Hey there, the book you are about to read is The Wednesday Wars.-

 This book is by Gary D. Schmidt. You Know, this is a great book and to make it even better you should try and follow each section and do all of the Tasks. This book is set in Long Island, New York. The time is 1967 and the Vietnam War is in progress. The main character is Holling Hoodhood; he is a seventh grade student going to a middle school called Camillo Junior High. Holling is being troubled by the people around him and it seems he just can’t fit in. Holling goes through a great and somewhat adventurous character developing story.

Tasks

1. Look at the Title, read the back of the book, and look at the pictures.

Now that you have found out about this book what do you think this book is about.

2. Now that you have made a guess about what the book is about, try and read the first section (pg.1-pg.48).

Wasn’t that pretty good? Yah I know, it was great. Do you remember when Holling accidentally let loose the rats? If you don’t remember then this is what happened:-

 First, Holling has to stay with Mrs. Baker on Wednesday’s wile everyone else went to temple or catechism. Next, Holling trips Doug Swieteks older brother and his head makes a dent in the goal post. Then, Holling ruined the cream puffs for the Vietnam soldier wives and after that Holling and Mrs. Baker start reading Shakespeare. Finally, Holling accidentally let the rats loose and then booth of them climb into the radiator to escape and to get warm. Well, that pretty much sums it up.

Tasks

1. Here is a question to make sure that you read the first section: Holling Hoodhood spends his afternoons differently than other seventh-grade students at Camillo Junior High. What are some of those differences? How does he respond to the situation?

2. Now that you have answered that question, read section two (pg. 49-pg. 100).

I’m back!-

 Here is everything that happened in this section. First, Mrs. Baker and Holling start reading The Tempest and Holling starts reciting Caliban curses. Second, Holling and Danny go to visit Manny Mantle but Manny turned down his request of sinning Holling’s baseball. He was wearing yellow tights. Next, Holling had to recite Shakespeare to get the creampuffs for his friends. Then, Sycorax and Caliban ate all of the creampuffs, so nobody could haze one. Finally, Holling does a play for the Long Island Shakespeare company’s holiday extravaganza.

Tasks

1. Ready for the second question? Here it is: The pet rats in Mrs. Baker’s class are named Sycorax and Caliban. Whom are the rats named after? Why? How do the rats react?

2. Next, read section three (101-155).

Hi there!-

Here is the summary for section three. First, Doug Swieteck’s older brother posted pictures everywhere of Holling in yellow tights. Next, it starts to snow in Long Island and Holling throws a snowball into Doug Swieteck’s older brother’s face. Then, Holling gets hit by a bus because he was trying to save his older sister. After getting hit Holling had to go to the hospital. After that, Holling goes out with Meryl Lee for Valentines Day. Finally, Mrs. Baker’s husband is thought to be dead in a downed helicopter crash.

Tasks

1. Here comes the third question!  Mr. Hoodhood believes that he is always acting for the good of his children. List some instances in which you see this. Is he always acting for their benefit?

2. Thank you for answering that question. Please read section four (156-207).

It’s summary time!    

      In the fourth section is that the rats Sycorax and Caliban get loose and Mrs. Sidman carried them out of Mrs. Baker’s class, to a cage. Secondly, the rats go to the exterminator, but get loose again and chased Holling on the varsity run. Third, Martin Luther Kind Jr. gets shot and dies. After this there are riots everywhere in the U.S. Next, Holling wins the varsity race against all of the other varsity runners, from 100 schools. Finally, Meryl Lee kisses Holling after he wins the varsity race.

Tasks

1. Question time! In the chapter “March”, why does Mrs. Biglio apologize to Mai Thi? For what is she apologizing, and what do you think caused her change in heart?

2. Now it’s your turn, read section five (208-264).

Thank you for reading that –

Now, here is the summary. First, President Bobby Kennedy was shot and died the next day. Secondly, Mrs. Baker finds out that Mr. Baker isn’t dead and he is coming home. Next, Mrs. Sidman becomes principal of Camillo Junior High. Then, Mrs. Baker takes her class on a camping and Holling drops all of the silverware on the way up. Finally, Lieutenant Baker comes home and Danny passes his bar mitzvah and becomes a real man.

Tasks

1. Well that’s pretty much it. All that’s left is the question! Holling is in seventh grade in 1968. How is life in seventh grade today different from Holling’s experience at Camillo Junior High?

2. Great job! Thank you  for reading and answereing  the questions! I hoped you liked it! Again thank you and good bye.