Click here for summary and reviews.
Hand this book to the kid:
* Who loves to draw
* Has moved/is moving to a new school
* Is dealing/has dealt with a tough home life (abusive caretakers and poverty)
* Has a relative or family friend who is a war veteran
* Who needs a little hope
Use this to teach:
* Voice–The narrator, 14-year-old Doug Swieteck (a minor character in Schmidt’s Newbery Honor book The Wednesday Wars), talks directly to the reader at times, inviting us into his tough world laced with hope.
* Types of Conflict--This story has it all–character vs. character (Doug against his father and brother), nature (inadequately-dressed Doug schlepping through snow to deliver groceries), society (poverty, Doug’s older brother stationed in Vietnam) and self (Doug’s older brother finding the courage to reenter society as a disabled war veteran).
Curriculum Guide here.
The Nitty Gritty~
Publisher: Clarion
Publication Date: 2011
ISBN: 9780547152608
Number of Pages: 368
Reading Level: 4.9
Interest Level: Middle Grade (ages 10-14)
Biblio Links 
Just came over from Mike Jung’s link on Facebook. Your blog looks great. I loved this book, and you’re dead on about the voice. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by, Becky!
I *loved* OKAY FOR NOW–I can’t stop recommending it to people. 🙂
What a great idea for a blog! I’ll be sure to spread the word. 🙂
Thanks, Anna!
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