OKAY FOR NOW
Bibliography:
Schmidt, Gary D. 2011. OKAY FOR NOW. New York. Clarion Books. ISBN 9780547152608
Plot Summary:
When Doug Swieteck moves to Marysville, New York, he feels
he doesn’t belong there. The small town in upstate New York seems strange and
boring. Doug lands there in the summer of 1968, the year when the Apollo space
missions are preparing to land on the moon, Joe Pepitone is playing for the New
York Yankees, and the Vietnam War is raging. Doug shares “The Dump”, as he names
his new home, with his mother – a quiet and submissive housewife; his father –
who has lost his way; and his older brother Christopher– who is accused of
robbery. His oldest brother Lucas is on his way home from Vietnam “a little bit
different. Everyone comes home from Vietnam a little bit different.”
Doug knows it will be a long and difficult year at
Washington Irving Junior High School. He must deal with his nagging gym
teacher, the suspicions of his other teachers that thievery might run in
families, and the constant arguments that occur in his own home. However, the
days seem to brighten after he shares a “really cold Coke” with Lil Spicer, a
green-eyed girl whose family owns Spicer’s Deli. Lil introduces Doug to the
local library. It is at the library where he first encounters the plate
collection of John James Audubon’s Birds of America. He also meets Mr. Powell,
the librarian. With the help of Mr. Powell, Doug discovers his penchant for
drawing.
As Doug attempts to capture his world through the eyes of an
artist, he opens another as strange to him as the lunar landscape. Brick by
brick Doug begins building a house of self-confidence. But, he is not alone.
His helpers are the customers to whom he delivers groceries on Saturdays, those
who share with him chocolate donuts or their daily chores, his father’s boss,
with whom Doug sometimes pitches horse-shoes, and Mrs. Windermere, a local
script-writer who drags Doug to the Broadway play. Everything seems okay, for
now. Will it continue to remain so, even if Lil is terminally ill? Here the
author leaves us, balancing on our reflections about life, relationships, and
love.
Critical Analysis:
“OKAY FOR NOW” is a novel of the famous writer Gary D.
Schmidt - a Newberry Award winner. This book is an outstanding example of
Schmidt’s figment of imagination sprinkled with historical facts. It takes
place in the late 1960’s, the era when mankind is about to take its giant leap
onto the surface of the moon. The main character, Doug Swietek, is stuck in
stupid Marysville, New York. He seems to be an ordinary 8th grader, but his
mission to recover the missing pages of the Audubon book makes him to stand out
among his peers. Doug is a witness to the horrors of the wounds suffered in the
Vietnam War when his brother returns home blind and without legs. At the same
time, Schmidt wants to show the reader the positive turbulence of the late 60s
– especially within the Space Race.
One of the primary themes present throughout the book is the
theme of coming of age. Each of the characters learns lessons about growing up
and dealing with responsibilities in life. Doug deals a lot with puberty and
changes in his body, as well as those in his feelings. His brothers Lucas and
Chris come of age as they realize they don’t want to turn out like their
abusive father. Readers can also find leitmotif, as Schmidt writes about the
power of a mother’s love and standing up for what one believes in.
Schmidt presents his story in first person monologue. Doug
speaks directly to the audience, using short, easy flowing sentences in a
language appropriate for his age in the era the story is set. The rarity of
metaphors and similes makes the reading inviting and pleasurable.
Experts Reviews:
A Children's Choice Award winner
An ALA Notable Children's Book
An ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults Pick
"Readers will miss Doug and his world when they're done, and will feel richer for having experienced his engaging, tough, and endearing story."
School Library Journal
"This is Schmidt's best novel yet."
Kirkus Reviews
"Stealthily powerful."
Booklist
Connections:
Read more books by Gary Schmidt:
THE WEDNESDAY WARS
WHAT CAME FROM THE STARS
LIZZIE BRIGHT AND THE BUCKMISTER BOY
Visit the author's website:
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