The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman

Eleven-year-old Hank Hooperman's mother has been missing for a week, forcing him to stay home from school to care for his three-year-old sister, Boo, and scavenge for coins to buy food. But when the power is shut off and the apartment manager threatens eviction, Hank seeks out his late grandmother's old friend Lou Ann Adler. With Child Protective Services' oversight, Hank and Boo stay with Lou Ann, who runs a day care and readily accepts precocious Boo, yet her ambivalence toward Hank causes him and Lou Ann to clash. Though he's aware of his mother's past incidents of drunk driving and abandonment, he is defensive of her ("My mom is a good mom") and yearns for a reunion. As days turn into months, Hank bonds with an adult neighbor over basketball and makes friends at his new school, unaware that his continued search for his mother could carry disastrous consequences. An author's note from Choldenko (One-Third Nerd) describes the book's emotional core as reminiscent of her own life; that personal connection makes for a gut-punch tale that is by turns heartbreaking and hopeful. Hank, Boo, and Lou Ann read as white. Ages 10-up. Agent: Elizabeth Harding, Curtis Brown. (June)

Gr 5 Up--Hank Hooperman and his little sister Boo have been waiting for their mom to return home for a week. Without any money and eviction looming over their heads, Hank finds the name of an emergency contact on a permission slip and takes Boo there in an attempt to find his mom. Once there, he meets new friends and adults but is left with the constant worry of his situation and about whom he can trust. Readers will empathize with Hank's anxiety over uprooting his life, worrying about where his mom is, where he will end up, and whether he and his sister will be able to stay together. Hank is a good kid, but he's not sure if he is good enough for his temporary guardian to want to keep in her home. Additionally, he's dealing with all of the friendships, first crushes, and school issues that middle school students face. When his mom is finally located, Hank is faced with an impossible situation that upends an already complicated life. Various representations of family dynamics, friendships, social workers, and the foster system come through in a realistic way. VERDICT Hank's story will break readers' hearts before putting them back together again. Highly recommended for all middle grade collections.--Ashley Leffel