One-Third Nerd

October 15, 2018
Best known for her Tales from Alcatraz series, Choldenko writes for a slightly younger set in this celebration of family ingenuity.It's hard enough that fifth-grader Liam's parents divorced and now he, his two younger sisters, and their single mom live in an apartment in need of repair. Their beloved dog, Cupcake, won't stop peeing on the rug, and the landlord has given them three weeks to get rid of the dog--or they're all out. Episodic chapters balance depictions of the harsh realities of divorce and financial changes with amusing trial-and-error escapades as the siblings hatch moneymaking schemes to fund expensive vet tests. Along the way, the personality of each sibling shines through. Faced with more responsibility than other kids his age, Liam just wants to play tennis as well as Roger Federer--or at least to keep up with Moses, a new student who seems to have it all. Third-grader and total nerd Dakota is biding her time until she can cure cancer. Second-grader and avid hugger Izzy has Down syndrome, and her inclusion is not only seamless, but integral to the plot. Even when getting on each other's nerves, they rally together when it matters most. Expressive black-line art depicts their lovable antics as well as members from their diverse community. Liam and his family are white; his best friend, Dodge, has brown skin and is likely of Latinx heritage, and Moses presents black, among other secondary characters of color.Reminiscent of Judy Blume's work, this endearing story will make many children laugh and allow some to see a part of themselves. (Fiction. 8-12)

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Starred review from October 22, 2018
Fifth grader Liam lives in a basement apartment with his mom, his two younger sisters (promising third grade scientist/resident nerd Dakota and second grade expert hugger Izzy), and their accident-prone German shepherd, Cupcake. Cupcake’s bathroom issues push their cranky upstairs neighbor and landlord, Mr. Torpse (also known as Torpse the Corpse), to an ultimatum: either Cupcake goes or the whole family must. Though their divorced mother and father implore the siblings to accept that Cupcake must be rehomed, the kids carry out schemes to keep the dog. Black-and-white spot illustrations by Ceulemans faithfully depict the unique personalities of Liam’s siblings and friends, including new kid Moses, whom Liam desperately wants to impress. Choldenko (the Al Capone at Alcatraz series) subtly emphasizes Liam’s stress about being the responsible, oldest sibling; his parents’ divorce; and insecurity about the family’s modest lifestyle. It is Liam’s quiet thoughtfulness and relationship with his sisters, especially his interest in their lives—Izzy’s Down syndrome social group “the Forty-Sevens” and Dakota’s impulsive experiments—that let him shine just as bright as his two extroverted sisters. Ages 8–12. Author’s agent: Elizabeth Harding, Curtis Brown. Illustrator’s agent: Hannah Whitty, Plum Pudding Illustration.

November 1, 2018
Grades 3-5 Fifth-grader Liam is used to being the responsible one. With mom and dad divorced, it's his job to rein in his two younger sisters: the ever-precocious second-grader Dakota, whose science experiments rattle the neighbors, and first-grader Izzy, who has Down syndrome. But what's wreaking havoc on Liam most of all lately is his beloved pooch, Cupcake, who can't seem to refrain from peeing all over their basement apartment. Unfortunately, their elderly landlord, Mr. Torpse, says Cupcake's got to go if they can't get this situation under control, so Liam and his sisters are on it. Choldenko packs a lot into this slim volume, as Liam also struggles with his family's financial situation?not imperiled, exactly, but enough to worry him?and a new foe in tennis, who just so happens to be super wealthy. Liam's concerns are common for young readers, who will find much to relate to in this slice-of-life story. Expressive and amusing, Ceulemans' illustrations enhance the reading experience in a book perfect for classroom read-alouds. Simply endearing.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)

Andrew A - Have you ever read One Third Nerd ?Well I have. One Third Nerd was published in 2019.The author is Jenifer Choldenko. This book is one of my favorite books. It has a lot of detail and it’s funny. Liam is the narrator of the story.The setting is mostly at his house in California. The problem is Liam’s mother doesn’t have enough money to pay for the dog to go to a special vet to help him. The dog Cupcake keeps peeing on the rug in their apartment and the landlord is going to kick them out if the dog doesn’t stop peeing. Liam’s sister Dakota sold Liam’s toys for money for their dog. They still didn’t have enough money. They decided to recycle newspapers to get money. They saved up some money. Izzy is Liam’s other sister. She has a disability. She came up with the idea to go to a different vet for a second opinion. They went to the new vet and that vet gave medicine to Cupcake. The medicine worked. They were excited and they got Cupcake fixed all because of Izzy. They could stay in their apartment. My opinion on the characters is that they're all nice. Liam is calm and nice. I know this because he is respectful to his mom,his sisters, Cupcake and his friends. Dakota is the nerdy one. She is always solving the problems and causing problems. A trait for Cupcake is that he is naughty. I know this because Cupcake pees on the rug and the landlord threatens to kick them out because of all the stains on the rug. The most memorable moment was when they got the treatment for Cupcake. This was such a big part of the book because they either had to leave their apartment or give away Cupcake. The landlord did not like the stains. They tried to think of a lot of ways they could raise money to pay for the vet. The mom didn’t have enough money because she and the dad were divorced. Izzy came up with the idea to get a second opinion. When they pulled up in the parking lot, they were very scared. They were so scared they were shivering. They brought Cupcake inside and waited for one hour. The vet gave Cupcake the right medicine and Cupcake got the right treatment. One Third Nerd is one of my favorite books. It's very very very funny.I recommend this book to kids my age because I got a little giggles reading and it is easy to read.I don’t recommend this book to adults because it is childish.