This novel takes place in 1967, during the Vietnam War. Holling Hoodhood is the only Presbyterian in his seventh grade class. While his Jewish and Catholic peers are released from school at 1:45 every Wednesday for religious classes at the Temple and the church, Holling has to stay until 3:00. For the first month or so, his teacher isn’t sure what to do with him. She has him cleaning walls, beating erasers, anything she can think of to pass the time. Then she decides to use the time to have Holling read Shakespeare. They start with The Merchant of Venice, then she has Holling read The Tempest on his own. He decides, that because Caliban can curse so effectively, Mrs. Baker has obviously not read it - this stuff should be banned!
Holling goes on to read several of Shakespeare’s plays, and even preforms in one - wearing yellow tights and white feathers on his butt no less! - and he learns through them and through his time with Mrs. Baker that sometimes life is a comedy, sometimes it’s a tragedy, but it’s always about love. Love of friends, love of family, love of baseball and running, and love of peace.
This book is an excellent read for middle and high school, though middle school students may struggle with the Shakespeare quotes and references.
