I really love Gary Schmidt's books and this sounds like one that I would particularly enjoy. The plot and the characters sound really interesting and I think it would be fun to read!
Okay for Now
By Gary D. Schmidt
| Interest Level | Reading Level | Reading A-Z | ATOS | Word Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grades 4 - 8 | Grades 4 - 8 | Y | 4.9 | 77017 |
2011 National Book Award FinalistAs 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.
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
ISBN-13: 9780544022805
ISBN-10: 0544022807
Published on 2/5/2013
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 368
Book Reviews (23)
Doug Swieteck is a 14-year old and just moved to a new town. He has a bad brother, (a louse) and doesn't really want to do anything. He goes through a lot, and he makes his way to becoming noticeable in the new town.
![Ms. Johnson](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 12 12"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
I liked this book even more than Wednesday Wars! This book isn't really a sequel, but carries on the story of one of the characters in Wednesday Wars. Now we really understand why Doug Swieteck is the way he is in Wednesday Wars. The book made me sad and it made me happy. It made me want to keep reading to see how life would turn out for Doug. Life has many ups and downs for him and as he says just when things start going good, then they seem to turn bad. Somehow, Doug manages to get through it all and you understand that you can't judge a book (or a person) by their cover. Really interesting use of Doug learning to draw Audubon Birds as a part of the story - this may sound boring, but it isn't.
I enjoyed the story whenever Doug would be nice to Lil or the people he delivered groceries. There were also parts where I found myself feeling sad for Doug (like what happened at school or near the end of the book). But...I found myself unable to put the book down because I wanted to know what happened next. To me, this is what makes a book really good.
The book was okay, but i think boys may enjoy this book a little more than girls. the character made me feel sorry for him because of his loneliness, brother, and dad. The book made me thankful for my life and ho bad my life could be if i was him. LEARNED something from a book :-).
This usually isn't the kind of book that I would read, usually it's fantasy, but I really liked this book. Reading this book made me realize what a nice life I have and what loving parents I have. At first I felt sorry for the main character but when he started collecting the birds I really felt happy for him.
I think the beginning is awesome.i think later and the end is also going to be really really awesome.If you like good books you should read this
I loved this book! I read it in a day and a morning!
Love this! This is about a boy named Doug who everyone calls, either Thug, or Skinny Delivery Boy. This is a must read! :)
So cool! I loved this book so much, that I read it all in 1 day and 1 morning!