The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman

One of the most emotional books I’ve read this year, it had me frequently tearing up over the last forty percent.

Eleven year old Hank and his three year old sister are left on their own when their mom fails to return home. While early in the story Hank finds a place for them to stay, his worries are far from over, their accommodations aren’t permanent, there’s a chance he’ll be separated from the sister he adores (and I imagine every single reader will adore) and right from the start he’s on very thin ice with the woman who’s opened her home to them.

The weight on Hank is truly heavy at times, I felt for him, I feared for him, intellectually, given Lou Ann’s personal history (the woman who took them in) I understood why show more she behaved the way she does, still my heart was so frustrated and pained by her actions, I found myself wanting to scream at this woman that this is just a kid! Like I said, emotion is very much stirred up by the quality of writing in this one, but be assured this book is not entirely doom and gloom and adults letting kids down, good things do happen, too, a good person, good friends and a smidge of romance all come into Hank’s life, and he has his sister, Boo, there’s nothing better than Boo. show less

Hank's mom is a great mom, warm and funny and loving -- but she's been gone for six days, leaving 11-year-old Hank and his 3-year old sister Boo alone in their apartment. Hank's been taking care of Boo all her life, so they've been getting by okay, but now they're out of money and food, and the landlord is threatening eviction. It's time to get help, but they don't have any family around. Hank remembers that his mom put a name and address as an emergency contact on a field trip form, so he and Boo set out on a bus trip across the city, hoping to find shelter and a way to reconnect with their missing mother.

This book is Homecoming for a new generation. I couldn't help but think of the Tillerman Cycle as I read about abandoned kids, a show more parentified oldest child, and a journey to seek help from a stranger. It's a heavy topic, though there are glints of humor throughout. The characters are complex and the writing is strong. Recommended. show less

4.5 stars

I don’t read very many middle-grade books, but if any book were to convince me to try the genre more often, this is the one! Wow. Such a good story!

It’s been quite a while since I last read a book about children in the foster care system, even though that’s a topic I enjoy reading about. This one? It surprised me with its depth and hope.

I connected with Hank right away, and loved watching him fight to stay with his sister—his love for her was my favorite part of this story. I also loved seeing the way the community more or less gathered around Hank and Boo to try to help and support them, even though different ones were dealing with different kinds of trauma themselves. And Hank’s mom? I rarely hate characters, but show more she was one that I enjoyed hating—yet at the same time, I also felt deep pity for her.

Though I wouldn’t say this is a character-driven story, that was my favorite part of the book. As for the plot itself, I thought it was well done—there were always just enough questions to keep you moving through the book, and just enough hope that it didn’t feel like a disheartening story.

If you enjoy books with realistic characters, strong themes of love, family, and hope in even the most distressing circumstances, you’d probably enjoy this story. I certainly did, and I wouldn’t mind having a physical copy on my shelf one day! show less

Hank's mom hasn't been home in a week and he and his 3-year-old sister Boo are out of food and money. Their mom has taken off before for a couple of days but never this long. Out of desperation, Hank and Boo take the bus to Lou Ann's, their late grandmother's best friend. Lou Ann recognizes the situation and takes them in, but Hank knows it's only temporary. Lou Ann has clearly stated she doesn't care for teenagers plus Mom will be back for them soon, won't she? But days turn to weeks. Hank has made a few friends at his new school and may even make the school basketball team. But he never stops looking for Mom, checking her social media, looking up inmate-search websites, reaching out to Mom's friends. Choldenko is skilled at creating show more vivid characters through dialogue and giving voice to kids' inner lives. show less

Another heart-wrenching novel from the 2025 Lone Star list.

Hank watches his toddler sister, so he can't go to school and can't be discovered. His mother didn't come home a week ago. He also learns that she hasn't paid the rent. When the landlord bangs on the door, Hank sneaks out with Boo, his sister, to find Lou Ann, the lady listed as their emergency contact. Lou Ann runs a daycare out of her home, and declares everything is her way. She takes charge of Boo, which bothers Hank because he always has. Lou Ann sees that Boo needs more than Hank can give her, but Lou Ann isn't sunshine and roses. She speaks honestly and, to Hank, harshly. Hank vows to be the perfect guest because he doesn't want to be separated from his sister, which show more foster care might do. His new school serves him much better than the school he attended in the poorer part of the city. He also meets Ray, the next door neighbor. His life is better in many ways, but he still wants his own mother back and tries everything to find her.

I really enjoyed the ancillary characters. Lou Ann offers harsh reality--but it's necessary (she could be nicer); Ray offers wisdom and love, and Hank's new school offers real friendships and opportunities. It's a very positive story about a tragic situation. I don't want to spoil anything concerning his mother and what happens to them, but it's pretty realistic. show less

To be honest, I almost stopped reading because this book begins with a mother abandoning her three- and 11-year-old. (Not a spoiler.) Stories like this are difficult for me, but I kept going because I like Gennifer Choldenko's work. I'm glad I did! It blends reality and heartache with kindness and hope. It's a 2027 middle grade Nutmeg Nominee here in CT and I will be recommending it to our library patrons!

Hank doesn't know what to do when his mom is gone for a full week leaving him to care for his little sister with no money and a rapidly dwindling food supply and the threat of eviction. Finding a bus pass, Hank and Boo go to find the unknown to his emergency contact his mom put on a field trip form, his grandma's best friend Lou Ann. The road is bumpy for Hank. Moments of heartbreak, hope, and stress.