Introduction by Heavy Medal Award Committee Member Jenn Potter

Saving the best for last we are looking today at THE TENTH MISTAKE OF HANK HOOPERMAN by Gennifer Choldenko.  Hank Hooperman must rank as the best big brother to his three-year-old sister Boo as it’s his responsibility to take care of Boo when their mom drops the ball. This story starts after their mom has been gone a week and Hank has to make tough choices to try to keep his sister safe. According to Hank a level one mistake is forgetting to write your name on your paper while a level ten mistake will get you taken out, so when he and Boo have no food left he has to decide where to go for help.

The character development in this book sucks you in immediately and keeps you rooting for Hank even as the story progresses to show the mistakes an eleven-year-old makes as he tries to do what he thinks is best for his family even as his definition of family changes. 

Character descriptions and development even of the most minor passersby make this book a true Newbery contender.  As Hank and Boo brave the bus without knowing where they’re going they get help from an elderly Ms. Pearl who directs them to their destination. 

“Ms. Pearl leans over to me. ‘See the man in the green plaid pants? The one with the cane in the second row.’ 

I nod.

‘You get off when he gets off. That’s Orchard. From there you’ll get the eleven south like you wrote down. Then you ask the driver on the number eleven to let you know when Cleveland comes up. Okay?’

‘Okay,” I say

‘Good boy. You keep on taking care of your little sister like that, you’ll be fine,’ Ms. Pearl’s wrinkly face breaks into a shining smile.

‘Yes, ma’am,’ I say.

‘Polite too. Sparkle you hear how polite this one is?’ she shouts back.

‘He called you ma’am. Don’t hear that much nowadays,’ Sparkle says back.

‘Ain’t that the truth,’ Ms. Pearl says. ‘You’re alright, Big Foot,’ she pats my leg. ‘You’re alright.’” 

(p 14-15)

This scene is only about one page but it shows Ms. Choldenko’s mastery in creating characters that not only moves the story along but gives depth to the world that she has created. Many children’s books have orphaned children but the feelings evoked by Hank’s will to do anything to keep his family safe make this book rise above the rest.

Heavy Medal Award Committee members and others are now invited to discuss this book further in the Comments section below. Let the Mock Newbery discussion begin!