Hank Zipzer sits in his classroom, watching his latest assignment turn into another spectacular failure. The fourth grader tries harder than anyone else, but his brain works differently. Numbers jumble together. Letters flip around on the page. His creative solutions to simple problems create chaos that follows him from classroom to hallway. His teacher sees a troublemaker. His parents see disappointment. His classmates see the kid who always messes up. But Hank knows he's smart, even when the evidence suggests otherwise. Each school day brings new challenges that test his determination. His learning differences make routine tasks feel impossible. The gap between what he understands in his head and what appears on his paper grows wider. Hank must find ways to succeed in a system that doesn't understand how his mind works. His journey reveals that intelligence comes in many forms, and that persistence matters more than perfection.
Genres: fiction, family-life, contemporary, academic, disability
Vibes: emotional, thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: found-family, underdog
Paperback · Galaxy