Sidekick Short Review: The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman (2024) by Gennifer Choldenko

cover image of The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman by Gennifer Choldenko, published by Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2024.

The Basics

Page Length: 320

Audiobook Length: ~7 hours

Grade Reading Level: 5+

Target Audience Age: 10-13+

Goodreads Score: 4.46 out of 5

Common Sense Media Score: 10+

Buy it HERE

Setting: Contemporary suburb in California

Genre: Middle Grade Contemporary Fiction

Topics: Family, Sibling Relationships, Neglect, Trust, Trauma, Friendship, Middle School, Adoption, Resilience, Courage

Plot: Twelve-year-old Hank Hooperman is used to being on his own—and taking care of his three-year-old baby sister, Boo, by himself. Hank’s mom has a habit of leaving them alone for long periods of time, so Hank has learned how to make sure Boo is fed, dressed, and safe. But when his mom disappears for an entire week, Hank starts to worry that something terrible has happened to her. There’s no money left for food, the rent is due, Hank has missed a whole week of school, and his mom still hasn’t come home.

Desperate and unsure of what else to do, Hank takes himself and Boo to the address listed as an emergency contact on his school field trip form. When they arrive, Miss Lou Ann is shocked and worried. Life at her house is much stricter than Hank is used to. She doesn’t approve of his clothes, isn’t happy that Boo isn’t potty trained, and seems to think Hank is always making mistakes. She insists that Hank attend a brand-new school in her neighborhood and, despite Hank’s desperate pleas, calls a social worker.

Life with Lou Ann isn’t all bad, though. Hank discovers that he’s surprisingly good at basketball, makes new friends, and grows especially close to the kind neighbor, Ray, across the street. Still, Hank tries his hardest not to make mistakes, especially around adults. He is polite, calm, responsible, and determined to prove that he can take care of himself and Boo.

But underneath all of that, Hank can’t help wondering: What did he do wrong? Why did his mom leave? And when Hank makes a mistake he can’t simply fix, he begins to wonder if he has ruined everything. As Hank’s story unfolds, he learns some hard but important lessons about love, forgiveness and trust. Most importantly, he realizes that sometimes the mistakes adults make have nothing to do with the children who are left behind.

You might like this book if you like:

• Basketball and skateboarding

• Hanging with your little siblings :)

• Books like: The Benefits of Being an Octopus, Front Desk, Fish in a Tree, The Great Gilly Hopkins, Shouting at the Rain, The War That Saved My Life

• Shows like: A Series of Unfortunate Events (also books), The Healing Powers of Dude, Andi Mack, The Baby-Sitters Club, The Wonder Years

• Movies like: The Mitchells vs. the Machines, Instant Family, Because of Winn-Dixie (also a book), The Blind Side, The Willoughbys, Akeelah and the Bee

Other books written by this author: Al Capone Does My Shirts, No Passengers Beyond This Point, If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period, Chasing Secrets, Notes from a Liar and Her Dog

Teaching The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman in Class

Content

• Language: None

• Sex/Romance: Hank may have a crush on a girl in his class; his friends tease him about kissing her.

• Violence/Scariness: No violence, but potentially scary themes. A young boy deals with neglect from his mother, possible homelessness, taking care of his sister. He lives in foster homes, a group home; he handles food insecurity. These mature topics are discussed in an age appropriate way from the point of view of young child.

• Drinking/Smoking/Drugs: The main character's mom is an alcoholic. The story alludes to other possible addictions. There is a scene where she drives her children in the car while impaired.

Book Talk Read Aloud Section

*What is a book talk? (Watch a how to video here. Read my blog post here)

If you have the physical book, read pages 1-4

If you don't, read the same pages in the reading sample here.

---

Used this book in your classroom? Tell us how in the comments!

Want to be updated when our next book review comes out? Subscribe here for weekly posts featuring fresh book reviews with brand-new sentences and passages. Your inbox’s new favorite destination for new YA reading and writing inspiration!