Awards

• Nominated for California Young Reader Medal 2026
• Nominated for Maryland Children's Book Award 2026
• Nominated for Nevada Young Readers Award 2026
• Nominated for Northern California Book Reviewers Award (previously BABRA) 2025
• Nominated for Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award 2026
• Nominated for Pennsylvania Keystone to Reading Book Award 2025
• Winner of CALIBA Golden Poppy Award - Octavia E. Butler Award.
• Winner of Judy Lopez Memorial Award 2025

Overview

Everyone will be rooting for a happy ending for Hank, a boy struggling to hold his family together when his mom doesn't come home, in this gripping story from Newbery Honor winner Gennifer Choldenko. “One of those rare and important books . . . Hank Hooperman may well be the most resourceful, courageous, and loving big brother in the history of children’s literature.”—Katherine Applegate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The One and Only Ivan A CALIBA GOLDEN POPPY AWARD WINNER • A SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL AND KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR When eleven-year-old Hank’s mom doesn’t come home, he takes care of his toddler sister, Boo, like he always does. But it’s been a week now. They are out of food and mom has never stayed away this long… Hank knows he needs help, so he and Boo seek out the stranger listed as their emergency contact. But asking for help has consequences. It means social workers, and a new school, and having to answer questions about his mom that he's been trying to keep secret. And if they can't find his mom soon, Hank and Boo may end up in different foster homes--he could lose everything. Gennifer Choldenko has written a heart-wrenching, healing, and ultimately hopeful story about how complicated family can be. About how you can love someone, even when you can’t rely on them. And about the transformative power of second chances.

Full Product Details

9781524718954

Table of Contents

Reviews

A Texas Lone Star Reading List Selection ★ ""Moving and perceptive: Hankies are a must."" — Kirkus Reviews, starred review ★ ""From the first line of Hank‘s engaging first-person narrative to the last, he comes across as a reliable, sensible boy who is aware that his options are few and is determined to make the right choices. Choldenko speaks from the heart in this compelling story of Hank and Boo’s found family."" —Booklist, starred review ★ ""Hank’s story will break readers’ hearts before putting them back together again. Highly recommended."" —School Library Journal, starred review ★ ""Readers will immediately be drawn into the world of The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman, whose endearing and memorable characters will inspire repeated readings. This book tackles a tricky subject with grace, showing readers that even seemingly hopeless situations can offer happy endings."" —BookPage, starred review ""A gut-punch tale that is by turns heartbreaking and hopeful."" —Publishers Weekly “Hank Hooperman may well be the most resourceful, courageous, and loving big brother in the history of children’s literature. Brimming with Gennifer Choldenko’s trademark wit and heart, this is one of those rare and important books that belongs on every shelf.” — Katherine Applegate, Newbery Medal winner for The One and Only Ivan

Author Information

Gennifer Choldenko is a New York Times bestselling and Newbery Honor Award-winning author. She's also the youngest of four siblings and was nicknamed ""snot-nose"" as a child. So perhaps it's not surprising that her books often feature quirky and tender depictions of brothers and sisters. Her most loved titles include: Al Capone Does My Shirts and three other ""Tales from Alcatraz"", Notes from a Liar and Her Dog, Orphan Eleven, One-Third Nerd, and Chasing Secrets.

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