I have been away from posting for a few months. I've been to Canada a few times to see my mom, as her health declined. She is now free from earthly ties. But it's been a lot the past few months. This book has been one of the first I've read in quite a while to re-engage me and transport me, and I am very grateful for that.
The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman by Gennifer Choldenko
From the publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (June 11, 2024)
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.
This is 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.
This book is so good – everything about it is good – the writing, editing, characters, setting, plot – perfect. Did I miss anything?
Hank is easy to identify with. We know what it’s like to make mistakes, hate making them, and the true cost of them. And what you would do to fix them.
It’s a personal story for Gennifer Choldenko. Every page rings true. Parents are people with flaws, addictions, and limitations. The cost of those things is the effects they have on the children and how they cope, compensate and do whatever it takes to be loved.
I’m sorry to have read this book so much later than when it originally came out. But I am so lucky to have a wonderful friend who gifted it to me. I am a big fan of Gennifer Choldenko and this book does not disappoint.
