Module 4 Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Okay For Now

by Gary Schmidt

Schmidt, G.D. (2011). Okay for now. New York: Clarion Books.

     In the summer of 1968, Doug Swieteck is faced with a number of challenges.  First, his father is a hothead with “twitchy hands”.  After getting in a fight with his boss, Doug’s dad comes home with a black eye and no job.  The family moves to Marysville, New York so his dad can take a job at the paper mill. Soon after moving, the family receives a letter from Doug’s oldest brother, Lucas, stating he was returning home from the War and that Lucas doesn’t look the same anymore.  Doug’s other brother, Christopher, runs with the wrong crowd and is the prime suspect in the robbery of a couple of business in the neighborhood.  Doug meets Lil Spicer in front of the Marysville Public Library which leads him to John James Audubon’s Birds of America and a part-time job as a delivery boy.  All of these events collide to change Doug’s life forever and how he navigates the world.  

     Readers are quickly brought into Doug’s story and specifically Doug’s view of the world through dialogue.  The author boldly has Doug address the reader throughout the story by posing questions or making declarations to the reader.  The reader soon discovers how conflicted Doug is about his own identity.  His father’s violence, his mother’s silent acceptance, and his brothers’ bad attitudes, has left Doug with an internal conflict.  Doug must choose how to approach the world.  He can behave like his brothers, jerks, or try to be “cool and casual.”  Doug chooses not to be like his brothers which enables others to become involved in his life.  Just by befriending Lil, he gets a job that allows him to form even more relationships.  These new relationships allow him to feel helpful and useful.  Of course the road is not without its bumps and this is where the reader really begins to cheer for Doug. The story weaves through many trials that focus on how others perceive Doug which impacts how he perceives himself or his family.  One such trial is the fact he cannot read.  This may create a connection with students who are struggling readers, but is unrealistic in its solution.  Doug, with the help of a teacher, learns to read fluently and is able to tackle a complex text like Jane Eyre in a matter of weeks.  Additionally, his father appears to show a positive change by the end of the story.  This too seems to be unrealistic considering the level of cruelty he showed throughout the story.  Overall the story is well written with special attention to the main character’s development.  Although some of the solutions seem unrealistic, they make the story engaging and entertaining and leave the reader with a sense of hope.     
  

     Personally, I love the message the author sends the reader in this story.  Not only do you finish this story recognizing Doug has changed his life, but he has changed the lives of those around him.  You don’t get the sense that all his problems are solved, but his approach to the world has changed.  This change has allowed him to be ready for the struggles he will face.  This is one of my new favorites that I can share with my 5^th grade class.  It shows the reader that they have a role in their own lives.  Some areas to consider before sharing are the “mama’s boy” tattoo his father forces Doug to get.  The other is Lucas’ encounter with the antiwar parade at the bus station. This part might be especially difficult for students of military families.