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Okay for Now

Gary D. Schmidt

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Jul 17, 2012 karen rated it really liked it

Shelves: oh-no-biiiiiiirds, readventurer-made-me-do-it, why-yes-i-ya

oh, wow.

ariel is going to be so cross with me - this betrayal is worse than my love of graceling. but it has to be said: i liked this book even better than the wednesday wars.

i gave them both 4 stars because i'm nutty like that, but i feel more for this character than for goody-gumdrops holling, even though i did love the wednesday wars a lot.

doug's obstacles are just so much greater than having to wear feathers on his b*tt, and while he remains eerily good-natured throughout his struggles, he ...more

61 likes · Like · see review

Aug 11, 2011 Jess rated it it was amazing

Shelves: national-book-award-finalist, juv, historical-fiction, odyssey-honor, mock-newbery-2012

Copied from my review of the audio version.

If you liked The Wednesday Wars, you must read this. Schmidt hits a lot of the same notes again, but his style - the voice, the characters, the whole thing - is so pitch perfect that I immediately wanted to start it over from the beginning (a rare feeling for me). In fact, I listened to the audio and then read the print version a few months later. The only downside to the audio is that you'll want to look up the Audubon illustrations in a book or online Copied from my review of the audio version.

If you liked The Wednesday Wars, you must read this. Schmidt hits a lot of the same notes again, but his style - the voice, the characters, the whole thing - is so pitch perfect that I immediately wanted to start it over from the beginning (a rare feeling for me). In fact, I listened to the audio and then read the print version a few months later. The only downside to the audio is that you'll want to look up the Audubon illustrations in a book or online, because they're really key to the story. When I reread the print version, I found myself flipping back to that chapter's illustration anytime the image was discussed.

The book's only flaw is that it stuffs in a few too many things plot-wise, but for me that never detracted from the story. Not perfect, but pretty close. And I'm not lying.

Source: my public library

A few notes I took on my second read (with the print version in hand), mostly prompted by discussions about the book in the Mock Newbery group. I wanted some specific examples of things I think Schmidt does really well in order to respond to points other readers made.

P. 63: Doug ends one section with, "I stood there like a chump. You see how things never go right when you're feeling good?" The next section begins with his father saying, "You see how things never go right when you're feeling good?" To me, Doug and his brothers and his father are all part of a cycle of violence - watching the way Doug chooses to sometimes follow in his brothers' and father's footsteps, while other times he manages to break away. Here, he's obviously repeating a sentiment that's become ingrained after years of hearing his father talk this way.

P. 84: Doug describes taking his mother out for ice cream and paying, and then says, "You know how that felt?" I love the way Schmidt does this with Doug's voice - the way Doug asks us a question that reveals so much more about his emotions than saying "that felt good." It's so in character for Doug.

P. 143: The same thing happens again, only with a negative situation, when Doug is finally forced out of his gym shirt. "And what they saw--it's not any of your stupid business." It leaves you hanging and lets your imagination get to work, because you know it's bad. But without Doug ever coming out and saying it's bad.

P. 156: The watches. I love Doug's pride in ownership here, and again he doesn't just say it, he shows how he feels, just like with Joe Pepitone's jacket.

P. 171: When Doug goes to the paper mill and learns that the baseball and hundred dollars were sent home with his father, and rather than outing his father to Mr. Ballard, he just tells us, "It was just like my father said. You shouldn't count on anything." Just kills me. ...more

9 likes · Like · see review

Sep 16, 2010 Jess rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: juv, audiobook, historical-fiction, odyssey-honor

If you liked The Wednesday Wars, you must read this. Schmidt hits a lot of the same notes again, but his style - the voice, the characters, the whole thing - is so pitch perfect that I immediately wanted to start it over from the beginning (a rare feeling for me). In fact, I listened to the audio and then read the print version a few months later. The only downside to the audio is that you'll want to look up the Audubon illustrations in a book or online, because they're really key to the story. ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Aug 12, 2011 Rachel Piper rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: kids, own, best-read-in-2011

Loved. Funny, sweet and sad.

2 likes · Like · see review

Oct 04, 2011 Liz rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, 4-star

I hadn’t heard anything about Gary D. Schmidt’s Okay for Now until my book club picked it up. When I finally got around to reading it (i.e. after the meeting where we actually discussed it), I was surprise by how endearing Doug Sweiteck’s character is and how quickly the story reads. I had a few qualms with Schmidt’s novel, but Doug is a narrator who stays close to my heart.

Why is Doug Sweiteck so awesome? Because Schmidt’s strength is characterization, clearly. Doug had a sensitive, emotional s ...more

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Aug 05, 2011 Carmine rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-fiction, young-adult, realistic-fiction, friendship, school-stories

Grabbed me from page one. Gary Schmidt creates the most engaging characters and manages to pull in all sorts of crazy tangents and make them compelling- Audubon's birds, Jane Eyre, horseshoes, the moon shot, etc.

sorry, up too late to write the long essay of praise this book is due.

...more

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Sep 16, 2011 Marsha rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: juvenile

I really loved this book about a struggling kid from a dysfunctional family who eventually finds his way. I would definitely give it five stars except the ending wrapped up a little unrealistically and too neatly.

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Nov 18, 2012 Marianne rated it really liked it

I liked this just as well the second time through. I think it is my connection with the birds! Good story, great characters, but I didn't like the ending. ...more

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Aug 19, 2011 Elizabeth rated it it was amazing

Schmidt may be one of my new favorite authors. He has a way with writing that is refreshing and homey at the same time. His characters are flawed, but you grow to love almost every one of them ... Can't wait for more!
...more

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