- 7th grader dreads the weekly one-on-ones with his teacher but an incredible bond eventually forms between them
- set in 1967-68 with many references to its current events–Vietnam War protests, MIA soldiers, war deaths, flower child fad, Bobby Kennedy, MLK Jr’s death, etc.
- serious topics infused with a generous portion of humor
- convo: egotistical self-centered father, girl disrespectful to parents, occasional sibling bickering, a few references or implying of a romance between students, peer pressure, mistreatment of a refuge girl from Vietnam (this is mended), some bullying
- language: x1 Good L*rd, other mild language (stupid, shut up, dang, etc.) kept at a minimum except for one chapter when “butt” is used many times in a funny way
Type: young adult novel
Ages: 12+
Author: Gary D. Schmidt
Schmidt doesn’t shy away from hard topics in his books. The Vietnam tensions plus less-than-stellar parents plus the pressures of public school lead to a lot of big feelings and situations. Yet, even though this particular time period is long past for today’s young adults, the entire story is extremely relatable. Holling, the main character, tells the story in first person. And, let me tell you, even through the harder moments, he is stinking hilarious. Schmidt is a genius in his weaving of the two.
The narrative will be even more appreciated by those who have read Treasure Island (bonus mentions: Kidnapped, The Black Arrow, Ivanhoe, and Call of the Wild). And it most definitely will inspire an interest in Shakespeare, of all things. Beyond that, baseball plays a role in the story which surely will be quite satisfying to fan readers. There are Yankee references to Joe Pepitone, Horace Clarke, and Mickey Mantle.
If the above notes sound all over the place, that is 100% on me. Gary D. Schmidt ties it all together seamlessly, immerses his readers into a tense time period while also keeping them laughing out loud. He speaks so effectively to the intended age group, telling them that there are adults out there who care for them. Even if home life isn’t so hot, there are teachers, coaches, school cooks, and theater directors who do truly care for young people. There is a community out there for everyone. You are not alone.
I’m already trying to figure out when I can read this again. Schmidt is one to re-read many times. I hope you have the privilege of it yourself!