The Big Read Lakeshore, a Hope College program in collaboration with many community partners throughout Ottawa and Allegan counties, is showcasing a local author and his many books in the fall 2026 program.
The featured Big Read book is The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt — a West Michigan author of middle-grade and young-adult fiction novels. He is professor emeritus of English at Calvin University and resides in Alto, Michigan.
The Wednesday Wars is a Newbery Honor book published in 2007. It takes place in New York during the
Vietnam War. The main character, Holling, is forced to spend his Wednesday afternoons
with a teacher who makes him read Shakespeare. Holling’s teacher and Shakespeare help
him learn the power of literature. He realizes that he needs to live his own life
boldly, instead of allowing himself to be bullied into doing what others want.
“As a middle-grade novel, The Wednesday Wars might seem to be an unusual choice for our Big Read program,” said Deb Van Duinen, program director of the Big Read Lakeshore, Arnold and Esther Sonneveldt Professor of Education and department chair. “However, our team believes that a good story is a good story and that middle-grade fiction offers some of the best literature there is. We think readers of all ages should read Gary’s books. We’re also hoping for many intergenerational discussions and connection points in this year’s program.”
In lieu of separate Middle, Little and Mini Read programs, the Big Read program this year will focus on Schmidt’s books at-large and his powerful storytelling. Participants in the 2026 Big Read Lakeshore are also being encouraged to read four other books by Schmidt:
- Okay for Now is a Children’s Choice Book Award winner. It follows Doug, who has to survive an abusive father and a prejudiced town. A librarian helps Doug learn about the healing power of art.
- Orbiting Jupiter is about a boy who learns the importance of trust and familial love after his parents adopt a 14 year-old who is a father.
- Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy is a Newbery Honor and Michael L. Printz Honor book. It is a historical fiction story about Malaga Island that explores themes of racial injustice and fighting for what you believe in.
- The Labors of Hercules Beal focuses on a boy who is assigned a modern version of the mythical Hercules’ 12 Labors while dealing with the recent death of his parents.
“We’re excited to offer a new kind of community-wide reading program this year. Gary Schmidt is a favorite author of many in our community, and we have wanted to choose one of his books for a long time. We decided that this was the year to highlight Gary’s powerful storytelling and are thrilled that he’s willing to participate in so many author events in our community,” Van Duinen shared.
This year’s program will include over 20 author events over the next several months. There will be a keynote address by Gary Schmidt on November 16 at 7 p.m. at Graves Hall, Hope College. Information about additional author events and book discussions is posted on the website: bigreadlakeshore.com.
Hope College’s Big Read Lakeshore program is dedicated to fostering a love of reading in the community by sharing a common book that allows people to engage with and learn from one another. It is presented in collaboration with 75 community partners including lakeshore libraries, nonprofits, businesses, school districts and academic institutions.
Van Duinen founded the Big Read Lakeshore in 2014 and added the Little Read Lakeshore in 2017. The programs involve an estimated 20,000 people annually, including thousands of students from pre-school through college age in Ottawa, Allegan and Muskegon counties.