Okay for Now

In this companion novel to The Wednesday Wars, Doug struggles to be more than the "skinny thug" that some people think him to be. He finds an unlikely ally in Lil Spicer, who gives him the strength to endure an abusive father, the suspicions of a town, and the return of his oldest brother, forever scarred, from Vietnam. 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. AGES: 10-14 AUTHOR: Gary D. Schmidt is a professor of English at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He received both a Newbery Honor and a Printz Honor for Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy and a Newbery Honor for The Wednesday Wars. He lives with his family in a small town, where he splits wood, plants gardens, writes, and feeds the wild cats that drop by. REVIEWS: "[A] stealthily powerful, unexpectedly affirming story of discovering and rescuing one's best self."-Booklist, starred review

“"This is Schmidt's best novel yete"darker than The Wednesday Wars and written with more restraint, but with the same expert attention to voice, character and big ideas."e" Kirkus Reviews, starred review "Reproductions of Audubon plates introduce each chapter in this stealthily powerful, unexpectedly affirming story of discovering and rescuing onee(tm)s best self, despite family pressure to do otherwise."e" Booklist, starred review "Readers will miss Doug and his world when theye(tm)re done, and will feel richer for having experienced his engaging, tough, and endearing story."e" School Library Journal, starred review "The book is exceptionally well written. Schmidt creates characters that will remain with the reader long after the book is done. Douge(tm)s voice is unforgettable as he tries to help and protect his mom. . . .While there is much stacked against him, he is a character filled with hope that the reader cannot help but root for. Push this one on readers; they will not be sorry. . . .Schmidt writes a journal-type story with a sharp attention to detail, patterns in the story line, and an unexpected twist at the end."e" VOYA”

"This is Schmidt's best novel yet--darker than The Wednesday Wars and written with more restraint, but with the same expert attention to voice, character and big ideas." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"The book is exceptionally well written. Schmidt creates characters that will remain with the reader long after the book is done. Doug's voice is unforgettable as he tries to help and protect his mom.... While there is much stacked against him, he is a character filled with hope that the reader cannot help but root for. Push this one on readers; they will not be sorry.... Schmidt writes a journal-type story with a sharp attention to detail, patterns in the story line, and an unexpected twist at the end."
-- VOYA

Gary D. Schmidt is the author of the Newbery Honor and Printz Honor book Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy. His most recent novel is The Wednesday Wars. He is a professor of English at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

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