Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt

Book Summary: As a fourteen-year-old who just moved to a new town, with no friends and a louse for an older brother, Doug Swieteck has all the stats stacked against him. So begins a coming-of-age masterwork full of equal parts comedy and tragedy from Newbery Honor winner Gary D. Schmidt. As Doug struggles to be more than the “skinny thug” that his teachers and the police think him to be, he finds an unlikely ally in Lil Spicer—a fiery young lady who “smelled like daisies would smell if they were growing in a big field under a clearing sky after a rain.” In Lil, Doug finds the strength to endure an abusive father, the suspicions of a whole town, and the return of his oldest brother, forever scarred, from Vietnam. Together, they find a safe haven in the local library, inspiration in learning about the plates of John James Audubon’s birds, and a hilarious adventure on a Broadway stage. In this stunning novel, Schmidt expertly weaves multiple themes of loss and recovery in a story teeming with distinctive, unusual characters and invaluable lessons about love, creativity, and survival.

My Two Cents: Memorable characters, beautiful writing, amazing book. Here's the bottom line: This is probably my favorite middle grade book. Yes, #1 favorite of all time. All I have to do is see that bag-face cover and I want to laugh and cry and read the whole thing again.

Grade Level: 4-8

Additional Resources:

• Visit Gary D. Schmidt's website.
• View more images of Audubon's Birds of America from the National Gallery of Art.
• One of Doug's talents is memorizing baseball trivia. Test your own baseball trivia knowledge, learn new facts, and solve baseball sudoku and crossword puzzles here.
• Learn how to play horseshoes like Doug does.
• Doug's brother Lucas comes back from Vietnam. Find photos, video, and facts about what Vietnam is like today at the National Geographic Kids website.
• The novel Jane Eyre is important in this book. Read a quick summary of Jane Eyre for kids here.
• Doug isn't a big fan of poetry in general and Shelley in particular, but he seems to like birds. Do you think he'd like this poem Shelley wrote about a bird?

More to Read:

• A companion novel to Okay for Now: Schmidt's The Wednesday Wars (Or maybe read this one first and see how your perception of Doug changes...)
• Another novel that features John James Audubon (this time as a character): A Nest for Celeste by Henry Cole
• Another book about a young boy in about the same era (with a very similar cover): Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos

MMGG Book 6: The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick

From Goodreads:

Master storyteller Rodman Philbrick takes readers on a colorful journey as young Homer Figg sets off to follow his brother into the thick of the Civil War. Through a series of fascinating events, Homer's older brother has been illegally sold to the Union Army. It is up to Homer to find him and save him. Along the way, he encounters strange but real people of that era: two tricksters who steal his money, a snake-oil salesman, a hot-air balloonist, and finally, the Maine regiment who saved Little Round Top at the Battle of Gettysburg and won the war for the Union.

Why it's MIGHTY:

The storytelling, pure and simple. Homer P. Figg may not always tell the reader the truth, but we wouldn't want it any other way. This book tells a story that's heartfelt, funny, suspenseful, and enormously entertaining with a narrator you'll never forget. FYI, there are two covers to this book and neither one of them do it justice. :)

MMGG Book 7: Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan

From Goodreads:

Esperanza thought she'd always live with her family on their ranch in Mexico--she'd always have fancy dresses, a beautiful home, and servants. But a sudden tragedy forces Esperanza and Mama to flee to California during the Great Depression, and to settle in a camp for Mexican farm workers. Esperanza isn't ready for the hard labor, financial struggles, or lack of acceptance she now faces. When their new life is threatened, Esperanza must find a way to rise above her difficult circumstances--Mama's life, and her own, depend on it.

Why it's MIGHTY:

This book won plenty of awards and starred reviews, and it's easy to see why. Esperanza is a character to root for, and this book will immerse kids in a whole new culture and get them thinking about history, family, and what's most important.

MMGG Book 10: The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt

From Goodreads:

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.

Why it's MIGHTY:

Honestly, because Gary D. Schmidt wrote it. This novel takes so many elements that kids relate to--family, school, friends, acceptance--and weaves them into a beautiful story set in 1967 that will resonate with both kids and adults. And the companion novel, Okay for Now, may be even better.