The Wednesday Wars — Content Guide for Parents
Found in this book
- ViolenceBrief
- ReligionSupportingChristian, Jewish
Not found
- Scary content
- Race & culture
- Profanity
- Climate
- Sexual content
- Gender roles
- Gender & orientation
Content themes
Factual summary of themes present in this book. No opinion — just the facts.
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Summaries and source quotes for every theme.
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Religion
PRESENTContains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.
About this book
In this Newbery Honor-winning novel, Gary D. Schmidt offers an unforgettable antihero. The Wednesday Wars is a wonderfully witty and compelling story about a teenage boy's mishaps and adventures over the course of the 1967–68 school year in Long Island, New York.
Meet Holling Hoodhood, a seventh-grader at Camillo Junior High, who must spend Wednesday afternoons with his teacher, Mrs. Baker, while the rest of the class has religious instruction. Mrs. Baker doesn't like Holling—he's sure of it. Why else would she make him read the plays of William Shakespeare outside class? But everyone has bigger things to worry about, like Vietnam. His father wants Holling and his sister to be on their best behavior: the success of his business depends on it. But how can Holling stay out of trouble when he has so much to contend with? A bully demanding cream puffs; angry rats; and a baseball hero signing autographs the very same night Holling has to appear in a play in yellow tights! As fate sneaks up on him again and again, Holling finds Motivation—the Big M—in the most unexpected places and musters up the courage to embrace his destiny, in spite of himself.
Frequently asked questions
Is The Wednesday Wars appropriate for a 7-year-old?
A bully targets Holling, and a friend takes a black eye for someone; the Vietnam War and two assassinations are the historical backdrop. Holling is the only Presbyterian in his class, so he stays with his teacher while his Catholic and Jewish classmates leave for catechism and Hebrew school each Wednesday.
Does The Wednesday Wars have violence?
Found (Brief): A bully targets Holling, and a friend takes a black eye for someone; the Vietnam War and two assassinations are the historical backdrop.
Does The Wednesday Wars have scary content?
Not found in the sources we checked.
Does The Wednesday Wars have religion?
Found (Supporting, Christian, Jewish): Holling is the only Presbyterian in his class, so he stays with his teacher while his Catholic and Jewish classmates leave for catechism and Hebrew school each Wednesday.
Does The Wednesday Wars have race & culture?
Not found in the sources we checked.
Does The Wednesday Wars have profanity?
Not found in the sources we checked.
Does The Wednesday Wars have climate?
Not found in the sources we checked.
Does The Wednesday Wars have sexual content?
Not found in the sources we checked.
Does The Wednesday Wars have gender roles?
Not found in the sources we checked.
Does The Wednesday Wars have gender & orientation?
Not found in the sources we checked.
