Today's New York Times Book Review features a special section on children's books. Libba Bray's Beauty Queens, books about cats and dogs, picture books, YA, quite a variety-- including Richard Peck's review of OKAY FOR NOW. (For those of you who don't care to click over to his review, bottom line--he liked it a lot.)
I think this quote speaks to the only criticism I've heard about any of Gary Schmidt's books-- that he has too much far-fetched activity swirling around his protagonists.
“Okay for Now” is crowded with more incident and empowerment than any eighth-grade year or novel can quite contain. Events stretch credulity. At one point, Doug turns up briefly on the Broadway stage, playing a female role, no less. But Schmidt is a master of the unlikely.
Love that "master of the unlikely" thought!
Next week, I'll be drawing names for a copy of this book. Just leave a comment on this blogpost, or the previous post about OKAY FOR NOW. Or on my Facebook page. Your name will be entered.
You can decide for yourself if Schmidt is a master of the unlikely.
That Richard Peck read this book through misting eyes is high praise indeed.
ReplyDeleteMaster of the unlikely - that phrase works well, I think. I certainly felt that The Wednesday Wars was a bit preposterous at points. But somewhow Schmidt seems to pull it all off!
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