to that story. However, it stands alone well too.

Doug Swietick has never had it easy, especially since his dad usually has more bad days than good. But then his dad loses his job, and the family is uprooted so his father can take a job in Marysville, New York. Doug immediately decides that “stupid Marysville” is not the town for him—after all, he’s thrown balls with New York Yankee Joe Pepitone! But when he meets Lil Spicer and begins working for her dad’s store, then begins frequenting the town library for art lessons based on Audobon’s bird drawings in a rare book, he begins to feel a sense of belonging. But can it last when his brother is accused of thievery, his father continues to have bad days, and his oldest brother returns from Vietnam?

Gary Schmidt has crafted a heartfelt book with a believable and likable main character with a strong and entertaining voice. A cast of supporting characters that each shine with individuality and depth round out this story that is by turns sad, funny, and triumphant. While it is technically the sequel The Wednesday Wars, this novel can stand on its own. Readers will find themselves completely absorbed in Doug’s world as he becomes a character worth cheering for. Recommended for grades 5-8.