Author: - Gary D. Schmidt
Title: - The Wednesday Wars
Publisher: - Clarion Books
Year: - 2007
Format: - Hardcover
Genre: - Juvenile Fiction
Reading Level: - Independent
Interest Level: - Middle School
Topics: - Newbery Honor, 1960s classroom, Shakespeare,
Summary: - This book follows life of Holling Hoodhood in his 7th grade year. Throughout the course of the book, Holling progresses from thinking his teacher, Mrs. Baker, hates him, to realizing how much Mrs. Baker is doing to help him. Using different Shakespearean plays, Mrs. Baker slowly introduces Holling to the concept of choosing one's own path in life. By the end of the school year, Holling recognizes the importance of making his own decisions regarding his future instead of following exactly what everyone else expects him to do and be.
Even though this book takes place in the 1960s, the conflicts and emotions that are depicted are fairly universal; middle school students would be able to easily relate to the plights of the characters in the book.
Publisher: - Clarion Books
Year: - 2007
Format: - Hardcover
Genre: - Juvenile Fiction
Reading Level: - Independent
Interest Level: - Middle School
Topics: - Newbery Honor, 1960s classroom, Shakespeare,
Summary: - This book follows life of Holling Hoodhood in his 7th grade year. Throughout the course of the book, Holling progresses from thinking his teacher, Mrs. Baker, hates him, to realizing how much Mrs. Baker is doing to help him. Using different Shakespearean plays, Mrs. Baker slowly introduces Holling to the concept of choosing one's own path in life. By the end of the school year, Holling recognizes the importance of making his own decisions regarding his future instead of following exactly what everyone else expects him to do and be.
Even though this book takes place in the 1960s, the conflicts and emotions that are depicted are fairly universal; middle school students would be able to easily relate to the plights of the characters in the book.
Extension Activities: -
--Students will write a short essay in response to the following prompt:
In the book, Mrs. Baker asks Holling to decide what Shakespeare is saying about human life through his plays. Why do you think Mrs. Baker does this? What do you think Mrs. Baker is trying to teach Holling about human life? What is the author trying to teach the reader about human life?
