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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
Read this because my 5th grader was also reading it and it was a very sweet book...the word endearing comes to mind. Very funny parts, many parts broke my heart, and some parts made me reminiscent of my middle school years. Highly recommend for 5th grade and up. My son and I look forward to reading the next story that follows this, Okay for Now.
I have a fluttery feeling in my stomach after this read. An extremely powerful read that I highly recommend to anyone. Young or Old.
This is one of those that seems like required reading if you're a children's librarian. And I did rather enjoy it. I liked the coming-of-age/finding-oneself theme quite a lot. But I question the audience, the kid appeal - I'm pretty sure most of the things that really spoke to me would not register for a kid reader. So what would they get from this?
adventurous
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really enjoyed this story of Holling and his 7th grade class. Set during the Vietnam War, Holling and his classmates experience everything from Shakespeare to air raids. Mrs. Baker is a demanding, and secretly compassionate, teacher who watches over her flock to ensure not only their learning, but their well being and futures as well. An enjoyable read worthy of any summer reading list.
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I loved, loved, loved this book! It was totally fun to listen to as an audiobook. It's a young adult book, so the situations seem to be kind of impossible and over-the-top but that's totally 7th-grade and it just made it that much more fun.
I read (listened) to this as part of the 2017 #MMDChallenge (growth): "A Newbery Award winner or Honor book"
I read (listened) to this as part of the 2017 #MMDChallenge (growth): "A Newbery Award winner or Honor book"
I loved this book! Holling Hoodhood finds himself in the predicament of being neither Jewish nor Catholic, which means while his classmates leave for religious instruction, he spends his Wednesday afternoons as the only kid to stay behind with Mrs. Baker - who he is convinced hates him. This book documents all the Wednesday events of his 7th grade year.
This book reminded me of the show "The Wonder Years", but just throw some Shakespeare in there too. I told my husband it's one of those books that just makes you happy while you are reading it. I laughed quite a bit, and teared up a couple times too. It ends on such a happy note, which is my kind of book. I just pretty much loved the whole thing. I've kind of got a book hangover now, but as soon as I'm over that I'm going to pick up the companion novel, Okay For Now.
This book reminded me of the show "The Wonder Years", but just throw some Shakespeare in there too. I told my husband it's one of those books that just makes you happy while you are reading it. I laughed quite a bit, and teared up a couple times too. It ends on such a happy note, which is my kind of book. I just pretty much loved the whole thing. I've kind of got a book hangover now, but as soon as I'm over that I'm going to pick up the companion novel, Okay For Now.
This book brought back so many memories of my childhood. I laughed. I cried. I loved the characters and the Shakespeare allusions. I can certainly see why it was awarded a Newbery Honor this year.
Absolutely brilliant. I am blown away every time by Gary D. Schmidt's attention to plot and character and emotion, and how well he can weave a story that wraps the reader up and yet means so much—this time was no different. I wish I could experience it for the first time all over again.