Hi, welcome back
I wanted to share with you a book that was not only beautifully written, but a very powerful story, one of courage and growth. The book is called Okay For Now, by Gary D. Schmidt, an American Children's author.
GARY D. SCHMIDT
Gary D. Schmidt is a two times Newbery
Award winner and Printz winner for his children’s books Lizzie Bright and the
Buckminster Boy, and Wednesday’s War. His latest novel Okay For Now was a 2011 National
Book Award Finalist. He is a professor of English at Calvin College in Grand
Rapids Michigan.
OKAY FOR NOW
Okay for Now takes place in America in
the late 1960’s a time of discovery and change, political unrest and war. Doug
Swieteck waits for the return of his oldest brother Lucas from Vietnam, at the
same time astronauts are now taking their first steps on the moon.
Doug and his family have moved, now
living in Marysville, Upstate New York. He hates his house; he refers to as the
dump, hates the town and everything about it, and longingly wants to return to
his previous home.
With no friends, or support from his
family, Doug is lost, living in an abusive household ruled by his foul mouth,
heavy handed father. He walks around with
a chip on his shoulder worn as protective armour.
Finding solace in the Marysville Free
Public Library he comes across the Audubon American book of birds. He is drawn
to the plates unable to turn away, staring at the opened page of the Arctic
Tern. It too looks lost, having no place of belonging. The more Doug studies
the painting the more drawn to it he becomes, like an invisible magic pulling
him in. Taking an imaginary pencil he begins to draw. The more he does so the
more connected he feels to the bird.
Watching nearby is Mr. Powell the
librarian, a father figure, who encourages Doug to actually try and draw what
he sees. Immediately Doug retreats behind his armour, his first instinct to
flee.
After some deliberation Doug begins to
draw with the help and guidance of Mr. Powell, each week getting better, his
confidence growing. For many months Doug
spends the time studying the different birds, understanding their changes,
their growth which is reflected in him. It becomes very important to him to
replace the missing plates from the book and make it whole again, a parallel to
his own life.
I thought the symbolism of the birds was
brilliant, a reflection of the stages of growth, beginning with the Arctic Tern,
a bird who belonged nowhere to one of the last plates, The Great Esquimaux
Curlew standing centre stage. It’s parallel to Doug’s life, a boy chiseling
away the pain and suffocation of an abusive father, and rising above breaking
free of the chains that held him prisoner. What emerges in the end is a boy who
is whole, talented, and bright, with insight and compassion.
Okay for Now is a book with a subtitles
and hidden meanings. It wasn’t graphic or gory in any of its descriptions, but
one that got the message across loud and clear. It mapped out the story of Doug,
his journey from one of loss to happiness.
I would recommend this book for ages 12+.
Sidebar note: Other titles by Gary D Schmidt:
The Wednesday Wars
Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy
Wednesday Wars
Trouble
Anson’s Way
Straw into Gold
Happy reading,
Bye Rosalyne
Happy reading,
Bye Rosalyne
