Okay for Now
A National Book Award Winner
HarperCollins · Print & ebook · February 5, 2013
Beloved author Gary D. Schmidt expertly blends comedy and tragedy in the story of Doug Swieteck, an unhappy "teenage thug" first introduced in The Wednesday Wars, who finds consolation and a sense of possibility in friendship and art.
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- Who it’s for
- Comedy and heartbreak share the page in a story about finding room for possibility.
- Themes
- Friendship, Art as refuge, Family hardship
- Genres
- Abuse & Healing, Growing Up, Friendship
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For older readers: Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie, Orbiting Jupiter, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
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Start with this bookAbout this book
Beloved author Gary D. Schmidt expertly blends comedy and tragedy in the story of Doug Swieteck, an unhappy "teenage thug" first introduced in The Wednesday Wars, who finds consolation and a sense of possibility in friendship and art. At once heartbreaking and hopeful, this absorbing novel centers on Doug, 14, who has an abusive father, a bully for a brother, a bad reputation, and shameful secrets to keep.
Continue reading
Teachers and police and his relatives think he's worthless, and he believes them, holding others at arm's length. Newly arrived in town, he starts out on the same path—antagonizing other kids, mouthing off to teachers, contemptuous of everything intimidating or unfamiliar. Who would have thought that the public library would turn out to be a refuge and an inspiration, that a snooty librarian might be a friend, or that snarky redheaded Lil would like him—really like him? With more than his share of pain, including the return of his oldest brother from the Vietnam War, shattered and angry, will Doug find anything better than "okay for now"?
Art Against the Odds
Comedy and heartbreak share the page in a story about finding room for possibility.
Come here for
- A library refuge, an unexpected friendship, and art as consolation
- A prickly, funny voice with real hurt beneath it
Expect
- A tender coming-of-age story that makes space for both pain and hope
- Family hardship and a slow opening toward trust
Where it sits
| Friendship | 60% |
|---|---|
| Growing Up | 59% |
| Abuse & Healing | 31% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Bird Stories
- Family Stories
- Funny Stories
- YA Animal Stories
Show all 8 publisher categories
- YA Mythical Creature Stories
- YA Art & Artists
- YA Books About Libraries
- Coming of Age
- Authors
- Gary D. Schmidt
- Publisher
- HarperCollins
- Published
- February 5, 2013
- Format
- Print & ebook
- Theme
- Friendship · Art as refuge · Family hardship
- Reading lane
- Bird Stories