I read this for Book Club. Enjoyed it. ( )

Wow. Read for Newbery discussion, enjoyed because it's a great book. Almost epic in scope - it's certainly not just about Holling's singularity on Wednesday afternoon, but it's also about a damn fine teacher who is also a real person, and about middle school politics, and about how to read and to appreciate Shakespeare, and about the Vietnam War & its era, and about town politics, etc... and it's funny!

I love that our boy uses the Shakespeare he learns. One of the first things he does is riff off the curses in *The Tempest.* "'Toads, beetles, bats light on me if I let it out.'"

I want to look up the song that has the line "I'm just a poor wayfaring stranger..." And those titles "Going Down the Road Feeling Bad" and "Worried Man Blues." They sang these in music class!

I can't stand Holling's parents. They prioritize the Bing Crosby Christmas show instead of attending his performance as Ariel, for example.

Here's just one example of how Mrs. Baker talks about what Shakespeare intended us to learn (or at least what we can think about when we read his works). In this case, *Macbeth;* "That we are made for more than power. That we are made for more than our desires. That pride combined with stubbornness can be disaster. And that compared with love, malice is a small and petty thing."

And how to think about the 'happy ending' of the 'comedy' *Much Ado About Nothing.* Everyone is paired up except Don Pedro. Holling says " they all go off to dance and leave him behind. And they don't even remember that he's the one who has to deal with the traitor tomorrow, or that he hasn't got anyone."

Baker says: " maybe his whole country will split into pieces. He doesn't have any idea what's going to happen to him. I think he became a man who brought peace and wisdom to his world, because he knew about war and folly. I think that he loved greatly, because he had seen what lost love is. And I think he came to know, two, that he was loved greatly.... A comedy is about characters who dare to know that they may choose a happy ending after all."

I love that Mrs. Sidman comes back. I won't spoil it for you, but, just, yes, good role model.

I do wish we knew more about the other family members, but it's authentic that Holling didn't know a whole lot more, and didn't tell us, at least directly, quite all that he knew. I'd read a sequel, if only to learn how Holling and Heather turn out.

Btw, I read the large print version (from MORE) and despite a few typos it was a treat to have access to the large font. I do hope to reread it, and when I do so, to get LP again. Now I have to see if the author has anything else. ( )

There are some books I find myself intending to read, but never getting around to it until I get a little push at some stage. I got my push with this book when Mom borrowed it from the library—what better time to read it than when we already have it? I’m so glad I did that; this has become my favorite middle-grade read of the year so far.

It took me no time at all to get into the story—and only a few pages to get to the point where I was trying to quell my laughter so I wouldn’t bother others while I read. Holling Hoodhood (which is such a clever name in itself) is the most perceptive, hilarious character, and some of the conclusions he comes to are…interesting, to say the least. The setting is delightful, and the glimpse into my grandparent’s time was fascinating. I loved Holling’s teacher, and his sister, hated his dad, and fell in love with middle-grade books all over again with this story.

In many ways, this isn’t an easy book. It deals with a somewhat dysfunctional family, the Vietnam War, and the hippie movement, and there’s a lot of growth in the main character and other characters throughout the story. This is a book about friendship, and how sometimes we have to sacrifice for others in order to make progress. And somehow, Schmidt pulls it all together into a gripping story.

I absolutely loved this story, and I’m looking forward to reading the sequel at some stage. Deep, yet lighthearted (you can’t miss the part about the rats in the ceiling!), flavored with another time but still relatable, this is a book I’d gladly share with my siblings—I suspect it would become a family favorite if we read it together. Highly recommended! ( )

This was a great recommendation from another youth librarian. I first listened to the audio version and fell in love with it. It was touching and sad and happy -- ran the gamut of emotions. Some parts were so funny that I literally laughed out loud. Lincoln Hoppe reads the audio version and is spot-on! ( )

There are a few children's books with so much heart that reading them is a special experience. This is one of those. In first person, it tells one year in the life of Holling Hoodhood, a seventh grader during the 1967–1968 school year. At the heart of the book is his relationship with his teacher, Mrs. Baker. Initially, Holling believes that Mrs. Baker hates him, but throughout the year we find out that she is actually a pretty amazing teacher. During that year, Holling will grow up, develop some self-confidence and read a lot of Shakespeare.

Plenty of things happen during that year, although the book is mostly slice-of-life rather than plot-oriented. It's funny at times, and touching at others. A truly excellent book for kids that can be appreciated by adults. Highly recommended. ( )