Hickory Creek students meet award-winning author Dr. Gary Schmidt

Hickory Creek Middle School students were transfixed as award-winning and best-selling author Dr. Gary Schmidt drew them into a true story about the World War II conflict between the American and German Armies. The story took place in December 1944 when the Americans were trying to remove German troops from France while the German Army tried to hold their ground so they would not have to continue the fight in their own country. The story took twists and turns with a question to ponder at the end and students were riveted. Dr. Schmidt said “Everyone listening to me just now came up with an answer to the question presented in the story. That’s what writing is, you write what you want to know. All good stories will always end with some questions. If it is a good book, it will make you ask questions. If it doesn’t do that, it is not art.”

Hickory Creek Librarian Marybeth Raynes introduced the author, stating,” I like that he tells us the good and bad, light and dark, side by side.” As Dr. Schmidt continued his presentation, he told the students how he bases his stories on real people. He spoke of a personal experience that he and three librarians had with the “Reluctant Readers Book Club” which turned out to be incarcerated adolescents in a prison for boys. He stated, “It was an amazing two hours and most of these inmates could sit among you students and no one would notice at all.” He said that all of the inmates had done bad things but that none of them had even seen anyone from their families in the year and a half they were in prison. He said, “These are kids we throw away. It was just awful and that facility is repeated across the United States. These are the guys I wanted to write about in my book, ‘Orbiting Jupiter.’ Not their story, but who I’m thinking about when writing.” He said that every day at 4:30 p.m. those kids are walking into their cells for 14 hours. He stated, “Today when you get home after school, think about what you are doing at that time while they are going into their cells.”

The author visit was sponsored by the Family School Partnership (FSP) and Student Council. Dr. Schmidt spoke to nearly 900 sixth through eighth grade students plus staff in three presentations. Prior to his visit, the students participated in book clubs, book talks, collaborative works and independent reading to become more familiar with his work. All students were exposed to at least one of his books through their English Language Arts (ELA) classes. Students in teacher Chris Boyle's seventh grade honors ELA class emailed questions to Dr. Schmidt in advance. Students in teacher Mary Kay Bohms’ sixth grade honors ELA class wrote stories from the perspective of Mrs. Baker, the teacher in book “Wednesday Wars” that they presented them to him to read when he visited. After his presentations, he signed books for students who purchased them in advance when they were sold at a significant discount through Anderson's Book Shop in Naperville.

Dr. Schmidt is a Professor of English at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He lives with his family on a 150-year-old farm in Alto, Michigan, where he splits wood, plants gardens, writes, and feeds the wild cats that drop by. His book “Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy” received both the Newbery Honor and the Printz Honor. His book “The Wednesday Wars” received a Newbery Honor, and “Okay for Now” was a National Book Award Finalist. His latest middle grade book, “Orbiting Jupiter” was just announced as a 2018 Rebecca Caudill nominee. Four of his books have been Caudill nominees previously. They include “The Wednesday Wars”, “Okay for Now”, “Trouble” and “Straw into Gold.”

Shown in photos:

Hickory Creek Middle School sixth grade students in teacher Mary Kay Bohms’ honors English Language Arts class wrote stories based on one of his characters and presented them to author Dr. Gary Schmidt.

Hickory Creek Middle School seventh grade students in teacher Chris Boyle’s honors English Language Arts class emailed questions to author Dr. Gary Schmidt before his visit.

Hickory Creek Middle School sixth grade teachers (l-r) Karissa Fletcher and Pam Swiercewski spoke with author Dr. Gary Schmidt when he visited the school.

Hickory Creek Middle School student Colin Ovando gets a book signed by author Dr. Gary Schmidt.

Hickory Creek Middle School student Megan Pena gets her book signed by visiting author Dr. Gary Schmidt.

Hickory Creek Middle School student Charlie Machamer gets his book signed by author Dr. Gary Schmidt when he visited the school.