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Content snapshot
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Violence
Barely any
Very mild violence; the Vietnam War is a presence but handled with age-appropriate restraint
Language
None
No profanity
Sexual Content
None
No sexual content
Substance Use
None
No substance use
Emotional Intensity
Barely any
Low psychological intensity despite genuine emotional depth; Schmidt keeps the register warm and funny
What this book is about
Gary D. Schmidt's Newbery Honor novel follows Holling Hoodhood, a seventh grader in 1967 suburban New York who is convinced his teacher Mrs. Baker hates him, as he reads Shakespeare — The Merchant of Venice, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Tempest — and learns about justice, mercy, and the Vietnam War. Schmidt writes with warmth and genuine wit; the novel is funny, moving, and historically engaged. Appropriate for all ages.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
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