Book 13 of 2011 was The Wednesday Wars, by Gary Schmidt.
When it started with the “I am a 7th grader” voice, I thought this would be a book to endure. It very quickly became something that I’d call one of my favorites so far this year. It made me want to read Shakespeare. It made me cry. It made me laugh. The was an amazingly well written book, telling a wonderful story, and managing to really be *about* something.
It was about the Vietnam war, and about finding out who you are, and about learning that not all literature – even Shakespeare – is drudgery and boredom.
Recommended to you, and to your 7th grader.