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The Wednesday Wars | 
 enlarge | Author: Gary D. Schmidt
Publisher: Clarion Books
List Price: $16.00
Buy New: $7.45
You Save: $8.55 (53%)
New (42) Used (26) Collectible (2) from $4.39
Rating:  28 reviews
Sales Rank: 2681
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Reading Level: Young Adult
Pages: 272
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 9 x 6.2 x 1.1
ISBN: 0618724834
EAN: 9780618724833
ASIN: 0618724834
Publication Date: May 21, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Gary D. Schmidt offers an unforgettable antihero in THE WEDNESDAY WARS?a wonderfully witty and compelling novel about a teenage boy's mishaps and adventures over the course of the 1967–68 school year.
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.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 23 more reviews...
Shakespeare and creme puffs November 24, 2008
J. Green (Los Angeles, California)
Holling Hoodhood is Presbyterian. Normally that isn't a problem, except on Wednesday afternoons when the Jewish kids go to Temple and the Catholic kids go to Catechism. That leaves just Holling in Mrs. Baker's 7th grade class at 2pm, much to her chagrin. Initially she tries to send him back to 6th grade math, but when that fails she puts him to work. She has him pounding the chalk dust out of the erasers (they used to do that back in 1967) but that ends up in a minor disaster. So she decides they will spend their time more productively by reading Shakespeare. Holling isn't convinced this is a productive use of his time, but he learns to appreciate it in different ways and learns a few other - more important - things as well.
Told from Holling's perspective, this is the kind of book I loved to read as a kid but doesn't come along often enough. It'll have you alternately laughing out loud and drying your eyes as he goes through the 7th grade year. He's convinced Mrs. Baker hates him, his older sister wants to be a "flower child," his dad is consumed with building his achitectural business, and his friends are mad at him because he got a creme puff. And wait till you hear what he has to wear! Whether you grew up in the 60s or are growing up now, this book will resonate with some of the ridiculous situations we occasionally find ourselves in, and the sometimes painful process of finding our way in the world. Parents and kids alike will love this book and I'm planning to get it on audiobook for the car on our next family trip. Very highly recommended!
WOW! November 19, 2008
Joan Chalkley (Dallas, TX USA)
I loved this book! I bought it because my kid will be on the Pentathlon Team at school and she needs to read it for competition. I thought I'd start reading it just to get an idea of what she would read and I couldn't put it down! It gives a great feel for what life was like growing up in the sixties (that's 1960s) through the eyes of a middle schooler. If you lived through the 60s, it's a great look back, and if you weren't there in the 60s, it gives an idea of what life was like.
Loved it, Different Perspective, Not a Synopsis October 22, 2008
Delaney (WI)
I went to a presentation by the author, I sat next to a kid who probably didn't think reading was cool, and going to see the author was less cool. I asked him which book he'd read, he said the Wednesday Wars. I said what did you think? He said it was good, you know, for a book. After the author finished discussing the Wednesday Wars and his inspiration for the book I elbowed the boy next to me and said What do you think now? He said I think I like, you know more than before.
This book is just what I like, it makes you laugh, it makes you cry, it makes you think and it makes you smile. I read Macbeth for the first time in 7th grade, I had to read a play for school, and my dad handed me MacBeth and said I think you'll like this, I groaned heavily, but I read it, and then I read the rest of Shakespeare's plays. I got an A for being the only kid to tackle Shakespeare. I will leave all the other reviews to disect the plot for you. I think to really benefit from a book this good both the young adult and the parents should read it. As for Mr. Schmidt he is still one of my very favorite writers for young people, and I hope he writes for a very long time!
Toads and Beetles and Bats, Oh My! September 29, 2008
H. Flaherty (Philadelphia)
In an effort to work my way through Newbury winner/honor books, I picked up the Wednesday Wars - and what a treat this turned out to be!
Holling Hoodhood reminded me of a combination of Holden Caulfield, Scout Finch, and Anne Shirley. There were times when I laughed out loud, and other times when I felt tears running down my face. What a wonderful, unique, yet totally believable character. Never again will I take for granted a cream puff.
Supporting characters, particularly Mrs. Baker, are deep and rich, and the backdrop of the turbulent late 60's American is realistically portrayed. How sad I was to see this one end...
Do yourself a favor; I know that this is listed under young adult, but this one is a keeper for any age, so pick up a copy and enjoy the ride!
#1 Mysterious Benedict Society fan September 25, 2008
I'm a 12 year old kid and this is my favorite books EVER! I love it because it is action packed, also you never know what is going to happen next. I totally recommend The Mysterious Benedict Society. The second book
(The Mysterious Benedict Society And The Perilous Jouney) is just as good as the first! Make sure you read the first before you read the second, other wise you will not understand anything. These books are the kind of books you'll NEVER want to put down! I really hope Trenton Lee Stewart writes a third, fourth, fifth and sixth. These books are so good I started rereading the first, right after I finished the second.
I would read his books a thousand times and I totally 100% recommend these books to everyone and hope you love these books as much as I did. Absolutely 100% worth the money!!! HAPPY READING!!
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