This summary of the video was created by an AI. It might contain some inaccuracies.
00:00:00 – 00:13:17
The video follows Holling Hoodhood, a seventh-grader navigating various challenges and personal growth over the school year with influences from his teacher, Mrs. Baker. Initially, Holling believes Mrs. Baker dislikes him, yet she becomes a crucial support system through his evolving interest in Shakespeare and extracurricular activities. Key events include Holling's role in a play, encounters with Yankee players, family conflicts, and heroic acts, all shaping his journey.
Mrs. Baker, a multifaceted character, aids him academically and personally, sharing her past as an Olympian and encouraging his cross-country pursuits. Notable incidents, such as cream puff mishaps and school achievements, punctuate Holling's story, culminating in shared community moments like attending a Bar Mitzvah and welcoming Mrs. Baker's husband from war.
Additionally, the video briefly shifts to highlight the life of author Gary Schmidt, whose educational and writing career paralleled themes in Holling’s story. Schmidt's inspirational journey from struggling student to esteemed professor and award-winning author aligns with mentorship and perseverance themes depicted in Holling's adventures.
00:00:00
In this part of the video, Holling Hoodhood realizes his seventh-grade teacher, Mrs. Baker, dislikes him because he is the only Presbyterian student and must remain in school on Wednesday afternoons instead of going to religious classes. Holling’s father advises him to maintain a good relationship with Mrs. Baker due to a potential business opportunity. Mrs. Baker assigns Holling various classroom chores, which he detests but complies with to avoid trouble. A mishap involving cream puffs and chalk dust leads to a disaster during a meeting for Vietnam soldiers’ wives and subsequent family conflict. Despite these issues, Holling’s interest in Shakespeare grows, particularly enjoying “The Merchant of Venice” and “The Tempest.”
00:03:00
In this part of the video, the narrative follows Hauling as he navigates various challenges and surprises. Mrs. Baker has read the play she assigned to Hauling, and he receives an opportunity to work for Mr. Goldman in exchange for cream puffs, contingent on his knowledge of Shakespeare. Hauling secures a role in a play and receives cream puffs, but the plan falters when his friends eat them prematurely. Hauling’s dad doesn’t give him an advance, leaving him short on funds, but Mrs. Baker generously provides cream puffs for the class. Mrs. Bigio arrives crying, revealing her husband died in Vietnam.
Hauling experiences mixed emotions about the holidays, especially when he has to play Ariel in an embarrassing costume. Though excited about meeting Yankees player Mickey Mantle, Hauling is disheartened when Mantle refuses to sign a ball for him because of his costume. Support from the Yankees players Joe Pepitone and Horace Clarke lifts his spirits with gifts and game tickets. Hauling faces ridicule when a picture of him in the play gets widespread attention, and he contemplates military school, a notion his sister Heather dismisses as futile. The part concludes with Hauling reflecting on his actions and gaining insight from Mrs. Baker’s advice.
00:06:00
In this part of the video, Holling returns to school to take achievement tests despite bad weather and a power outage. Later, he heroically saves his sister from an out-of-control bus and is taken to the emergency room by Mrs. Baker and Mr. Giesy, though his family doesn’t show up. Amid family issues and his father’s award acceptance, Holling dislikes “Romeo and Juliet,” but uses his knowledge of Meril Lee’s interest to ask her out on Valentine’s Day. He learns that Meril Lee’s father is closing his engineering firm but receives tickets for “Romeo and Juliet” from Mrs. Bigio. After the play, Holling finds out Meril Lee unintentionally shared his father’s school design, leading to a falling out and eventual reconciliation with her. Mrs. Baker’s husband goes missing in action, and she helps Holling train for cross-country, revealing her past as an Olympian. During a school observation on the Ides of March, rats cause chaos, but Holling’s running record impresses everyone. Mrs. Sidman becomes the new director, and Holling earns a spot on the varsity cross-country team, facing challenges with older students.
00:09:00
In this segment of the video, several key events and details unfold: Martin Luther King Jr. is killed, and Yankee Stadium opens for the season. Hauling’s father fails to take him to the game, but Mrs. Baker offers to take him instead. Hauling wins his first cross-country meet with support from Mrs. Baker and Mea Lee, earning a $100 savings bond. His school conducts atomic bomb drills, and tensions grow between his father and sister, leading to her running away to California. Hauling helps his sister by sending money from his bond. Mrs. Baker learns that her husband is alive and will return soon. Mrs. Baker’s class goes camping, where they face challenges but enjoy their time together. Mrs. Bigio prepares a Vietnamese dish and offers My Te a place to stay. Hauling and his family attend Danny’s Bar Mitzvah, reflecting on the meaning of manhood. Finally, Lieutenant Baker returns home to a warm welcome from Mrs. Baker’s class.
00:12:00
In this segment, the video discusses the life and career of Gary Schmidt, who overcame academic struggles in school with the help of a concerned teacher who encouraged his love for books. Schmidt pursued an English major, graduating from Gordon College in 1979, and later earned both a master’s and a PhD in medieval literature by 1985. He became an English professor at Calvin College, teaching creative writing and children’s literature. Schmidt married fellow author Anne Stickney Schmidt in 1979, and together they had six children and co-authored a book on faith, prayer, and writing. His notable works include “Lizzy Bright and the Buckminster Boy” and “The Wednesday Wars,” both of which won the Newbery Honor. Additionally, Schmidt sends students to teach writing in jails and detention centers, an experience that inspired his 2015 book “Orbiting Jupiter.”