The Wednesday Wars

by

Gary Schmidt

Mr. Kowalski is Meryl Lee's dad and the lead architect at Kowalski and Associates, the rival firm to Hoodhood and Associates. He seems to be a sad and insecure man and even copies Holling's dad's plan for the junior high school remodeling project. However, he does so because landing that job would mean being able to support his family and remain in town. Though Mr. Kowalski does pull his proposal out of the running, Mrs. Baker later helps land Mr. Kowalski a lucrative three-year contract to remodel the Yankee Stadium. This puts Mr. Kowalski in the running for Chamber of Commerce Businessman of 1968, much to Holling's dad's chagrin.
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Mr. Kowalski Character Timeline in The Wednesday Wars

The timeline below shows where the character Mr. Kowalski appears in The Wednesday Wars. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
February
Family Theme Icon
As they sit and wait for Mr. Kowalski to pick Meryl Lee up, Meryl Lee imitates her dad's obsessiveness about making the model... (full context)
Coming of Age Theme Icon
Family Theme Icon
Reading and Learning Theme Icon
...in the front of the room, both covered in white sheets. Finally, the board invites Mr. Kowalski to present. Mr. Kowalski looks at Holling before he starts, and says that he's made... (full context)
Family Theme Icon
Reading and Learning Theme Icon
When Mr. Kowalski is finished, Holling's dad turns to Holling, red in the face with anger, and asks... (full context)
Coming of Age Theme Icon
The Vietnam War and Political Unrest Theme Icon
Reading and Learning Theme Icon
...That night, Holling buys two Cokes and a rose and goes to Meryl Lee's house. Mr. Kowalski lets Holling go up to Meryl Lee's room, where she accepts her Coke and the... (full context)
April
Coming of Age Theme Icon
The Vietnam War and Political Unrest Theme Icon
One afternoon, while Holling and Meryl Lee work on their project at her house, Mr. Kowalski comes home and says that he heard that Martin Luther King, Jr. was just shot... (full context)
May
Coming of Age Theme Icon
Family Theme Icon
...the Yankee Stadium and wanted to know if Holling wants to come. When Holling asks, Mr. Kowalski offers to drop Holling off at the station on his way. Holling asks his mother... (full context)