A Brand New Me - Hank Zipzer Book 17 - Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver

A Brand New Me!
Hank Zipzer Book 17
Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver
Penguin Canada
ISBN 9780448452104

Hank Zipzer, the world's greatest underachiever, is back at it again. In this seventeenth book in the series, we again encounter Hank towards the end of a school year, and again Hank is in the position of not finishing. This time it is because he has failed to complete his community service requirement. The biggest difference between this book and earlier books in the series is that Hank starts to see something in himself, some potential for something other than failure. He realizes this with the help of Mr. Rock, the school music teacher who helps him explore this new side. Soon he is practicing monologues, improv, and characterization. He has set his goals on auditioning for the Professional School of Performing Arts. Yet, as usual, he needs to convince his father to let him try out, and if he gets it, to go. Hank is desperate to succeed as his two best friends are going to the Enhanced Science program, and he does not want to be left without them or something special himself.

These books are very well written. In the last year I have read or re-read 16 of the 17 in the series. They keep my attention, and are fun and enjoyable to read. The humour is age appropriate. As someone with dyslexia, these stories do an amazing job of capturing the experience of living with, and learning to deal with, learning disabilities. They are great reads just as books, but for young people with learning disabilities or people close to them, they will provide encouragement and support also.

Books by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver
Hank Zipzer Books:
1. Niagara Falls, or Does It?
2. I Got a "D" in Salami
3. Day of the Iguana
4. Zippety Zinger
5. The Night I Flunked My Field Trip
6. Holy Enchilada!
7. Help! Somebody Get me out of Fourth Grade!
8. Summer School? What Genius thought That Up?
9. My Secret Life as a Ping-Pong Wizard
10. My Dog's a Scaredy-Cat: A Halloween Tail
11. The Curtain Went Up, My Pants Went Down
12. Barfing in the Backseat: How I Survived My Family Road Trip
13. Who Ordered This Baby? Definitely Not Me!
14. Life of Me
15. A Tail of Two Tails
16. Dump Trucks and Dogsleds: I'm On My Way, Mom!
17. A Brand-New Me!

Ghost Buddy Books:
1. Zero to Hero
2. Mind If I Read Your Mind?
3. How to Scare the Pants off Your Pets