The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt had me quickly flipping the pages and laughing at the shenanigans that plague Holling Hoodhood's middle school life despite his best efforts to stay on the straight and narrow.I would have no qualms including this YA book in my middle school classroom. There's no swearing, no sex, no drugs or alcohol... before you begin to think it sounds boooooring, I do think it addresses major tenets of teenage strife... ahem... I mean life.
A major theme of the book is identity. Holling Hoodhood, as a seventh grader, is beginning his journey of self-discovery, and in doing so, two other sub-themes form. He begins to see his parents, particularly his father, as a person. His father's actions and words no longer go unchallenged, and he begins to realize that his father has his faults. Another theme develops from his relationship with his English teacher with whom he is required to spend Wednesday afternoons while the other students attend religious services. Again, Holling's adolescent self-absorption is slowly checked as he comes to re-consider his initial perception of Mrs. Baker and her motives.
The book would pair well with a social studies unit of the 1960s. The Vietnam War, flower children, various music artists, and air raids are mentioned. The book is also a great tool to introduce allusions as Shakespeare is quoted throughout.
********************************************************************************
No comments:
Post a Comment