Okay for Now facts for kids
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| Author | Gary D. Schmidt |
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| Language | English |
| Published | April 5, 2011 (Clarion Books) |
| Pages | 368 |
| ISBN | 978-0-547-15260-8 |
| Preceded by | The Wednesday Wars |
| Followed by | Just Like That |
Okay for Now is an enjoyable children's novel by Gary D. Schmidt, published in 2011. It is a companion to Schmidt's 2007 novel The Wednesday Wars and features one of its supporting characters, Doug Swieteck.
Plot summary
Douglas "Doug" Swieteck is a fourteen-year-old boy living somewhere on Long Island in 1968 during the Vietnam War. After Doug's dad is fired for mouthing off to his boss, the Swietecks move to the small town of Marysville, NY, where Doug feels out of place and unwelcome.
In Marysville, Doug is fascinated by The Birds of America, a book illustrated by John James Audubon, on display under glass at the local library. Doug starts to learn how to draw, starting with a copy of Audubon's Arctic Tern under the tutelage of Mr. Powell, a librarian. Doug also meets a girl named Lillian "Lil" Spicer, on whom he eventually has a crush. Lil's father owns a deli, and hires Doug as a delivery boy, which lets him get to know other residents of Marysville. Around Christmas, Doug's oldest brother Lucas returns home from Vietnam with permanent injuries, and Doug helps him adjust. As the novel progresses, Doug faces issues such as his father's abuse, problems at school, and the illness of his friend, with maturity and confidence that he develops through learning to draw and his interactions with the townsfolk.
Chapters
Each chapter is named for a different plate from The Birds of America. In order, they are:
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The Arctic Tern, plate #250
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The Red-Throated Diver, #202
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The HornedLarge-Billed Puffin, #293
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The Black-Backed Gull, #241
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The Yellow Shank, #288
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The Snowy Heron, #242
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The Forked-Tailed Petrel, #260
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The Brown Pelican, #251
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The Great Esquimaux Curlew, #237
