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He has to stay with his teacher, Mrs. Schidmit is about a boy named Holling Hoodhood. This book by: Gary D. Baker. Every Wednesday afternoon half of his class goes to Hebrew school and the other half to Catholic school. He is Pesbytarian,so he goes to neither. At first she makes him do chores around the classroom, but then decides to have him read Shakesphere. His Dad is an achictect and hopes for him to take over the family busness when he's older.
Baker as he did without having the wisdom of an adult.So while some might think the book is about Holling, I think it's about Mrs. I tagged this book as YA but I think it's got a message for both adults and young alike.Before reading the book I read reviews, both good and bad, and what seemed to be a re-occuring theme was the idea that this was more a book about the author reflecting, as an adult, what being in 7th grade was like. Baker and the amazing strength, wisdom and devotion a teacher has to have for his or her students in order for them to learn - despite every effort being made not to learn.It takes a special kind of person to be a teacher and to mold and shape young lives. And I understand that. At times, it made sense - as how could he have written such a wonderful portrait of Mrs. If every kid out there had a Mrs. Baker in their lives the world would definitely be a better place.
leaders). It's 1967 when Holling Hoodhood, an average, everyday, run-of-the-mill preteen boy, enters middle school as a seventh grader at Camillo Junior High. Baker on Wednesday afternoons, while all of his classmates headed off either to Hebrew School or Catechism. Escaped rats elevate the humor level in this story set during troubled times (which includes the assassination of two important U.S. The book on CD, performed by Joel Johnstone, is excellent, though I enjoyed reading it myself the second time around. At first, his teacher gives him dullish duties involving classroom cleanup.
Schmidt does a spot on job of developing his characters. He, his younger sister, and his parents live in, as his architect father calls it, "the Perfect House." Unfortunately, due to his family's religion preference (Presbyterian), he must remain in class with Mrs. Author Gary D. Eventually, she assigns him Shakespeare, which helps him relate (as does Treasure Island) to the types of challenges seventh graders are forced to face. Throughout the year (the story chapters are organized by month), Holling deals with many issues: a Vietnamese classmate, a bully, romance, teachers (sometimes cranky, more often, inspiring and supportive), and his parents. Both best and worst of the book: a silver lining in every single solitary cloud (okay.except one).
Also good: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.
We look forward to reading many more of your books. I believe all of us have known kids like these growing up, especially Doug Swietecks brother.
We stayed up past our bedtimes laughing our heads off. The story really touches the reader in many ways.
My 12 year old daughter and I read this book together. It gave me a chance to speak about the tumultuous times in the US to my daughter regarding the Vietnam War, Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy.
After reading this book we hope to try our first "stab" at Shakespeare, as my daughter is now very curious about him. Thanks for writing such a funny, emotional historical book.
I will recommend this book to my daughter's teachers. Please write a sequel.
The book ends with a dramatic connection between him and his sister, as the father continues to fail to forge a bond with his son, and his mother helplessly simpers by her husband's side. His insensitive "Archie Bunker" like father rarely comes to his defense. Holling Hoodhood, a middle-schooler is growing up in Long Island during the early 1970's - Vietnam War period. An interesting read - though I wondered where it was going in parts, the build to the resolution with the sister was pleasant and not entirely expected. He finds solace in taking after school lessons in Shakespeare from his beloved English teacher, and joining the track team. A budding romance for him is fraught with tension as his father and the father of his girlfriend are business rivals. Dad remains a self-absorbed, business-driven jerk to the bitter end -- a sad truth for many kids of that generation. I suspect that the story is semi-autobiographical.
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