Okay for Now

Gr 6—9—When Doug Swieteck's father loses his job, the whole family is forced to move to upstate New York. His new home, "The Dump," is in the dullest town ever, and Doug hates his new life. That is, until he meets the local grocer's daughter, Lil, and starts to think that the town might have something worthwhile in it after all. Following Lil into the library, Doug comes across a copy of John James Audubon's Birds of America and becomes immersed in a whole new world of art. As he slowly learns to drop his tough guy exterior, developed from having a father with "lightning quick hands," Doug begins to open up to his neighbors and finds both comfort and acceptance as they begin to share their idyllic world with him. Many painful secrets are delicately handled in Gary Schmidt's fantastic companion to The Wednesday Wars (Clarion, 2007). Lincoln Hoppe effortlessly captures the "tough guy with a heart of gold" tone that epitomizes Doug's emotional journey. His even pacing and matter-of-fact delivery soften the devastating revelations about Doug's abusive father, his eldest brother's war injuries, and Lil's bout with cancer. This excellent audiobook should top purchase lists in school and public libraries.—Jessica Miller, New Britain Public Library, CT