Hank Zipzer

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Hank Zipzer: The World's Best Underachiever (formally Hank Zipzer: The Mostly True Confessions of the World's Best Underachiever) is a series of books by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver published by Grosset & Dunlap. And it is planned to be a tv show on Nickelodeon eventually.

[edit] Overview

Hank Zipzer is the story of a boy named Hank Zipzer, growing up on the Upper West Side of New York City, who has learning challenges. It is known that he goes to P.S. 87 at Amsterdam Avenue and W 78th Street. Whether he's gotten his lousy report run through his mom's meat grinder, accidentally sending the field-trip boat off its dock, or trying to keep his parents from a parent-teacher conference, Hank is always getting himself into trouble, often in a manner that is humorous to the reader.

Hank often makes lists, usually ill-assorted. These may be the subject of an entire chapter, and we find out Hank's feelings through them.

[edit] Books

1. Niagara Falls, or Does it?

Instead of writing the assigned essay on his summer vacation, Hank tries building a model of Niagara Falls, his family's summer vacation spot.

2. I Got a "D" in Salami

Hank's report card goes though his mother's meat grinder. The chase is on when he finds out his report-card-salami is going to one of his mom's sponsor choices!

3. Day of the Iguana

Hank tries to disasemble and reassemble the cable box for his science project. But how is he supposed to put it back together when Katherine the iguana has laid her eggs in it?

4. The Zippety Zinger

Hank's friends choose Hank to be the pitcher for her school Olympiad baseball team. Since Hank can't pitch for his life, he think's his sister's lucky socks may be the answer. Only one problem - Emily needs them on the same day!

5. The Day I Flunked my Field Trip

Hank has an overnight field trip to a docked boat in New York Harbor. But when Hank accidentally undocks the boat, the trouble begins...

6. Holy Enchilada!

Hank needs to prepare some enchiladas for his school multi-cultural day. But, he may have added to much hot sauce...

• Note: This book's original title was Holy Enchilada! My Teacher Has Gas.

7. Help! Somebody Get me out of Fourth Grade!

When his parents get called for a parent-teacher conference, Hank just knows his teacher is going to tell them he's being held back. There's just one way to make sure they don't show up - sabotage!

8. Summer School? What Genius thought that Up?

Hank gets sent to summer school.

9. My Secret Life as a Ping-Pong Wizard

Hank's finally in the fifth grade and he's also found a sport he's good at - ping-pong! But when his friends tease the sport, Hank decides to keep it a secret.

10. My Dog's A Scaredy-Cat; A Halloween Tail

Hank tries to scare Nick in a haunted house he makes.

[edit] Characters (main)

In order of appearance

Name	Bio
Hank Zipzer	main character, has learning challenges
Nick "the Tick" McKelty	class bully, none-to-bright
Ms. Adolf	Hank's teacher who hates fun and funny, always wears gray clothes, possibly to match her face
Frankie Townsend	Hank's best friend, thinks oxygen is power and has a nickname for everyone
Leland Love	Hank's principal who repeats everything twice and likes to answer his own questions, Has a mole shaped like the Statue of Liberty
Ashley Wong	Hank and Frankie's other best friend who is a great athlete and loves rhinestones
Robert Upchurch	a 5th (formally 4th) -grade genius who blurts out information at random moments (yes, he can control himself)
Papa Pete	Hank's grandpa who is always taking the kids somewhere
Carlos	the counter guy at Hank's mom's deli
Emily Zipzer	Hank's little sister, very smart when it comes to reptiles, considerably annoying, likes Robert Upchurch and, has an iguana named Katherine
Mrs. Zipzer	Hank's mom, runs the Crunchy Pickle Deli, takes healthy foods to a disgusting new level
Mr. Zipzer	Hank's dad, obsessed with crossword puzzles
Cheerio Zipzer	Hank's dachshund, who looks like a Cheerio when he runs in circles
Katherine Zipzer	Emily's iguana, snaps food of the dinner table
Vlad	The other counter guy at Hank's mom's deli