Book cover image from Amazon.com
THE WEDNESDAY WARS
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Schmidt, Gary D. 2007. THE WEDNESDAY WARS. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 9780618724833.
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Holling Hoodhood lived in what his father called the perfect house right in the middle of the town. It was not to the north where all the residents went to temple or to the south, were the residents attended mass, but in the middle, where Holling attended the Presbyterian Church and had a pastor who was “old enough to have known Moses” and “could have called Isaiah a personal friend”. Holling is the only student in his seventh grade class who doesn’t have religious instruction on Wednesday afternoon, so he and his teacher spend this time together. Mrs. Baker uses this time to “punish” him by having him learn Shakespeare.
Through the year, the Shakespeare lessons help Holling deal with the turmoil going on around him: the Vietnam War, cream puffs and rats, bullies (especially Doug Swieteck’s brother), first love, racism, track, and these are the issues he contends with at school. While at home, he deals with a father who is more concerned about business contracts and “being a candidate for the Chamber of Commerce Businessman of 1967” than he is about the well being of his twelve year old son and sixteen year old “flower child” daughter. Through it all, Holling begins to grow into his future persona, to “become a man who brought peace and wisdom to his world because he knew about war and folly… he loved greatly because he had seen what lost love is. And …he came to know, too, that he was loved greatly”.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Holling Hoodhood narrates THE WEDNESDAY WARS and, as Booklist so eloquently puts it, “Holling’s unwavering, distinctive voice offers a gentle, hopeful, moving story of a boy who, with the right help, learns to stretch beyond the limitations of his family, his violent times, and his fear, as he leaps into his future with his eyes and his heart wide open.” Holling is a believable narrator as he goes through the unrest of the time…the Vietnam War, the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bobby Kennedy, racial protests, and flower children.
One could be overwhelmed by all that is taking place historically, but the character of Holling is so likeable that the reader becomes caught up in his everyday life. “There is a lot going on in this novel not all related to the politics of the turbulent 1960s. The assassinations of Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy, and the unpopular Vietnam War play a part in Holling's seventh grade year but so do two rats, Sycorax and Calliban, with their clacking yellow teeth; a part as Ariel in yellow tights; a track team; bullying and racism; a camping trip; and disappointment in a first love (VOYA).” Schmidt brings 1967 alive, but what truly lingers when the book is over is the characterization of Holling Hoodhood and his remarkable teacher, Mrs. Baker.
4. AWARDS AND HONORS
2008 John Newbery Medal Honnor Book
2007 Washington Post Best Books for Young People
2007 Booklist Editor's Choice Books for Youth
2008 Booklist's Top 10 Historical Fiction for Youth
2008 YALSA Best Books for Young Adults
5. REVIEW EXCERPTS
From Children's Literature: "This story interweaves the issues of the period with grace and power, resulting in historical fiction both entertaining and endearing."
From VOYA: "This novel is funny, warm, sad, and touching all at the same time."
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