1.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Schmidt,
Gary D. 2011. Okay for Now. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 0547534175
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Okay for Now is a coming of age story set in 1960s
Maryville about a young teenage boy, Doug Swieteck, who has an abusive father, an
all-too-quiet mother, and two difficult brothers during the historical time of
the Vietnam War and Apollo 11. Lil
Spicer, Doug’s first friend in “stupid Marysville,” sticks by his side even
when the whole town believes the worst about the “skinny thug.” His relationships within the community rise
and fall based on their suspicions about his brother Christopher, but Lil is a
constant for him. Doug must cope with
his dysfunctional family life, his position as an outcast at school and in the
community, as well as his brother’s painful return from the war. But as Doug discovers himself through art, he
also finds love, hope, and purpose.
3.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Doug’s life
in Marysville is described in vivid detail, from “The Dump” that Doug and his
family live in and the school in which our hero is often degraded, to the
library where Doug begins to find himself in recreating John James Audubon’s Birds of America. These drawings are used by Doug (and the
author) to illustrate the lessons about people, relationships, and life that he
discovers throughout the book. Glimpses
of the art can be seen at the beginning of the chapters, which helps the reader
visualize what Doug is experiencing through the pictures. The book is narrated in Doug’s voice using
language and attitudes common to a young man, or should I say “chump,” as he
often refers to himself, coming of age in the 1960s.
The
relationship between Lil and Doug is believable and age-appropriate. Without this relationship, it is unlikely
that Doug would have been able to grow and change. From this relationship, he is introduced to
the library, where he becomes friends with the librarian who teaches him about
art, and ultimately about life.
The
characters’ attitudes are common for the time period, especially as noted in
the mother’s attitude toward her abusive husband and the school teachers’
slowness to see the trouble Doug is in at home.
The history in the book is presented accurately, especially as it
relates to the attitudes about the Vietnam War.
As a daughter of a Vietnam vet who lost his arm in the war, I was
especially moved by the attitudes of disgust and even hatred toward Lucas: “And
you know what they said when they saw my brother in his uniform sitting in a
wheelchair with bandages around his eyes, his legs gone? You know what they said? They said he got what he deserved.” What a troubling, yet authentic segment from the
book! Another historical event, the
Apollo 11 missions, were referenced throughout the book and provide a backdrop
for the theme of hope, most notably seen in the book’s ending.
The universal
themes of hope, family, overcoming adversity, and self-discovery are universal
with timeless parallels to life, and are directly related to the main
characters of the book. The only
component of the book that seemed just too good to be true was the reformation
of Doug’s father. It seemed to come out
of nowhere, and so unlikely that such a radical change of heart would have
taken place with someone who was capable of forcing a tattoo of “Mama’s Baby”
on his son on his 12th birthday.
But otherwise, I found this book to be authentic, and at times even raw,
but that just adds to its beauty.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Voya
Review: "The book is exceptionally well written. Schmidt creates
characters that will remain with the reader long after the book is done. Doug’s
voice is unforgettable as he tries to help and protect his mom. . . .While
there is much stacked against him, he is a character filled with hope that the
reader cannot help but root for. Push this one on readers; they will not be
sorry. . . .Schmidt writes a journal-type story with a sharp attention to
detail, patterns in the story line, and an unexpected twist at the end."
5. CONNECTIONS
*Read The Wednesday Wars, the companion book to Okay for Now.
No comments:
Post a Comment