(Historical Fiction) Review of Audiobook - Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt, Narrated by Lincoln Hoppe

1. Bibliography

Schmidt, Gary D. (Author) and Hoppe, Lincoln (Narrator). (2011). OKAY FOR NOW [CD]. Unabridged version: Cover to cover. ISBN 978030791598

2. Plot Summary

Doug Swieteck is a soon-to-be eighth grade boy who moves from Long Island to stupid Marysville, New York in the late 1960s because his father, a man who uses his fists to communicate, loses his job. Doug's main joy is following  Joe Pepitone's career with the Yankees, and he is even given a signed ball by the man himself; however, his jerk of a brother takes it from him and loses it. After the move, Doug forms an unlikely friendship with assertive and quick-witted Lil Spicer, the daughter of the owner of a deli who becomes Doug's boss. Doug often has to deal with many hardships and trials such as his jerk brother's acts, his abusive father, a mother who barely speaks, (but oh, when she smiles...), troubles at school, especially with the so-called gym teacher, and an older brother who returns from Vietnam forever changed and scarred. Doug also has triumphs and hits milestones. With the help of a librarian, he discovers he has a great talent and passion for drawing after he sees an Audubon original painting. An English teacher helps him become a better reader with, and I'm not lying, Jane Eyre! A teacher finally stops labeling Doug as a criminal master mind and a trouble-maker and starts listening and discovers what Doug is going through at home and actually tries to help. There are many times that he thinks things are going perfectly, and then something happens to mess the perfectness all up. But though Doug seems a pessimist many times throughout this work of historical fiction, he is actually stronger and more resilient than he ever thought, proving he can take on whatever is put in front of him and come out okay for now.

3. Critical Analysis

This audio book is narrated by Mr. Lincoln Hoppe, American writer, actor, and producer, and is listened to in eight CDs (9 hours and 30 minutes). The suggested audience is young adult. It is the unabridged version, so listeners get the benefit of hearing book in its entirety, cover to cover. The other piece of information included on the backmatter is a short summary of the novel. The sound quality of the audio was flawless and perfectly clear. Listeners will be completely engaged in this rich audiobook experience. The narrator enunciated his words very well, and his accents of the characters were entertaining and differentiated. There were no background effects or music; just the narrator's words, which added to the seriousness of the themes within the book and also helped me focus on the characters' personalities. The pace of the book varied - slow when something very detailed and disappointing to the main character was occurring, faster when the main character was excited or engaged in something. The narrator was flawless in his ability to draw me in the entire time; his readings were very natural, invested, and personal. I could not stop listening and went through with drawls when my car trips would come to an end, thinking about the tracks I had just listened to long after they were over.

The tone and delivery of Lincoln Hoppe brought the author's words and intentions to life. I feel like I know Doug Swieteck better because I listened to this book rather than read it. Gary Schmidt's writing is beautiful, especially the parts where Audubon's works are incorporated into the story as analogies and metaphors for the things that are happening in Doug Swieteck's life. The narrator's interpretation of how a fourteen-year-old boy would speak his typical phrases, such as, "I'm not lying" and "You know what that feels like?" brought the character to life non-stop. This book is geared towards the middle grades, and the author's writing combined with the narrator's reading are sure to capture listeners' ears and hearts from cover to cover.

Gary Schmidt knows the 1960s and the Vietnam War well. His extensive research shone through his literary details of the effects of the war on soldiers, through the descriptions of Doug's brother's injuries, and through the feelings of the gym teacher. The mentionings and excitement of the first man on the moon were accurate and seemed to truly express the sentiments of the emerging technologies and advancements of the time period. There are themes of loss and recovery, and love, discovery, creativity, and finding one's identity to just surviving the day. The messages within the book are timeless, and people of all ages will be captivated with the happenings of this work of art. One of the most interesting features of the book is that the chapters are titled after Audubon's painting plates, and those painting titles have significant meaning within each chapter, seamlessly interweaving history with metaphorical writing.

4. Review Excerpts and Notable Awards/Honors:

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL STARRED REVIEW: "Readers will miss Doug and his world when they’re done, and will feel richer for having experienced his engaging, tough, and endearing story."

BOOKLIST STARRED REVIEW: "Reproductions of Audubon plates introduce each chapter in this stealthily powerful, unexpectedly affirming story of discovering and rescuing one’s best self, despite family pressure to do otherwise."

KIRKUS STARRED REVIEW: "This is Schmidt's best novel yet—darker than The Wednesday Wars and written with more restraint, but with the same expert attention to voice, character and big ideas"

Winner of/Honored by:

• 2012 Odyssey Award Honor
• 2012 Nomination for an Audie Award
• 2011 Sonderbooks Standout: #3 Audio Rereads
• 2011 National Book Award Finalist: Young People's Literature
• 2012 AudioFile Earphones Award

5. Connections
A. Use the following photograph lesson plan by The National Archives http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/vietnam-photos/

B. A few of the scenes could be dramatized and acted out, especially the ones between Doug and Lil, Doug and Mrs. Windermere, and Doug and the so-called gym teacher.

*Other books with related themes:

Schmidt, Gary D. THE WEDNESDAY WARS. ISBN 9780547237602

Gantos, Jack. DEAD END IN NORVELT. ISBN 9780374379933

*Other historical fiction books about the Vietnam War:

Whelan, Gloria. GOODBYE, VIETNAM. ISBN 9780679823766

Lynch, Chris. VIETNAM #1: I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE. ISBN 9780545270298

Dean Myers, Walter. FALLEN ANGELS. ISBN 9780590409438

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