Reviews - The Wednesday Wars

945 reviews for:

Family read aloud. This book was sooo well done. It’s a little bit about Shakespeare, a little bit about the Vietnam War, a little bit coming of age, and a little bit about the relationships with the people around you. It’s a lot hilarious. We laughed so hard so many times. The positive messages are there, but subtle so it doesn’t feel like it’s preachy. The writing is good. Really good. It was a pleasure to read. Or listen to. I highly recommend the audio version narrated by Joel Johnstone. And I will definitely be looking into more books by this author.

amandawu47's review against another edition

4.25

funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

athenamiles's review against another edition

5.0

I started reading this to my boys. We finished the first chapter and they went to do school work. I ended up reading the rest of the book that evening. They're enjoying it a great deal as well, just what we needed to get us back into the Read Aloud groove! Perfect for my 6th and 7th grader. Funny yet covers real topics and a love of Shakespeare!

heatherer's review against another edition

5.0

I loved this book. I wasn’t sold on it for the first chapter or two and then it had me staying up late a few too many nights unable to put it down. I hope I can get a kid or two to read it

crayolabird's review

5.0

Do you know why I do like book challenges? Because, like book club, they put books in my hands that I never would've picked up otherwise. Case in point: The Wednesday Wars. My cover has a boy sitting at a desk that has a rodent on it. I never would have picked it up (really, never). Not my kind of book...you would THINK. But luckily, the wonderful Tricia over at Library Queue put it on my list for the Book Blogger's Swap and am I ever glad she did.

Holling Hoodhood starts off 7th grade in the late 60s with a sure knowledge that his teacher hates his guts. And when, by a strange set of religious circumstances, he ends up being alone with her every Wednesday afternoon, he knows he'll never survive it. Between her making him read Shakespeare, the Vietnam war and trying to be a model citizen to please his father, 7th grade could turn out to be the worst year ever.

For us as readers, though, it's spectacular. Holling's got a wonderful voice, sarcastic and thoughtful, so interested in the world and his place in it. The Shakespeare parts were my hands down favorite, I never would've guessed that a book like this could tie so many elegant thoughts together and make the ideas so accessible and relevant. With an exceptional cast of characters and some serious tug-at-your-heartstrings moments, The Wednesday Wars is a five star winner.

authorlisaard's review against another edition

5.0

Holling Hoodhood knows that his seventh-grade teacher Mrs. Baker hates him. First, he is the only student left on Wednesday afternoons - the rest leave her class for religious instruction. Secondly, she makes him read Shakespeare! Enough said.

Except it isn't enough. Author Gary Schmidt describes the changing relationship between Holling and Mrs. Baker, between Holling and family and friends. Readers meet Holling's sister, who wants to be a flower child and butts heads with her conservative father. Holling's father focuses on his architecture firm, covets the Chamber of Commerce's Businessman of the Year award and watches Walter Cronkite nightly. The classroom is full of memorable characters - the bully demanding cream puffs, the rats run a muck, the girl that confuses and surprises Holling. And most of all, Holling surprises readers - whether he's acting out Shakespeare in yellow tights, saving his sister, threatening to drive his dad's muscle car or opening a bottle of Coke, readers will laugh out loud and smile inside.

Schmidt artfully blends the stories and themes of Shakespeare with the happenings in a Long Island junior high school during the Vietnam War. 'The Wednesday Wars' is a humorous, vivid and touching story for all ages.

merryspinster's review against another edition

5.0

I should probably only give this four stars, but it has all the sweet stuff that sucks me in: Shakespeare, historical fiction, baseball (Mickey Mantle and the Yankees are actually characters in the book), heartstring-pulls, neglectful parents, funny kid. It's smart, but (usually) subtle -- I loved it.