264 pages; published in 2007; I give it 5 out of 5 stars
Opening sentence:
"Of all the kids in the seventh grade at Camillo Junior High, there was one kid that Mrs. Baker hated with heat whiter than the sun.
Me."
It is 1976, and Holling Hoodhood is sure that his seventh grade teacher, Mrs. Baker, hates him and is out to kill him. He can't complain to anyone, though, because the future of his father's architecture firm just might depend on Holling being on his best behavior. On Wednesday afternoons, all the students go to their place of worship for a ceremony of sorts. Everyone, that is, except Holling. At first Mrs. Baker has Holling help with chores around the classroom during this time, but then she decides on the ultimate punishment: making Holling read Shakespearean plays!
I liked how Holling would relate what was happening in his life to what happened in the latest Shakespeare play. I have only read one of the plays he mentions, so I am sure there are many allusions I failed to catch. The ones I did catch, however, made me laugh. I have been meaning to read a few of Shakespeare's plays this year, and after reading Schmidt's The Wednesday Wars, I am more motivated than I have been in a while.
1 comment:
Also participating in the September spectacular Reading Challenge, I thought I'd stop by and say hello. A frank and honest review, I like both the look (a great cover, simple but effective I think) and sound of this one. Anyway, nice to meet you, I've enjoyed my visit.
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