The Wednesday Wars

Schmidt, Gary D. 2007. The Wednesday Wars. Clarion: New York. ISBN 0618724834.

New York during the Vietnam War is the backdrop of Holling Hoodhood’s seventh grade year. Between nuclear bomb preparedness, death threats over cream puffs from fellow classmates, and running practice, Holling learns Shakespeare as Mrs. Baker’s only pupil on Wednesday afternoons. Besides Elizabethan curses, he discovers his own path, despite his father’s decree that Holling will take on the family business. This Newbery-honor winner explores the strain between personal will and society’s expectations, which is represented by the fights between Holling’s free-thinking sister and “do what’s expected of you” father. Often humorous, Schmidt keeps the plot tightly woven throughout and ties up every loose end. Though Holling’s independence at the end of the book suggests the greatness of personal will, the tidiness of the novel comes across as slightly formulaic. Overall, however, Schmidt’s authority of the time period and in-depth exploration of Holling’s character makes for a memorable historical novel.