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West Michigan author 鈥� this year鈥檚 Big Read Lakeshore鈥檚 author 鈥� will discuss 鈥淭he Wednesday Wars鈥� book during a keynote address on Monday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m., at Hope鈥檚 Graves Hall. This free event is open to the community and no registration is necessary. 

鈥淭he Wednesday Wars鈥� is this year鈥檚 Big Read Lakeshore鈥檚 featured book by Schmidt, a local author of middle-grade and young-adult fiction novels. He is professor emeritus of English at Calvin University and resides in Alto, Mich. He will lead another discussion earlier in the day, around his 鈥淥kay for Now鈥� book, at the Van Wylen Library at noon. Lunch will be served and is required by Friday, Nov. 6.

On Saturday, Nov. 21, Schmidt will also lead a writers workshop, at the Herrick District Library鈥檚 north branch from 1-2:30 p.m. Writers of all ages are invited and no registration is necessary.

As part of this year鈥檚 program, Schmidt will conduct author visits at nine schools and nine libraries across the area. In all, he will make 30 presentations for the Big Read Lakeshore program this year. Click for a list of events.

About This Year鈥檚 Book Choice
鈥淎s a middle-grade novel, 鈥楾he Wednesday Wars鈥� might seem an unusual choice for our Big Read program,鈥� said Deb Van Duinen, program director of the Big Read Lakeshore and the Arnold and Esther Sonneveldt Professor of Education and department chair. 鈥淗owever, 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鈥檚 books. We鈥檙e also hoping for many intergenerational discussions and connection points in this year鈥檚 program.鈥�

In lieu of separate Middle, Little and Mini Read programs, the Big Read program this year will focus on Schmidt鈥檚 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: 

• 鈥淥kay for Now鈥� is a Children鈥檚 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. 
• 鈥淥rbiting Jupiter鈥� 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. 
• 鈥淟izzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy鈥� 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.
• 鈥淭he Labors of Hercules Beal鈥� focuses on a boy who is assigned a modern version of the mythical Hercules鈥� 12 Labors while dealing with the recent death of his parents.

鈥淲e鈥檙e 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鈥檚 powerful storytelling and are thrilled that he鈥檚 willing to participate in so many author events in our community,鈥� Van Duinen shared.

About Big Read Lakeshore
Big Read Lakeshore is a 91桃色破解版 program in collaboration with many community partners throughout Ottawa and Allegan counties. Now in its 13th year, Big Read Lakeshore is a month-long, county-wide reading program that takes place each November to support reading among various age groups and expose readers to great works for pleasure and enrichment. The program encourages local book clubs interested in reading any of the chosen titles to sign up on the program鈥檚 website () to gain access to free book discussion material and information on how to get involved. Several private book clubs participate each year. For a full list of many other author events, visit