This is War

Holling Hoodhood just started 7th grade and his teacher is Mrs. Baker.  On Wednesdays, half of the class leaves early for Hebrew school and the other half leaves early for Catechism class at the local Catholic church.  Hollling is Presbyterian so he attends neither.  This means he is the only student in Mrs. Bakers class every Wednesday afternoon.  Thus the Wednesday Wars begin.

Gary D. Schmidt's The Wednesday Wars is told form Holling's perspective.  This made it very enjoyable for me to read since, as a teacher, I naturally read things from the teachers perspective.  It was fascinating to see Holling's perceptions and I wonder how many of my own students feel the same way. Originally, Holling views the Wednesday afternoons he spends with Mrs. Baker as a type of war, but slowly he begins to realize maybe all teachers aren't out to destroy him.

Set in 1967, this book also touches on very significant events in United States history, from the war in Vietnam to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.  But these events are shown through the lens of your typical American family who are most concerned with the family business and the local town. This was a different time, with different family dynamics and parenting styles all of which are masterfully represented in this book.  

My only complaint about the book lies with the cover.  The cover looks very kid-like and silly.  When reading the book I was surprised by its depth, the cover had set me up for something much lighter and more superficial.  As much as we say, "dont' judge a book by it's cover" we all know that people do (myself included!).  I worry that student's won't pick up this book because they think it's too young.

Warring with your teacher...that's kids stuff.