OKAY FOR NOW by Gary D. Schmidt, 2011

Midwesterner Gary D. Schmidt won Newbery Honor awards for Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boys and The Wednesday Wars, two coming-of-age novels about unlikely friends finding a bond. Okay For Now, his latest novel, explores another seemingly improbable alliance, this one between new outsider in town Doug Swieteck and Lil Spicer, the savvy spitfire daughter of his deli owner boss. With her challenging assistance, Doug discovers new sides of himself. Along the way, he also readjusts his relationship with his abusive father, his school peers, and his older brother, a newly returned war victim of Vietnam. (Goodreads)

Reviewed by Meredith, Librarian

When you work with young people, sometimes you experience burnout. You get annoyed by their loudness, their bad attitudes, their immaturity. Then a book like this comes along and reminds you why you wanted to work with kids in the first place. Because every kid deserves a chance (or two, or three), and every kid deserves to have a least one grownup in their life who believes in them and wants the best for them. When you read the story of Doug Swieteck and the lives he touches and the people who help him, you'll be inspired to be that grownup for every kid you meet. It doesn't hurt that it's also funny as heck and deeply moving. Highly recommended.

Market: Middle Grade

Language: None

Sensuality: Mild-8th graders in love!

Violence: Moderate. Several of the characters have served in Vietnam,

but that violence is off page. The main character has an abusive

father

Mature Themes: Abuse, war