Just Like That

Just Like That is another great story from Gary Schmidt. He is a master of weaving literature, hard topics, love, laughter and joy all into one story. I appreciate his respect for audience. He doesn't have to talk down to them or fill the book with sordid tales. He deals with hard issues truthfully. I also enjoy the role of adults in this book. Dr. MacKnockater is just so lovely. I'm also glad that this book is told mostly through the eyes of a girl (although Matt's storyline is a good section of the book too). I laughed as I read the scene of dissecting a worm while recalling my own lab work in Science class. I cried when Merly Lee discovers her Accomplishment. As a teacher of 9th graders, and someone who already teaches a Gary Schmidt novel, it is hard to find books like this. Many books written for the YA audience are filled with the latest trendy things in our world, but this is a book that deals with real life issues, both in a teen's world and an adults. It's beautiful. Pick it up.

I have read Wednesday Wars and Okay for Now. Both were excellent. I didn’t know there was a third book. I immediately started reading when I found it and read it all in one day. Very well written. The beginning was a bit jarring but a well written book in a series. Just as good as the first two and that doesn’t always happen 8n a series. I hope there are more to come.

I’m a fan of Gary Schmidt’s books, but I held out on reading this one for a bit because it starts with a tragic end for one of Schmidt’s beloved characters. I finally went ahead and ordered it and it has become one of my favorite books by Schmidt. I enjoyed the storyline centered on Meryl Lee best of all, as she deals with multiple losses throughout the course of the book. I later read it with my teen son and he enjoyed it too.

I've been anticipating this novel for quite awhile, but once I learned the premise, I was hesitant and avoided reading it right away. Finally, I ordered it and decided to face my fears. I'm so glad I did! Yes, it was sad, but I thought the story was great. I loved the characters. The storylines kept me hooked. Schmidt's writing is gorgeous as ever. I cried happy tears at the end. I'm still sad about the premise, but it made a great book!

Heart and soul— this grandma loved reading this story. Thank you, Gary D Schmidt, for sharing these wonderful characters with us— all friends and fellow life travelers we know and have known through life.

Love it it’s so goood can’t wait for another book of his. This one is very heartwarming and heartbreaking. The end

It is absolutely horrible 13 years after Wednesday Wars was published, he should've just left it alone and stopped. This was a desperate attempt at making money.

And just like that, Gary Schmidt does it again! A fantastic book containing two incredible main characters whose lives were meant to cross. As I was reading both of the storylines in this book, my mind was trying to figure out how the two stories were going to collide. I had a feeling their initial meeting would be memorable.Meryl Lee was attending an all-girl’s prep school, a school where she felt she didn’t belong. Matt, he was living in an old lobster shack trying to keep to himself, helping out on a lobster boat. Both of their personalities were similar and the road that life that led them both on, had given them similar tests, so it felt as if they were destined to meet sometime in their lifetime.Hollings car accident had left Meryl Lee devasted. Her parents thought that St. Elene’s Prep Academy for Girls was the answer that Meryl Lee needed to give her a fresh start but Meryl Lee isn’t so sure. The school was geared more towards the wealthier girls and the social aspects of the school don’t match those of Meryl Lee. It’s a difficult move for Meryl Lee yet she holds firm to who she is, as she’s called out for not following the prep school’s rules and her peers also see her as being different. Meryl Lee is a great character and it’s interesting to see the school through her eyes. Matt is a loner and the more that I read about him, the more I understood why. The pieces of Matt’s history are slowly revealed in the book and at times, I was losing my patience as I wanted more. He’s not had a typical childhood but as we start the story, Matt’s has a pretty stable life. Currently, Matt has a job, a place to stay, and most nights, he has a playful competition of skipping stones down by the water with a Mrs. Nora. Mrs. Nora took a walk one night down by the water and found Matt skipping stones and they started meeting up every night since. Matt’s street smart but not book smart, yet. Mrs. Nora decided that she wanted to educate Matt. Mrs. Nora is the headmistress of St. Elene’s Prep Academy for Girls and yep, that’s how Meryl Lee and Matt came together.This book was quite the journey! Following Matt’s history and the roads that he has traveled was quite an adventure in itself. The book really took off when Meryl Lee met Matt. I had to laugh when Matt was waving a hatchet in his boxers and then, my body was covered in chills and the words seems to be running all together as Meryl Lee hides Matt on the bus. Dang, this book had my emotions all over the place. There were a lot of fantastic moments in the book, parts where the words on the page touched something deep within me. It may be set in the 1960’s but some things never change. Pick this one up, you’ll be glad you did.

On pg.246. Just can’t put it down.