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A review by nicolemhewitt
One-Third Nerd by Gennifer Choldenko
5.0
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
One-Third Nerd is a heartwarming middle grade story about a typically atypical family just trying to get by. I say typically atypical because, let’s face it, in today’s world very few families fit the standard nuclear family mold. Liam’s parents are divorced and they struggle financially. His youngest sister has Down’s Syndrome and his other little sis is brilliant (but maybe a bit of a handful). I think that Chodenko captured the family dynamic well. None of them are perfect, but they love each other and they’re doing their best.
Liam is sometimes self-conscious about his apartment and his brainy sister’s antics (she’s 100% nerd—perfect for her, but not great as far as Liam’s concerned). He’s especially concerned about how he looks to the new kid, Moses, who he thinks has it all together (especially since Moses is a superstar at tennis, Liam’s sport). To top everything off, the family dog is sick and has been peeing all over the house, and the landlord says they have to solve the problem or get rid of their beloved pet. Liam’s little sister isn’t about to let that happen so she puts her brain power toward saving her. Along the way, Liam starts to see his sister in a new light (at least a little) and he learns that maybe he doesn’t have to try to impress Moses—he’s just a kid looking for a friend. This is the type of middle grade where everything is tied up in a neat little bow, which might feel trite to some adult readers, but will probably go over well with the younger middle graders the book was written for. Overall, it’s a sweet story that will teach kids about the power of family, friendships, and not giving up.
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley and Rockstar Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
One-Third Nerd is a heartwarming middle grade story about a typically atypical family just trying to get by. I say typically atypical because, let’s face it, in today’s world very few families fit the standard nuclear family mold. Liam’s parents are divorced and they struggle financially. His youngest sister has Down’s Syndrome and his other little sis is brilliant (but maybe a bit of a handful). I think that Chodenko captured the family dynamic well. None of them are perfect, but they love each other and they’re doing their best.
Liam is sometimes self-conscious about his apartment and his brainy sister’s antics (she’s 100% nerd—perfect for her, but not great as far as Liam’s concerned). He’s especially concerned about how he looks to the new kid, Moses, who he thinks has it all together (especially since Moses is a superstar at tennis, Liam’s sport). To top everything off, the family dog is sick and has been peeing all over the house, and the landlord says they have to solve the problem or get rid of their beloved pet. Liam’s little sister isn’t about to let that happen so she puts her brain power toward saving her. Along the way, Liam starts to see his sister in a new light (at least a little) and he learns that maybe he doesn’t have to try to impress Moses—he’s just a kid looking for a friend. This is the type of middle grade where everything is tied up in a neat little bow, which might feel trite to some adult readers, but will probably go over well with the younger middle graders the book was written for. Overall, it’s a sweet story that will teach kids about the power of family, friendships, and not giving up.
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley and Rockstar Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***