THE WEDNESDAY WARS

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Schmidt, Gary 2007. THE WEDNESDAY WARS. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 978-0-618-72483-3

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Set amid the tumult of the Vietnam War, The Wednesday Wars takes place throughout the 1967-1968 school year of seventh grader Holling Hoodhood of suburban Long Island. As the only Presbyterian in his class, Holling Hoodhood is the lone Wednesday student in Mrs. Baker’s class as half the class attends Hebrew school and the other half Catechism class. As the year progresses, and the Wednesday Wars commence, Mrs. Baker and Holling form an unlikely alliance brokered by Shakespeare himself. 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This book is best for middle and high school students. Chock full of Shakespearean allusions amid the backdrop of America in turmoil, it would be a bit of a stretch for even the most sophisticated fourth or fifth grader. A theme which threads the story together is the Vietnam War, with many of the teachers, including Mrs. Baker, yearning for their husbands entrenched in the far off conflict. With humor, Schmidt presents the tumult through the eyes of a boy coming of age, who stretches his thinking through Shakespeare and begins to process his 1967-68 world and its events.  

From the beginning, Schmidt inserts serious scenes which balance the antics of seventh grader Holling Hoodhood:

"And that was when Mrs. Bigio came into the classroom. Actually, she didn't quite come in. She opened the door and stood leaning against the doorway, one hand up to her mouth, the other trembling on the doorknob.

Mrs. Baker stood. Oh, Edna, did they find him?

Mrs. Bigio nodded.

And is he...

Mrs. Bigio opened her mouth, but the only sounds that came out were the sounds of sadness. I can't tell you what they sounded like. But you know them when you hear them.

Mrs. Baker sprinted out from behind her desk and gathered Mrs. Bigio in her arms. She helped Mrs. Bigio to her own chair where she slumped down like someone who had nothing left in her.

Mr. Hoodhood, you may go home now, Mrs. Baker said.

I did.

But I will never forget those sounds." Page 71

Scenes like these are sprinkled throughout the book and sound the hum of American life during this period, contrasting uplifting and typical life against war and fear. Students will immediately connect this war to the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars, along with the sadness of 9-11, as their Vietnam. 

With even a moderate Shakespearean background, readers will better understand the references Holling Hoodhood makes regarding his life and Shakespeare.

“I suddenly knew what Ariel felt. The whole word had 

just opened out in front of me, and I could go wherever I wished, 

and be whatever I wanted. Absolutely free.”

Page 84

Schmidt wraps the story up quite neatly, probably a little too neatly for a seventh grade boy character, but necessary to bring hope to a world filled with comedy and tragedy. Since students will see themselves through Holling, Schmidt leaves today’s young reader the chance to write their own ending to what some consider to be our own country’s contemporary political tumult.

A missing feature, which is a common standard for historical fiction, is an ending reference section with an author's note exploring the nonfiction content of the book or a recommended reading list to explore the topic further. Any future releases would be well-suited to add these features.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

BOOKLIST: “Holling's unwavering, distinctive voice offers a gentle, hopeful, moving story of a boy who, with the right help, learns to stretch beyond the limitations of his family, his violent times, and his fear, as he leaps into his future with his eyes and his heart wide open."

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Ultimately, Mrs. Baker steps out from behind her desk as a multilayered individual who helps Holling (often through their discussions of Shakespeare's plays) to dare to choose his own ending rather than follow the dictates of others.”

5. CONNECTIONS 

*Read excerpts from one of the referenced Shakespearean plays to your class to build background knowledge for the story.

*Have kids compare and contrast the Vietnam War with the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars. Discuss how American life was influenced then, and continues to be influenced now, by war.

*With copyright permission, watch a contemporary version of a Shakespeare play, like 20th Century Foxes Romeo and Juliet, starring Claire Danes and Leonardo Di Capri.

*Newbery Honor medal

*Rebecca Caudill Young Reader’s Book Award nominee