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The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman: An Interview with Author Gennifer Choldenko

By Natalie Rompella on June 21, 2024 / Articles, Author Interviews

I’ve been a fan of Gennifer Choldenko since I first read Al Capone Does My Shirts (a 2005 Newbery Honor Book). I also had the pleasure of attending a writing revision session she was giving at a national writing conference.

When I saw the opportunity to interview her about her latest book, I couldn’t resist! I was absolutely blown away by The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman. It is a wonderful book that will be both a window and a mirror: some children will see themselves in the book, and other children will have a chance to understand what someone else may be going through and feel empathetic.

I couldn’t wait to interview her and pick her brain to learn more about it.

About the Book

First, here’s a summary of The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman:

Eleven-year-old Hank is used to taking care of his little sister, but after his mom is gone for a week and they’re out of food, Hank risks asking for help from a former friend of his grandma’s. With no word from his mom and a grumpy caretaker who hates teenage boys, Hank is worried that he and his sister will be separated and sent to foster care.

This is a heart-wrenching and redeeming story about kindness, family, foster care, resiliency, and forgiveness inspired by Gennifer’s own childhood experiences.

Hi Gennifer!

Wow, I just finished the book last night. Just when I thought the story couldn’t get more intense, it would!

Hi Natalie, thank you so much for your enthusiasm for The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman! And thank you for taking the time to interview me.

This book had so many twists and turns. Did you know all the things that would happen to Hank before you wrote it? Or, in other words, are you a plotter or pantser?

I’m a mixed blood. Half plotter/half pantser. I make outlines but if I stick to the outline the book goes corpse on me. I think that’s because I’m imposing my will on the story, rather than giving the characters the space to come to life on the page. Still the outlining of the book helps me get a grasp of the macro of the story. It activates my brain so that I can see the book as a whole. I outline, then start writing, then toss out that outline, and keep writing. Then I get lost again and do a new outline and then toss out that outline too. On and on I go until I get to the end of the book.

That is my usual process. Though this book was a little more on the pantser side. It came tumbling out in more or less a workable shape. The big changes came from recommendations my editor made. I had never worked with her, before so it was a little scary to tear the manuscript apart, when I wasn’t entirely sure her suggestions were on target. But I decided I’d give it a try and see what happened. I could always go back to the old draft. I put my all into making her changes and . . . the book got way better. She was right.

The topic of The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman is very serious, and sadly, one that some readers will relate to on a very personal level. What is your hope for those readers?

Many kids in similar situations do not tell anyone what is happening at home. Few kids want to be yanked out of their homes and put into foster care. But because they feel they have to keep quiet, there is no chance of getting help and often they feel like they are the only kids who are experienced what they are going through. I hope The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman will reach out and touch them. I hope it will make them feel less alone and give them faith that there is a way out of the mess they are in.

About the Author

How did your writing journey begin? Any other interesting jobs you have had?

It began when I was in third grade, and I wrote my first autobiographical story. It was called The Adventures of Genny Rice and it was about a grain of rice that went down the garbage disposal and all the characters she met down there. The coffee grounds man, the half a grapefruit lady, the bent spoon. It was an absolute hoot to write. And that planted a seed that maybe someday I could come up with weird ideas for a living.

I read that this book was inspired by your own childhood. Was it hard to write about something so close to your heart or did you find it cathartic?

Well first off, I want to clarify The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman is not thinly veiled autobiographical fiction. It is fiction fiction. I made the story up based on a lot of research. That said, the character Hank Hooperman was inspired by my big brother, Grey. And the relationship between Hank and his little sister Boo was a lot like the relationship I had with Grey. Some of my fondest memories of Grey were when he built “Disneyland” in the living room, and I got to try out all the rides. Or when my parents weren’t home for my birthday, so he wrapped gifts and presented them to me every hour. Each time he’d make the delivery it was with a different theatrical or musical fluorish. My big brother made stuff fun for me just as Hank tries to do with Boo.

But that doesn’t answer your question. Okay, here’s your answer. Yes, it was cathartic.

Author, her dad, and her brother (who inspired Hank)

Any little details from your childhood that you snuck into the book?

An interviewer recently asked me how I created Boo. I told her she was a lot like me when I was little. And the interviewer asked: “You remember what it was like when you were three?” It seems impossible that I could remember, doesn’t it? And I do have a vivid imagination so maybe I just made her up. But in my heart of hearts, she feels like me. Even the fact that Boo liked to play with trucks. I have such a visceral memory of the way the sand felt on my legs as I played with my dump truck.

Research/Writing

What was your original spark for The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman?

A manual on foster parenting.

What do you feel has changed about your writing since you wrote your first middle grade book?

When I first started writing there were a limited number of novel ideas, I had the skill set to bring to the page. In other words, I could think up the ideas, but I didn’t have the chops to write them. But after publishing 13 novels (counting the two I co-wrote with Katherine Applegate Dogtown and the soon to be released second book in the series: Mouse and His Dog) my ability to write what I imagine has increased dramatically.

For Teachers

Do you have a curriculum guide or discussion questions posted online?

Yes! It will be available on my website: GenniferCholdenko.com at the end of August 2024.

How can we learn more about you?

My website: GenniferCholdenko.com or on Facebook: Facebook.com/Gennifer Choldenko, twitter @Choldenko or instagram GenniferCholdenko, threads @GenniferCholdenko

Thanks for your time, Gennifer.

Thank you, Natalie!

Round up of Black-authored MG titles in honor of Juneteenth

By Shifa Safadi on June 19, 2024 / Articles, Book Lists, Diversity, WNDMG

Juneteenth is upon us, and in honor of this day, we are recommending some beautiful Black-authored MG titles to read.

June 19th marks a Federal day of Independence in American history, an important day commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. And what better way to celebrate this day than to educate children about history, inform them of the importance of striving for freedom and justice, and recognize the harm that was perpetuated on African Americans, both during slavery, and afterwards, through Jim Crow laws and years of systemic racism (that impacts Black Americans to this day).

The following books would make perfect additions to classrooms and libraries, as well as informative and important summer reads.

Check them out, get them at your library, make an order- each title is linked below!

FREEWATER by Amina Luqman-Dawson: (this one is one of my favorite reads ever)

Winner of the John Newbery Medal
Winner of the Coretta Scott King Author Award
An Indiebound Bestseller
A New York Times Bestseller

Award-winning author Amina Luqman-Dawson pens a lyrical, accessible historical middle-grade novel about two enslaved children’s escape from a plantation and the many ways they find freedom.

Under the cover of night, twelve-year-old Homer flees Southerland Plantation with his little sister Ada, unwillingly leaving their beloved mother behind. Much as he adores her and fears for her life, Homer knows there’s no turning back, not with the overseer on their trail. Through tangled vines, secret doorways, and over a sky bridge, the two find a secret community called Freewater, deep in the swamp.

In this society created by formerly enslaved people and some freeborn children, Homer finds new friends, almost forgetting where he came from. But when he learns of a threat that could destroy Freewater, he crafts a plan to find his mother and help his new home.

Deeply inspiring and loosely based on the history of maroon communities in the South, this is a striking tale of survival, adventure, friendship, and courage.

2. Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Jacqueline Woodson’s National Book Award and Newbery Honor winner is a powerful memoir that tells the moving story of her childhood in mesmerizing verse.

A President Obama “O” Book Club pick

Raised in South Carolina and New York, Woodson always felt halfway home in each place. In vivid poems, she shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and her growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement. Touching and powerful, each poem is both accessible and emotionally charged, each line a glimpse into a child’s soul as she searches for her place in the world. Woodson’s eloquent poetry also reflects the joy of finding her voice through writing stories, despite the fact that she struggled with reading as a child. Her love of stories inspired her and stayed with her, creating the first sparks of the gifted writer she was to become.

3. One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

In this Newbery Honor novel, New York Times bestselling author Rita Williams-Garcia tells the story of three sisters who travel to Oakland, California, in 1968 to meet the mother who abandoned them. A strong option for summer reading–take this book along on a family road trip or enjoy it at home.

In One Crazy Summer, eleven-year-old Delphine is like a mother to her two younger sisters, Vonetta and Fern. She’s had to be, ever since their mother, Cecile, left them seven years ago for a radical new life in California. But when the sisters arrive from Brooklyn to spend the summer with their mother, Cecile is nothing like they imagined.

While the girls hope to go to Disneyland and meet Tinker Bell, their mother sends them to a day camp run by the Black Panthers. Unexpectedly, Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern learn much about their family, their country, and themselves during one truly crazy summer.

This novel was the first featured title for Marley D’s Reading Party, launched after the success of #1000BlackGirlBooks. Maria Russo, in a New York Times list of “great kids’ books with diverse characters,” called it “witty and original.”

4. Ghost by Jason Reynolds

A National Book Award Finalist for Young People’s Literature.
Nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read.

Ghost wants to be the fastest sprinter on his elite middle school track team, but his past is slowing him down in this first electrifying novel of the acclaimed Track series from Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award-winning author Jason Reynolds.

Ghost. Lu. Patina. Sunny. Four kids from wildly different backgrounds with personalities that are explosive when they clash. But they are also four kids chosen for an elite middle school track team–a team that could qualify them for the Junior Olympics if they can get their acts together. They all have a lot to lose, but they also have a lot to prove, not only to each other, but to themselves.

Running. That’s all Ghost (real name Castle Cranshaw) has ever known. But Ghost has been running for the wrong reasons–it all started with running away from his father, who, when Ghost was a very little boy, chased him and his mother through their apartment, then down the street, with a loaded gun, aiming to kill. Since then, Ghost has been the one causing problems–and running away from them–until he meets Coach, an ex-Olympic Medalist who sees something in Ghost: crazy natural talent. If Ghost can stay on track, literally and figuratively, he could be the best sprinter in the city. Can Ghost harness his raw talent for speed, or will his past finally catch up to him?

5. The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander

rom the Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Award winning author Kwame Alexander, comes the first book in a searing, breathtaking trilogy that tells the story of a boy, a village, and the epic odyssey of an African family.

In his village in Upper Kwanta, 11-year-old Kofi loves his family, playing oware with his grandfather and swimming in the river Offin. He’s warned though, to never go to the river at night. His brother tells him “There are things about the water you do not know. ” Like what?Kofi asks. “The beasts.” His brother answers.

One fateful night, the unthinkable happens and in a flash, Kofi’s world turns upside down. Kofi soon ends up in a fight for his life and what happens next will send him on a harrowing journey across land and sea, and away from everything he loves.

This spellbinding novel by the author of The Crossover and Booked will take you on an unforgettable adventure that will open your eyes and break your heart.

The Door of No Return is an excellent choice for independent reading, sharing in the classroom, book groups, and homeschooling.

6. The Secret Library by Kekla Magoon

Travel through time with National Book Award Finalist Kekla Magoon in a page-turning fantasy adventure about family secrets and finding the courage to plot your own life story.

Since Grandpa died, Dally’s days are dull and restricted. She’s eleven and a half years old, and her exacting single mother is already preparing her to take over the family business. Starved for adventure and release, Dally rescues a mysterious envelope from her mother’s clutches, an envelope Grandpa had earmarked for her. The map she finds inside leads straight to an ancient vault, a library of secrets where each book is a portal to a precise moment in time. As Dally “checks out” adventure after adventure–including an exhilarating outing with pirates–she begins to dive deep into her family’s hidden history. Soon she’s visiting every day to escape the demands of the present. But the library has secrets of its own, intentions that would shape her life as surely as her mother’s meticulous plans. What will Dally choose? Equal parts mystery and adventure–with a biracial child puzzling out her identity alongside the legacy of the past–this masterful middle-grade fantasy rivets with crackling prose, playful plot twists, and timeless themes. A satisfying choice for fans of Kindred and When You Reach Me.

7. The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton

Dhonielle Clayton makes her middle-grade debut with a fantasy adventure set in a global magic school in the sky —an instant New York Times and #1 Indie Bestseller!

“The Marvellers deserves the highest compliment I can give a book: I want to live in this world.” –Rick Riordan, #1 New York Times bestselling-author

Eleven-year-old Ella Durand is the first Conjuror to attend the Arcanum Training Institute, a magic school in the clouds where Marvellers from around the world practice their cultural arts, like brewing Indian spice elixirs and bartering with pesky Irish pixies.

Despite her excitement, Ella discovers that being the first isn’t easy–some Marvellers mistrust her magic, which they deem “bad and unnatural.” But eventually, she finds friends in elixirs teacher, Masterji Thakur, and fellow misfits Brigit, a girl who hates magic, and Jason, a boy with a fondness for magical creatures.

When a dangerous criminal known as the Ace of Anarchy escapes prison, supposedly with a Conjuror’s aid, tensions grow in the Marvellian world and Ella becomes the target of suspicion. Worse, Masterji Thakur mysteriously disappears while away on a research trip. With the help of her friends and her own growing powers, Ella must find a way to clear her family’s name and track down her mentor before it’s too late.

Make sure to check out this previous Mixed up Files post for more information about Juneteenth.

Happy Reading!

WNDMG Wednesday: Author Interview with Christina Matula

By Shifa Safadi on June 12, 2024 / Articles, Author Interviews

WNDMG Wednesday: Author Interview with Christina Matula

I’m so excited to be able to introduce you to author Christina Matula today. Christina’s newest title is The Not-So-Simple Question (HarperCollins), which is the third title in her Holly-Mei series, launched on April 23, 2024.

I absolutely love the description of this book. It sounds so interesting, with themes on what it means to belong, and immigrant child identity. I cannot wait to dive into this series!

I encourage everyone to buy a copy for themselves and their classrooms and libraries.

About The Not-So-Simple Question:

Description taken from online:

Return to Hong Kong in the third book of this charming Middle Grade series starring Holly-Mei, a girl navigating her new city, new school, and new friendships.

Holly-Mei is caught in the middle.

Holly-Mei Jones has finally settled into her new friend group in Hong Kong–that is until suddenly everyone starts talking about dating. Which Holly-Mei is not ready for.

At least she has her school’s Experience Week to look forward to. Holly-Mei can’t wait to show off Taiwan, where her beloved Ah-Ma is from, to her friends. The trip is going to be perfect…right?

Maybe not. On top of the pressure to date, Holly-Mei starts to wonder if maybe being half-Taiwanese isn’t enough. In the face of these big questions, will Holly-Mei be able to finally feel like she belongs?

Interview with Christina:

I loved getting to talk to Christina about her new book and I think you will enjoy meeting her and Holly-Mei as well.

SSS: What a wonderful description. I was interested right away! What is the inspiration behind The Not-So-Simple Question?

CM: I really wanted to write a book where Holly-Mei delves into her mixed-race identity. Like me, she is half Taiwanese, born and raised in Canada. Growing up, I never saw books with mixed-race characters, and I wanted to write a book that touched on this topic, including the richness of coming from a multi-cultural household and the journey of self-discovery. In a nutshell, I wanted to write the book I wish I had as a child, a book that would let me know that it’s okay to sometimes feel unsure and to push back on expectations, but at the same time celebrate my heritage.

SSS: As a mom of three girls, I love stories about girls and especially diverse girls. How is Holly-Mei as a character? Is she sassy and spunky, or shy and introverted?

CM: I’d say she is spunky and sporty, fun and approachable, with a competitive streak. She has her flaws, such as not always thinking before she speaks, but we see her grow over the series into a more thoughtful and kind-hearted friend.

SSS: As a Syrian-American, I think often about the themes of multi-cultural identity. Can you expand on what it means for Holly-Mei to be half-Taiwanese?

CM: Holly-Mei has always loved being mixed-Taiwanese and having two cultures to call her own. Even though she was raised in Canada, she always had her Ah-ma, her Taiwanese grandmother, by her side to pass down traditions. In the book, as she and her classmates prepare to go on a cultural trip to Taiwan, someone asks her a seemingly simple question “So you’re only half?” This sows some doubt in her mind about whether she can claim this part of her heritage, particularly as she’s not lived in Taiwan and her Taiwanese language skills are nonexistent. She needs to navigate internal questions about what being mixed means to her considering these seeming contradictions. In the end, she learns that her identity is what she feels in her heart and the power to define it rests in her own hands.

SSS: The subject of dating is one that seems to be increasingly explored in Middle grade. How does Holly-Mei view dating and how does her view inform how she views her friends and peers when they start dating?

CM: Holly-Mei has good friends who are boys and is perfectly content with that dynamic. She’s not ready to think about anything different, particularly at only twelve years of age, so she finds the pressure to date that comes along unwelcome. She sees how dating and crushes amongst her friendship group can sometimes lead people to be distracted or act less thoughtfully, as well she witnesses the stress and heartache her cousin goes through when faced with a breakup.

In this age of social media, kids may feel pushed into relationships or situations they are not ready for. I wanted to remind readers that it’s okay to not want these things, that they can just be kids.

SSS: Will there be more Holly-Mei (or other middle grade novels) in the future?

CM: The Not-So-Simple Question is the final book in the Holly-Mei series. I feel like the series has come to a natural conclusion. Her character grows in confidence and comes to understand that she’ll be just fine, whatever direction her life may take her. The end circles back to Book 1, The Not-So-Uniform Life of Holly-Mei, where her Ah-ma teaches her a saying “ku jin, gan lai”, bitterness finishes, sweetness begins. At the end of Book 3, Holly-Mei knows she’ll be able to make sweetness wherever she is in the world.

I would love to keep writing middle-grade books. It’s such an amazing space in which to contribute and make connections with young readers.

Link to order here.

Writing Process

SSS: When did you start writing the series of Holly-Mei and was the process a long one?

CM: I started writing the first book in 2019 as a YA and it was sort of a mash up of Crazy Rich Asians and Pride and Prejudice set in an elite Hong Kong high school. (I was living in Hong Kong at the time). However, I was told that Holly-Mei’s voice felt more naturally middle grade, so I ended up aging her down and completely revising the plot, while keeping her voice almost the same.

SSS: How is the process of writing a Middle Grade SERIES different from writing a stand-alone do you think? Is it harder or easier? Or both?

CM: I originally wrote the first Holly-Mei as a standalone but was thrilled to be offered a three-book series. At first, I was a bit stressed because I wasn’t sure what else I could write about. But the fact that middle-grade books generally have a short timeframe, around 2-3 months, meant that I could use the school calendar as inspiration for different plots, while having her personal growth occur over the year. I think it would have been hard for me to say goodbye to Holly-Mei after only one adventure.

SSS: Any advice for fellow middle-grade authors?

CM: Surround yourself with other writers and don’t be afraid to share your work and get feedback. My SCBWI critique group was invaluable to me for improving my writing and the stories I wanted to tell.

Bonus!

SSS: Bonus question! Is there anything I haven’t asked that you’d like to share with us?

CM: There’s a bit of me in Holly-Mei, from the character flaws and competitiveness, to the relationship with her younger sister, Millie, and her love of field hockey, which I still play. And when I wrote the books, I made a list of all my favourite places, activities, and foods in Hong Kong, and sprinkled them throughout the series as a bit of love letter to the city I called home for so many years.

Thank you so much Christina for answering my questions! I hope everyone picks up a copy of your beautiful book.

For more Diverse Author Interviews, check out this recent one by Aida Salazar

About Christina Matula:

Christina Matula grew up in Ottawa, Canada. Being a child of immigrant parents, she has always been curious about other cultures and far-off places. Dumplings are her favorite food, especially her mother’s savory Taiwanese jiaozi and her father’s sweet Hungarian gomboc. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Hong Kong and now lives in Finland with her husband, two children, and puppy.

Website: www.christinamatula.com

Twitter: @MatulaChristina

Instagram: @christinamatula

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