Unit 5 Review - The Wednesday Wars

 

Bibliographic Information

Schmidt, Gary D. 2009. THE WEDNESDAY WARS. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN  978-0547237602

Plot Summary

Meet Holling Hoodhood, a seventh-grader at Camillo Junior High, who must spend Wednesday afternoons with his teacher, Mrs. Baker, while the rest of the class has religious instruction. Mrs. Baker doesn’t like Holling—he’s sure of it. Why else would she make him read the plays of William Shakespeare outside class? But everyone has bigger things to worry about, like Vietnam. His father wants Holling and his sister to be on their best behavior: the success of his business depends on it. But how can Holling stay out of trouble when he has so much to contend with? A bully demanding cream puffs; angry rats; and a baseball hero signing autographs the very same night Holling has to appear in a play in yellow tights! As fate sneaks up on him again and again, Holling finds Motivation—the Big M—in the most unexpected places and musters up the courage to embrace his destiny, in spite of himself.

Critical Analysis

Toads, beetles, bats! The Wednesday Wars has a little bit of everything – humor, tragedy, friendship, sports, school, family, and even a tiny bit of romance. In my opinion, the perfect middle school novel. In The Wednesday Wars, Gary D. Schmidt is by turns both funny and poignant, writing with brilliant accuracy to the life of a middle school boy in a turbulent world. In this story, seventh grader Holling Hoodhood, is certain that his teacher, Mrs. Baker, hates his guts because she is making him study Shakespeare while the rest of his class go to religion classes. While this story includes many mentions of the famous writer, this is not “just a book about Shakespeare”. It’s not just about his quiet town that’s facing the contrast that is the turbulence of the Vietnam War. It’s not just about Holling realizing the flaws of his father, or the recognition that Mrs. Baker is so much more than the teacher she seems to be. It’s not about cream puffs or Mickey Mantle or giant rats; it’s a story that combines all of this and so much more. While the Vietnam War was a controversial and difficult time for America, the war doesn’t overwhelm the plot of the story. Rather it helps Holling slowly understand the actions taken by some of the characters around him and creates a beautiful undercurrent to his thoughts and actions. While in my opinion, this book doesn’t have much of a narrative arc, it shows parts of Holling’s life added together to make a complex and rich picture of a boy dealing with a life that is complicated and difficult, but wonderful. Just like our real lives. 

Awards Won & Review Excerpt(s)

*Newbery Medal Nominee (2008)

*Vermont Golden Dome Book Award Nominee (2009)

*California Young Readers Medal Nominee for Middle School/Junior High (2010)

*Judy Lopez Memorial Award for Children's Literature (2008)

*Booklist, starred review - "Schmidt makes the implausible believable and the everyday momentous. A gentle, hopeful, moving story."

*Horn Book, starred review - "Schmidt rises above the novel's conventions to create memorable and believable characters."

Connections

*For some fun, have students research and find a recipe for cream puffs! Challenge them to make them at home to give them a taste of the story. 

*Discuss the Vietnam War with students and discuss what they know. What was the Vietnam War about? Who was involved? Read about and watch videos on the war. https://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/vietnam-war-history

*Like Holling, have students read something by William Shakespeare. Do a reader’s theater with students.