Okay for Now

Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt

AR Reading Level: 4.9
On the library stacks: Young adult fiction
Recommended for: Grades 6+

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book takes Doug Sweiteck, a character from The Wednesday Wars, and continues his story when Doug's father loses his job and the family moves a couple hours north of New York City. Doug has a very difficult family life and hates his new town. But he finds solace in the library where a friendly male librarian helps him develop his artistic abilities as they study plates of John James Audubon's birds.

Slowly Doug begins to see the town through new eyes. He gets a job delivering groceries on Saturday and meets an eccentric cast of characters as he makes his rounds. His friend Lil Spicer quietly stands by his side through thick and thin and they even end up in a Broadway play together.

While I didn't find this book as funny as The Wednesday Wars, it is heart-breaking, honest and hopeful. I don't think Gary D. Schmidt can write anything except pure brilliance.

Also reviewed by: What She Read... ~ Book Nut ~ In the Pages... ~ Bermudaonion's Weblog ~ Book Clutter ~ Your link here?

Source: Purchased