The Wednesday Wars Audiobook By Gary D. Schmidt cover art

The Wednesday Wars

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The Wednesday Wars

By: Gary D. Schmidt
Narrated by: Joel Johnstone
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About this listen

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 with which to contend? 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.

©2007 Gary D. Schmidt (P)2018 Recorded Books
Family Life Fiction Growing Up Growing Up & Facts of Life Historical Fiction Humorous Fiction Literature & Fiction Military & Wars Music & Performing Arts Performing Arts Social & Life Skills Theater Comedy Witty War Destiny Funny Heartfelt Feel-Good
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Engaging Characters • Layered Storytelling • Humorous Moments • Emotional Depth • Historical Context
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We listened to this on a road trip with our kids and we all enjoyed the story. Especially the performance of the reader!

Great family listen

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What a fun read! It takes you back to the junior high school years. All the angst we felt back then. It’s funny and very entertaining.

Wonderful entertainment

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The book was amazing for me and my son. wonderful book and wonderful story telling.

Holling Hoodhood and the prefect house

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Great narrator choice. Fun story to listen to. Light story referencing heavy history in background.

Fun story

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My family of six, kids ages 11-17, enjoyed this audiobook very much! Joel Johnston brought the story to life and had us all laughing out loud! It was good, clean fun. I love that it included Vietnam war era historical and political aspects, mixed with Shakespeare literature content, and lots of good moral lessons intertwined into a fun-loving story with characters you really get to know. Highly recommend this book for middle grade readers and families!

Fantastic narrating of an excellent book for families!

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I wasn't sure I would like this story. The title didn't grab me and it started kinda slow. But quickly it became a journey I joined the author on . The story is beautifully written, laugh out loud funny at times and by the end, a deep awakening of things I haven't quite grasped about life yet, even at 58. This is a story to listen to over and over. Loved it!!

Beautiful, Sweet, Full of Heart and even funny

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There just isn’t. This one deserves to be read and reread again and again. Narration is great.

There isn’t a better YA novel.

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I can’t say enough good things about this book! The narrator - excellent! Probably the best I’ve heard to date. The book - funny! We laughed so much! It still deals with serious subjects, like the Vietnam War, Martin Luther King’s assassination, Robert Kennedy’s assassination, difficult family relationships etc. The only regret: that we waited so long to listen to it.

Excellent

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My 8th grade students found it very entertaining. I found it very educational, insightful, and a great snapshot of what it was like to be a 7th grader in 1968.

Very Entertaining

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I love everything about this book and about the narration. I’ve read this book 4 times and listened twice, and every time I am amazed at the writing. So good! This last time listening to it I cried several times. The reader has a way of expressing Holling’s thoughts and emotions just perfectly. I love all the voices he uses for the different characters; they create wonderful images in my mind. We have our students read this as part of our teen Shakespeare camp, and it’s a perfect jumping-off point to learn about the Bard! Very poignant and beautiful. Thank you!

Still amazing!

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