Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Harrowing, hopeful tale of overwhelmed, abandoned tween.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
THE TENTH MISTAKE OF HANK HOOPERMAN finds the title character, age 11, hiding in the bathroom with his 3-year-old sister as the landlord bangs on the door and shouts that they'll be on the street the next day if their mom doesn't pay six months of back rent. Which is a problem, because their mom has been gone for a week, and Hank has no idea where she is—disappearing is nothing new, especially when she's drinking, but she's never been gone this long. With no food, no money, and no electricity in the apartment, Hank knows he has to get help, but his only hope is a woman he's never met, a onetime friend of his grandmother, whose death was the beginning of their troubles. Fortunately, his mom did leave her bus pass behind and it's still good, so the siblings are soon navigating the transit system to the house of a stranger Hank hopes will take them in.
Is It Any Good?
Gennifer Choldenko delivers a heartfelt, harrowing tale of a brave, resourceful, scared 11-year-old, his 3-year-old sister, the hard-drinking mom who's left them yet again, and the strangers who help. The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman finds its narrator and title characters facing challenges no kid should have to deal with as the de facto adult in his family, protecting his little sister, and turning to strangers for aid when things are desperately wrong. Hank's courage, resourcefulness, vulnerability, and desperation will grab readers and make them care what happens to him and little Boo—and there's a lot of suspense, as things have a way of blowing up just when it starts to seem possible that they're getting better. Lots of appealing characters, from senior citizens to middle schoolers, enrich the tale and offer help on the way.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about books like The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman, where kids are trying to deal with responsibilities that would be a lot even for adults. What stories do you know that give a relatable view of those kids' lives—and how they got that way, and how they might get better?
Do you know any kids who have a family member dealing with addiction? How does it affect others in the family, and how are they dealing with it?
If you had to get from your home to somewhere in another town on public transit, could you? What could you use to help?
Talk about Hank's courage and perseverance. Where do you think it comes from? Do you think Hank sees himself as brave? Why, or why not?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship , School ( Middle School )
- Character Strengths : Communication , Courage , Empathy , Gratitude , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Knopf
- Publication date : June 11, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 10 - 13
- Number of pages : 320
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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