OKAY FOR NOW

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