For readers who are interested in how art can heal past hurts and trauma, Okay for Now is an ideal read. Full of emotion and blunt honesty, this unpredictable story will always keep readers wanting more. Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt is one of the companion novels we are encouraging people to read for this year’s Big Read Lakeshore program.
What It’s About
Okay for Now follows Doug, who you may remember from The Wednesday Wars. His father uproots his family and moves to a new town.
Doug has a lot to deal with between his abusive father and the new prejudiced town. He feels like he is barely surviving until he stops by the library. There, he falls in love with John Audubon’s Birds of America. Doug understands and empathizes with the emotions of Audubon’s paintings, and he relates the experiences of the birds to his own. Unfortunately, the town decides to sell the pages of the book that Doug comes to love.
Slowly, Doug begins to trust the librarian who offers to help him, and he begins to learn how to draw. When he is not at work, school, or taking care of his brother, who just returned from the Vietnam War, Doug is at the library honing his artistic abilities.
When he is working on art, all else seems to fade away for Doug. He slowly starts to heal and realize that none of what is happening to him is his fault. He is even able to barter back the pages of Birds of America, so that the book can start to heal like he is.
Why Read It
Anyone who values art’s impact on peoples’ lives will love this book. To those who do not think that much of art, perhaps this book will change your mind. Doug would not be able to accept himself, heal, and make his own way in life if not for all the time he spent learning how to draw and paint. Readers will soon realize how much art can help people heal from past traumas and current hurts.
This is a wonderful book for teachers to use in the classroom because it will teach young readers how to be resilient. Students will like Doug’s honest narration and will be able to relate to his life. If you are a teacher and want to use Okay for Now in your classroom, use these teacher resources.
Okay for Now is not just for middle grade readers though. Adults will enjoy the honest depictions of the aftermath of the Vietnam War, prejudice, and of course, the impact of art on the healing process. This book also shows how important it is for kids to have adult mentors they can trust. If you or your friends are interested in Okay for Now, check out these book club resources.
We are so excited for everyone to join the Big Read Lakeshore in reading Gary D. Schmidt’s books! Come hear from him at the Author Keynote Address November 16 in Graves Hall, Hope College at 7:00 p.m. If you want to learn more about this year’s program or know when our other events are, check out our website.
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