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Figure It Out, Henri Weldon
Tanita S. Davis, author of Partly Cloudy and Serena Says, has written another funny, warm story featuring middle school and family life—all about the complex calculations it takes for everyone to balance the equations of their lives and what it takes to be part of a team while handling a learning disability. This middle grade novel is perfect for fans of From the Desk of Zoe Washington and A Good Kind of Trouble.
Seventh grader Henrietta Weldon gets to switch schools—finally! She’ll be “mainstreaming” into public school, leaving her special education school behind. She can’t wait for her new schedule, new friends, and new classes.
Henri’s dyscalculia, a learning disability that makes math challenging to process and understand, is what she expects to give her problems. What she doesn’t expect is a family feud with her sister over her new friends, joining the girls’ soccer team, and discovering poetry. Henri’s tutor and new friend, Vinnie, reminds her to take it slow. One problem at a time.
If Henri Weldon has twenty-four hours in a day, and she has two siblings who dislike her four new friends, two hours of soccer practice, seven hours of classes, and three hours of homework . . . she has:
A. No free time
B. No idea how to make everyone happy
C. No time to figure it out, Henri Weldon!
336 pages, Hardcover
First published May 3, 2023
13 people are currently reading
2896 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
March 14, 2023
It's amazing how even books that aren't intended for you as a reader can make you feel seen. At my big ole age of 31, reading this book really made me feel better about being a life-long struggler with math. This is my first Tanita S. Davis book, but it definitely won't be my last. CW: bullying
Figure It Out, Henri Weldon follows young Henri (Henrietta) as she begins her 7th grade year at a new school. Henri has dyscalculia and gets severe anxiety whenever she encounters math. However, she's excited to finally attend a public school where she can begin to mainstream. In addition to making new friends, Henri gets the chance to try out for the soccer team and discover her love and gift for writing poetry. Unfortunately, things don't always go as planned and Henri soon begins to learn about the pressures of time management as well as balances friendships that your older sister doesn't necessarily like.
What Worked: I loveddddd that we followed a main character that has dyscalculia. While I do not have this specific learning disability, I struggled with math so much from the time I was in elementary school to my high school graduation. I was able to get by with most of my classes, but I also felt severe anxiety whenever I had to attend math class because I wouldn't pick up the concepts as quickly as my peers. This is one of those books that I wish I had when I was growing up because it allows kids to feel seen in a different way. I also appreciated that Davis explored the difficult relationships that Henri had with her family. While she loved and cared for her sister, they were strikingly different in their choice of dress, interest, friends groups and more. Henri also struggles with the expectations placed on her by her mom. Henri's mother wants her to solely focus on schoolwork instead of thinking about extracurricular activities like soccer. This even causes conflict with extended family members like her aunt. Davis also did a great job of illustrating the idea that one person's experience with a group of people is not the defining experience for everyone else. Henri's sister was bullied by her new group of friends and the two struggle with their relationship as Henri tries to figure out whether she should support her new friends or her sister. It leads to an interesting conflict that I'm not sure I've ever seen in middle grade. And finally, readers will see Henri battle with the idea and concept of time management. As an adult, I take on more than I can handle all the time because I want to do it all so reading about Henri experiencing the same things was interesting and helped me build an even stronger connection to her as a character.
What Didn't Work: There was a lot going on in this book. And sometimes the multiple and complex plot lines made it difficult to keep up and left some areas feeling a little underdeveloped. This didn't necessarily take me out of the story and I still finished the book feeling satisfied, but I can also see this as a potential deterrent for some readers.
Overall, this was a good book! I'm really looking forward to checking out other books by Davis.
Figure It Out, Henri Weldon follows young Henri (Henrietta) as she begins her 7th grade year at a new school. Henri has dyscalculia and gets severe anxiety whenever she encounters math. However, she's excited to finally attend a public school where she can begin to mainstream. In addition to making new friends, Henri gets the chance to try out for the soccer team and discover her love and gift for writing poetry. Unfortunately, things don't always go as planned and Henri soon begins to learn about the pressures of time management as well as balances friendships that your older sister doesn't necessarily like.
What Worked: I loveddddd that we followed a main character that has dyscalculia. While I do not have this specific learning disability, I struggled with math so much from the time I was in elementary school to my high school graduation. I was able to get by with most of my classes, but I also felt severe anxiety whenever I had to attend math class because I wouldn't pick up the concepts as quickly as my peers. This is one of those books that I wish I had when I was growing up because it allows kids to feel seen in a different way. I also appreciated that Davis explored the difficult relationships that Henri had with her family. While she loved and cared for her sister, they were strikingly different in their choice of dress, interest, friends groups and more. Henri also struggles with the expectations placed on her by her mom. Henri's mother wants her to solely focus on schoolwork instead of thinking about extracurricular activities like soccer. This even causes conflict with extended family members like her aunt. Davis also did a great job of illustrating the idea that one person's experience with a group of people is not the defining experience for everyone else. Henri's sister was bullied by her new group of friends and the two struggle with their relationship as Henri tries to figure out whether she should support her new friends or her sister. It leads to an interesting conflict that I'm not sure I've ever seen in middle grade. And finally, readers will see Henri battle with the idea and concept of time management. As an adult, I take on more than I can handle all the time because I want to do it all so reading about Henri experiencing the same things was interesting and helped me build an even stronger connection to her as a character.
What Didn't Work: There was a lot going on in this book. And sometimes the multiple and complex plot lines made it difficult to keep up and left some areas feeling a little underdeveloped. This didn't necessarily take me out of the story and I still finished the book feeling satisfied, but I can also see this as a potential deterrent for some readers.
Overall, this was a good book! I'm really looking forward to checking out other books by Davis.
December 29, 2022
Absolutely loved this YA novel! Henri is such a trooper, she's got alot of obstacles in life but she overcomes them all with such strength and determination. I absolutely loved her character development throughout the story. This was a feel good book for me, as I too am not good at doing math. Such a cute and interesting read for young adults.
I won this ARC from a Goodreads giveaway. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
I won this ARC from a Goodreads giveaway. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
October 12, 2024
Enjoyable book :)
3.5 stars 🌟
I can relate to Henrietta's hatred of math. Not in the same way as her.. for me, it was like an impenetrable wall was there not letting the concepts through. Basic math was okay, but anything more complicated *shrugs* The school gave me a tutor (even the guidance counselor tried to help) and when they explained it, I could the path so to speak laid out but quickly after I couldn't understand even though I could still see the path to the answer (my friend would copy off me, which was hilarious because it was my worst subject... still don't know how I managed to squeak an A out the one time. I was convinced that the teacher gave me the wrong grade)
My rambling aside :) I enjoyed getting to know Henrietta and the people around her. I wanted to go hang out with Henri and Ana especially (Ana reminded me of one of my unbiological sisters a bit).
I wouldn't be hanging out too close to other snake though, no thanks!
I was sympathetic with her sister in one sense given her history with one of Henri's new friends but I thought some of her behavior was not great... COMMUNICATE I kept shouting in my head.
It did end too soon methinks, I wanted to see more of some of the plot points expanded on but it ended on a good note at least.
I was proud of Henrietta for some many reasons throughout the story. She was a strong one even if she didn't realize it.
Can definitely relate to feeling like the odd one out in the family:(.
Would recommend this one 👌 👍🏼
Depression been stealing my energy to read like I did before but trying to be easier on myself (in this case, I got to spend more time with characters I loved so still all go
Anyone else think Henri had an anxiety disorder or is it just me?
3.5 stars 🌟
I can relate to Henrietta's hatred of math. Not in the same way as her.. for me, it was like an impenetrable wall was there not letting the concepts through. Basic math was okay, but anything more complicated *shrugs* The school gave me a tutor (even the guidance counselor tried to help) and when they explained it, I could the path so to speak laid out but quickly after I couldn't understand even though I could still see the path to the answer (my friend would copy off me, which was hilarious because it was my worst subject... still don't know how I managed to squeak an A out the one time. I was convinced that the teacher gave me the wrong grade)
My rambling aside :) I enjoyed getting to know Henrietta and the people around her. I wanted to go hang out with Henri and Ana especially (Ana reminded me of one of my unbiological sisters a bit).
I wouldn't be hanging out too close to other snake though, no thanks!
I was sympathetic with her sister in one sense given her history with one of Henri's new friends but I thought some of her behavior was not great... COMMUNICATE I kept shouting in my head.
It did end too soon methinks, I wanted to see more of some of the plot points expanded on but it ended on a good note at least.
I was proud of Henrietta for some many reasons throughout the story. She was a strong one even if she didn't realize it.
Can definitely relate to feeling like the odd one out in the family:(.
Would recommend this one 👌 👍🏼
Depression been stealing my energy to read like I did before but trying to be easier on myself (in this case, I got to spend more time with characters I loved so still all go
Anyone else think Henri had an anxiety disorder or is it just me?
March 15, 2023
I received an uncorrected E-proof ARC of from NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishing in exchange for an honest review of “Figure It Out, Henri Weldon,” by Tanita S. Davis.
When I read the blurb for Davis’ newest book, I was amazed. Prior to reading that blurb, I had never heard of dyscalculia before. As I was reading, I had to put the book down at various points to ‘breathe’. At times, this ‘breathing space’ encompassed several days. I did this not because the book was badly written in any way, but because I started having flashbacks of instances that I lived through during my childhood, teenage years, and even adulthood.
Things are very different from when I was growing up. Back then, educators were not aware—at least not any educators that taught me—of dyscalculia. As I read Davis’ book, I saw myself in Henrietta Weldon. And I had to learn how to ‘figure it out’, but unlike the MC Henri, I was forced to figure it out on my own.
Anything with numbers (and directions) really screwed me up. The worst part was reading clocks which, during the 1980s, were completely old-fashioned—not digital. I remember the shame I felt about not being able to read a clock. In fact, it wasn’t until I was in high school that I could tell the time. I never told anyone about my problems; it was too shameful.
This book was brilliantly conceived. Although the author’s writing style is different from what I’m used to, the book’s conception more than made up for it all. The one thing that I completely disliked was that although the author discusses dyscalculia in the book blurb, the term is completely absent in the text. This is a real problem because if people don’t read the book blurb—and they often don’t—they won’t understand what Henri is really dealing with and that dyscalculia is an actual problem. It seems as if the author is treating dyscalculia in the same way as my teachers did: by ignoring it. The author missed a huge teaching moment. This is an important loss because by refusing to even name dyscalculia, young people today won’t be able to pinpoint the source of never ending frustration and, like myself, will have to “figure it out” on their own.
Of course, I never let this stop me from achieving a doctorate, and it didn’t stop the author from achieving as well. But naming the condition could have helped a lot of younger people and their teachers; they shouldn’t have to read a book blurb about it.
I liked this book and it would have been a godsend for it to have been published in the 1980s. It’s unfortunate, though, that the author didn’t address the condition by name in the book. If Davis had done this, I would have given this book 5 stars without hesitation.
When I read the blurb for Davis’ newest book, I was amazed. Prior to reading that blurb, I had never heard of dyscalculia before. As I was reading, I had to put the book down at various points to ‘breathe’. At times, this ‘breathing space’ encompassed several days. I did this not because the book was badly written in any way, but because I started having flashbacks of instances that I lived through during my childhood, teenage years, and even adulthood.
Things are very different from when I was growing up. Back then, educators were not aware—at least not any educators that taught me—of dyscalculia. As I read Davis’ book, I saw myself in Henrietta Weldon. And I had to learn how to ‘figure it out’, but unlike the MC Henri, I was forced to figure it out on my own.
Anything with numbers (and directions) really screwed me up. The worst part was reading clocks which, during the 1980s, were completely old-fashioned—not digital. I remember the shame I felt about not being able to read a clock. In fact, it wasn’t until I was in high school that I could tell the time. I never told anyone about my problems; it was too shameful.
This book was brilliantly conceived. Although the author’s writing style is different from what I’m used to, the book’s conception more than made up for it all. The one thing that I completely disliked was that although the author discusses dyscalculia in the book blurb, the term is completely absent in the text. This is a real problem because if people don’t read the book blurb—and they often don’t—they won’t understand what Henri is really dealing with and that dyscalculia is an actual problem. It seems as if the author is treating dyscalculia in the same way as my teachers did: by ignoring it. The author missed a huge teaching moment. This is an important loss because by refusing to even name dyscalculia, young people today won’t be able to pinpoint the source of never ending frustration and, like myself, will have to “figure it out” on their own.
Of course, I never let this stop me from achieving a doctorate, and it didn’t stop the author from achieving as well. But naming the condition could have helped a lot of younger people and their teachers; they shouldn’t have to read a book blurb about it.
I liked this book and it would have been a godsend for it to have been published in the 1980s. It’s unfortunate, though, that the author didn’t address the condition by name in the book. If Davis had done this, I would have given this book 5 stars without hesitation.
September 8, 2023
I loved this book so much! I have dyscalculia too and I was so, so happy that a young black main character had it as well. I felt so seen.
Figure it Out, Henri Weldon is about a young girl in seventh grade who due to a learning disability, dyscalculia. She struggles with math and has a lot of anxiety about it, and also has to juggle many other things: like going to a new school, making new friends and proving to others, mainly, her family that she can succeed in other areas.
I loved Henri as a character and her dynamic with her older sister Katherine, it felt so real and honest. I loved that Henri was able to show that she could shine in other areas and subjects that were not math. I liked the positive affirmations her teacher taught her about math, trying to rewire the way Henri viewed math. Henri’s math teacher in this book was phenomenal. I am so glad I read this book, it did not disappoint and I am glad that other young children who have learning disabilities, like dyscalculia, can come to know that they are not stupid, it is okay to need help and that they don’t have to prove themselves to anyone.
Figure it Out, Henri Weldon is about a young girl in seventh grade who due to a learning disability, dyscalculia. She struggles with math and has a lot of anxiety about it, and also has to juggle many other things: like going to a new school, making new friends and proving to others, mainly, her family that she can succeed in other areas.
I loved Henri as a character and her dynamic with her older sister Katherine, it felt so real and honest. I loved that Henri was able to show that she could shine in other areas and subjects that were not math. I liked the positive affirmations her teacher taught her about math, trying to rewire the way Henri viewed math. Henri’s math teacher in this book was phenomenal. I am so glad I read this book, it did not disappoint and I am glad that other young children who have learning disabilities, like dyscalculia, can come to know that they are not stupid, it is okay to need help and that they don’t have to prove themselves to anyone.
February 10, 2023
Figure It Out, Henri Weldon is a super slice-of-life book featuring a highly relatable protagonist with dyscalculia. At its heart, this story is about family — finding it, understanding it, appreciating it, and loving it. But it’s also about a love for words and writing, figuring out sibling relationships, and enjoying pets (including a pet snake and a pet rat). I savored every single page of this one and would totally recommend it!
Full review: https://readingmiddlegrade.com/figure...
Full review: https://readingmiddlegrade.com/figure...
March 2, 2023
3.5 stars
Henrietta, (Henri for short), has a learning disability which makes math concepts difficult for her to grasp. For seventh grade, she’s switching from a special education school to public school. Henri is eager to be mainstreamed; she looks forward to the new experiences ahead. Homework, soccer practice, time with new friends, however, adds up to a lot of hours of busyness. And the on-going feud with her sister/roommate over just about everything, including those new friends, does not make life easier. Henri wonders if 7th grade will “make her stronger”, or “kill her first!”
Great middle-grade realistic fiction! Henri is a character that anyone who has ever struggled with math can relate to! As well, there are themes about family relationships, and about the harm that can occur when people are judged unfairly about their backgrounds (ex.”Foster kids =trouble-makers”).
*Extra funny bonus-Henri has a pet corn-snake named “ William Snake-speare”!😂*
Henrietta, (Henri for short), has a learning disability which makes math concepts difficult for her to grasp. For seventh grade, she’s switching from a special education school to public school. Henri is eager to be mainstreamed; she looks forward to the new experiences ahead. Homework, soccer practice, time with new friends, however, adds up to a lot of hours of busyness. And the on-going feud with her sister/roommate over just about everything, including those new friends, does not make life easier. Henri wonders if 7th grade will “make her stronger”, or “kill her first!”
Great middle-grade realistic fiction! Henri is a character that anyone who has ever struggled with math can relate to! As well, there are themes about family relationships, and about the harm that can occur when people are judged unfairly about their backgrounds (ex.”Foster kids =trouble-makers”).
*Extra funny bonus-Henri has a pet corn-snake named “ William Snake-speare”!😂*
February 21, 2023
revisiting 7th grade isn't exactly my favorite thing to do, especially since I related to Henri's struggles very much! but she is a delightful character, and it was a joy seeing her self-confidence grow.
November 20, 2022
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Henrietta Weldon has an older brother and sister, Kat, who are much better in school than she is. Because she's struggled with dyscalculia, she's been attending a private school, but when her mother starts working on her PhD, money is tight and she has to attend public school. This is stressful, but she manages to make a few friends. Vinnie has a pet rat that he smuggles to school, and since Henri has a snake, she finds the pet fascinating. Kat is appalled that Henri sat with him at lunch, because he and his sisters, Ana and Lily are in foster care together. Lily bullied Kat the previous school year, and Kat is furious that Henri has put Kat on her radar again. It doesn't help that Vinnie is Henri's math tutor at school and is really helping her with her math. Henri and Kat have a lot of fights; they share a room, and Henri is messy while Kat is neat. Kat doesn't like Henri's snake, Wil, especially when he poops on the floor! Kat borrows Henri's clothes without asking. The problems with Vinnie and his family just add fuel to the flames. The parents are very supportive and big on working things out, even though the mother has a difficult relationship with her own sister because their styles are so different. Henri is tired of having to limit her activities because school is hard, and when Ana thinks she should try out for soccer, she asks her parents if she can. Her mother thinks she should concentrate on her school work, and feels that sports are unimportant, but Henri's aunt changes her mind. It is a struggle to juggle everything, and sometimes Henri disappoints herself; she wants to turn in a poem to the school literary magazine, but forgets. Will she be able to keep up with her schoolwork after she gets on the soccer team? And will she and Kat come to some kind of sisterly detente?
Strengths: Sibling relationships in middle school are such an enormous part of tweens' lives, and as adults, I think we forget about this. Kat and Henri have a strained relationship because of many small details of their lives, but underneath love each other and want to support each other. But when a snake poops in your room? The tween and teen reaction is to go straight to conflict! This is one of the best portraits of how family life affects tweens that I've seen. Henri's problems with math are given just enough time for us to see the impact of them on other aspects of her life, but don't overwhelm the story. Vinnie, his sisters, and Grandma Dot all offer helpful portrayals of the difficulties that kids in foster care face, and seeing how Kat views the family is interesting. Again, there are many of my students in this situation, and finding characters who have similar backgrounds but whose experience is not ALL problems is difficult. Davis' 2016 Peas and Carrots also did a good job at showing the interactions of foster kids in school settings. This book will appeal to readers who like friend drama, new school stories, or books like Delle Donne's Belle of the Ball or Hurwitz's 2011 Callie Be Gold, where middle school students have to work on their life balance.
Weaknesses: There were a lot of characters and a lot going on. Since I read really quickly, I got a bit confused at certain points, but that's more of a me problem.
What I really think: It's difficult to work math into a middle grade novel successfully, but there are some other examples where this is well done, including Souders' Dead Possums Are Fair Game (2015), Swenden's Solving for M (2019), and Kinard's The Boy Problem (2014). I liked that even though math plays a decently large role, it doesn't overwhelm Henri's other activities. This is a little younger than Davis' usual novels, which generally are at the upper end of the middle grade range, but Davis has shown that she can handle the middle of the middle grade experience as well. The cover is great as well, so I see this being a very popular title with readers who want a realistic story with a lot of friend drama.
Henrietta Weldon has an older brother and sister, Kat, who are much better in school than she is. Because she's struggled with dyscalculia, she's been attending a private school, but when her mother starts working on her PhD, money is tight and she has to attend public school. This is stressful, but she manages to make a few friends. Vinnie has a pet rat that he smuggles to school, and since Henri has a snake, she finds the pet fascinating. Kat is appalled that Henri sat with him at lunch, because he and his sisters, Ana and Lily are in foster care together. Lily bullied Kat the previous school year, and Kat is furious that Henri has put Kat on her radar again. It doesn't help that Vinnie is Henri's math tutor at school and is really helping her with her math. Henri and Kat have a lot of fights; they share a room, and Henri is messy while Kat is neat. Kat doesn't like Henri's snake, Wil, especially when he poops on the floor! Kat borrows Henri's clothes without asking. The problems with Vinnie and his family just add fuel to the flames. The parents are very supportive and big on working things out, even though the mother has a difficult relationship with her own sister because their styles are so different. Henri is tired of having to limit her activities because school is hard, and when Ana thinks she should try out for soccer, she asks her parents if she can. Her mother thinks she should concentrate on her school work, and feels that sports are unimportant, but Henri's aunt changes her mind. It is a struggle to juggle everything, and sometimes Henri disappoints herself; she wants to turn in a poem to the school literary magazine, but forgets. Will she be able to keep up with her schoolwork after she gets on the soccer team? And will she and Kat come to some kind of sisterly detente?
Strengths: Sibling relationships in middle school are such an enormous part of tweens' lives, and as adults, I think we forget about this. Kat and Henri have a strained relationship because of many small details of their lives, but underneath love each other and want to support each other. But when a snake poops in your room? The tween and teen reaction is to go straight to conflict! This is one of the best portraits of how family life affects tweens that I've seen. Henri's problems with math are given just enough time for us to see the impact of them on other aspects of her life, but don't overwhelm the story. Vinnie, his sisters, and Grandma Dot all offer helpful portrayals of the difficulties that kids in foster care face, and seeing how Kat views the family is interesting. Again, there are many of my students in this situation, and finding characters who have similar backgrounds but whose experience is not ALL problems is difficult. Davis' 2016 Peas and Carrots also did a good job at showing the interactions of foster kids in school settings. This book will appeal to readers who like friend drama, new school stories, or books like Delle Donne's Belle of the Ball or Hurwitz's 2011 Callie Be Gold, where middle school students have to work on their life balance.
Weaknesses: There were a lot of characters and a lot going on. Since I read really quickly, I got a bit confused at certain points, but that's more of a me problem.
What I really think: It's difficult to work math into a middle grade novel successfully, but there are some other examples where this is well done, including Souders' Dead Possums Are Fair Game (2015), Swenden's Solving for M (2019), and Kinard's The Boy Problem (2014). I liked that even though math plays a decently large role, it doesn't overwhelm Henri's other activities. This is a little younger than Davis' usual novels, which generally are at the upper end of the middle grade range, but Davis has shown that she can handle the middle of the middle grade experience as well. The cover is great as well, so I see this being a very popular title with readers who want a realistic story with a lot of friend drama.
July 30, 2023
A moving middle grade novel about a young poetry-loving African American tween who struggles with math and reading due to a learning disability called dyscalculia. Henri often feels like the underachiever in her family and wants to find something where she can excel. The chance to join the soccer team seems like an ideal opportunity if only she can convince her mother she can handle both soccer and school. Good on audio and perfect for fans of books like Good different or Barely floating.
November 11, 2023
Henri is a hot mess (IMHO); she's disorganized and forgetful. Her family comes across as dysfunctional with each family member into their own thing. Then she meets the Morgans, a family of four foster children who consider each brother and sister and have each other's back. She is excited to befriend Vinnie and Ana. Like Henri, Vinnie has an unusual pet; he has a rat and she has a snake. Ana encourages Henri in her interest in soccer (something that none of the other Weldons are interested in). Unfortunately, her sister Katherine does not approve of the friendship Can Henri balance homework, soccer and more? And what about the Morgans; are they her friends or her enemies? Can Henri befriend them and support her sister Katherine? Or will Katherine come to support Henri?
November 25, 2022
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in return for an honest review.
As a middle school math teacher I truly appreciate when I book addresses the difficulty that many students face when it comes to math because I think there are a lot of students who will be able to relate. Henri is juggling a new school, challenging classes (particularly math!), her pet snake, a new soccer team, and family and friend relationships. Unexpected new friendships remind her to solve things one step at a time instead of trying to tackle the whole problem at once.
As a middle school math teacher I truly appreciate when I book addresses the difficulty that many students face when it comes to math because I think there are a lot of students who will be able to relate. Henri is juggling a new school, challenging classes (particularly math!), her pet snake, a new soccer team, and family and friend relationships. Unexpected new friendships remind her to solve things one step at a time instead of trying to tackle the whole problem at once.
June 6, 2023
3.5 stars
July 6, 2023
I loved this book because Henri, The main character is trying to figure things out with Kat's old bully, The soccer games, and her snake! At The end she finally Figures It Out.
Read
May 11, 2024
Trigger & Content Warnings
Anxiety
Bullying
Anxiety
Bullying
March 19, 2025
Solid middle grade novel.
March 23, 2023
I read this book primarily because it's about a middle school girl, Henri, who deals with dyscalculia, a math learning disability. I'm not sure whether I have dsycalculia, but I have struggled with math since early elementary school, so I loved reading about a character I could resonate with.
There is a lot happening in this book, and as a result, parts of the story could have been better developed. We don't get much information about the private school Henri attended before starting public school in 7th grade and how they supported her math education. Also, Henri's sister, Kat, says some terribly mean things to and about Henri in front of their parents throughout the book, and I didn't like how the parents didn't address it. Kat was just as bad of a bully as she claims the Morgan kids are. There is also the whole narrative around There's also not much development of Henri's friendship with her lab mates in science class. I didn't feel like I knew the kids well.
Otherwise, this book gets points with me simply for shining a spotlight on students who have a hard time with math. As another reviewer wrote here, I feel seen.
There is a lot happening in this book, and as a result, parts of the story could have been better developed. We don't get much information about the private school Henri attended before starting public school in 7th grade and how they supported her math education. Also, Henri's sister, Kat, says some terribly mean things to and about Henri in front of their parents throughout the book, and I didn't like how the parents didn't address it. Kat was just as bad of a bully as she claims the Morgan kids are. There is also the whole narrative around There's also not much development of Henri's friendship with her lab mates in science class. I didn't feel like I knew the kids well.
Otherwise, this book gets points with me simply for shining a spotlight on students who have a hard time with math. As another reviewer wrote here, I feel seen.
July 7, 2025
7th grader Henrietta, Henri for short, has Dyscaculia making it hard for her to grapple with math concepts. Finally leaving her special education school behind, Henri starts public school. She makes new friends but her older sister Katherine dislikes them because one of them had bullied her when she was younger. That causes a rift between sisters as Henri tries to figure out if she should keep hanging out with her friends or ditch them because of what one of them did to her sister. On top of that, she tries for the soccer team, and gets in! She also finds out she really enjoys writing poetry and plans on entering a school contest. But with everything going on, Henri has zero time for herself and feels like no one in her family takes her seriously. This was a cute story about a girl navigating 7th grade, learning about time management and also trying to make herself heard in her family. This was a relatable story for me because even though I don't have a learning disability math isn't always easy for me. Cool thing was Henri also had a pet snake named Wil Snakespeare, I had never read a book with a character who had a pet snake. Definitely recommend!
January 1, 2025
Read Your World January 2025.
This month I was graciously #gifted Figure It Out, Henri Weldon by Tanita S. Davis @tanita_writes for one of my #ReadYourWorld reviews.
This book is a wonderful middle school tale about a young girl who struggles with dyscalculia, which is a learning disability that makes math extra challenging to understand. Henri has begun a new school, where she learns to navigate new friendships, new responsibilities, and lots of homework. At home, instead of finding the support of her family, she is faced with sibling issues and a lack of confidence in her from her parents. This diverse story is perfect in celebrating overcoming the difficulties we face in how we believe in ourselves when no one else seems like they do and in balancing life's problems no matter what's thrown at us.
I am a middle school librarian who is always looking for new material to offer my students. Figure It Out, Henri Weldon is perfect for them. Henrietta Weldon is a 7th grader at Alterra Junior/Senior High School; two schools that share a campus. My school is almost identical to this. The middle and high schools share a cafeteria, athletic fields, buses, etc. So, students mingle with all ages. My students will love the similarities they share with this book!
Additionally, Henri is a young black girl. The diversity in this book represents the diversity in my own school. I love that students will not only be able to see themselves in the age and school situation of the book, but also in the culture. Henri is a like-able character. I really enjoyed getting to know her and cheer for her as she waded through all of her new challenges. I also loved that her siblings were typical of all siblings. The arguments they had, the interactions they shared. All of which I see in my own children (one middle schooler with two older siblings, just like Henri). Even her friends and classmates at school were identical to how middle and high schoolers are. There will always be mean kids, nice kids, and kids labeled as odd or strange. It's when we dig below the surface that we start seeing exactly who those around us are.
In this book, Henri discovers what friendship really is, who she really is, and what family really is. Each of these themes are complex, and Davis captures that marvelously. Friendships are never cut and dry. There are parts about friendship that we learn to love, and parts we have to tolerate, and some things we choose not to tolerate as we let go of those friendships. Making new friends in a new school can be torturous. However, how we approach this can define who we are and who we become. Family dynamics are one of the hardest challenges we face in life. Family isn't chosen like friends are. Family isn't always easy to troubleshoot when it isn't going well. It's harder to walk away from a family relationship than it is a friend one. So, we have to learn to meet in the middle more often. Family is with us for life. Davis shows us through Henri how to meet these personalities head on and learn to adapt and rise above the differences.
While I'm much older than the intended audience of this book, I found myself immersed in the language. I spend most of my days surrounded by middle-schoolers and this felt just like I was back at school with them. When I introduce this book to my library next week, the students won't have any problem reading this. It's relatable and readable for their age level. There wasn't too much dialogue or too much description. In fact, there was the perfect balance of the two.
I do love the cover of this, the math calculations that float around the sky behind Henri. I'm not a math major, nor do I particularly enjoy math. When Henri was reading math word problems and percentages during her entrance test, I skipped over them. In that sense, Henri represents me. Math is the devil in my world. I can't make it work right for me and usually I will phone a friend if I have to actually do any kind of math during my day. The way the math swirls over her head on the cover, just out of reach and fading like clouds describes how math is to a T. I would pick this up in a store or a library to read. My students will as well.
For me, Figure It Out, Henri Weldon is a must-read, not just for middle schoolers, but also for anyone who deals with them on a a day-to-day basis. The understanding of that age group and how they think and the challenges they encounter I gained from this was extensive. I recommend this book to everyone. It was a five star read.
#gifted @tanita_writes #readyourworld #reviews #bookreviews #tanitasdavis #dyscalculia #mathishard #books #middleschoolreads #henriweldon #friendship #family
This month I was graciously #gifted Figure It Out, Henri Weldon by Tanita S. Davis @tanita_writes for one of my #ReadYourWorld reviews.
This book is a wonderful middle school tale about a young girl who struggles with dyscalculia, which is a learning disability that makes math extra challenging to understand. Henri has begun a new school, where she learns to navigate new friendships, new responsibilities, and lots of homework. At home, instead of finding the support of her family, she is faced with sibling issues and a lack of confidence in her from her parents. This diverse story is perfect in celebrating overcoming the difficulties we face in how we believe in ourselves when no one else seems like they do and in balancing life's problems no matter what's thrown at us.
I am a middle school librarian who is always looking for new material to offer my students. Figure It Out, Henri Weldon is perfect for them. Henrietta Weldon is a 7th grader at Alterra Junior/Senior High School; two schools that share a campus. My school is almost identical to this. The middle and high schools share a cafeteria, athletic fields, buses, etc. So, students mingle with all ages. My students will love the similarities they share with this book!
Additionally, Henri is a young black girl. The diversity in this book represents the diversity in my own school. I love that students will not only be able to see themselves in the age and school situation of the book, but also in the culture. Henri is a like-able character. I really enjoyed getting to know her and cheer for her as she waded through all of her new challenges. I also loved that her siblings were typical of all siblings. The arguments they had, the interactions they shared. All of which I see in my own children (one middle schooler with two older siblings, just like Henri). Even her friends and classmates at school were identical to how middle and high schoolers are. There will always be mean kids, nice kids, and kids labeled as odd or strange. It's when we dig below the surface that we start seeing exactly who those around us are.
In this book, Henri discovers what friendship really is, who she really is, and what family really is. Each of these themes are complex, and Davis captures that marvelously. Friendships are never cut and dry. There are parts about friendship that we learn to love, and parts we have to tolerate, and some things we choose not to tolerate as we let go of those friendships. Making new friends in a new school can be torturous. However, how we approach this can define who we are and who we become. Family dynamics are one of the hardest challenges we face in life. Family isn't chosen like friends are. Family isn't always easy to troubleshoot when it isn't going well. It's harder to walk away from a family relationship than it is a friend one. So, we have to learn to meet in the middle more often. Family is with us for life. Davis shows us through Henri how to meet these personalities head on and learn to adapt and rise above the differences.
While I'm much older than the intended audience of this book, I found myself immersed in the language. I spend most of my days surrounded by middle-schoolers and this felt just like I was back at school with them. When I introduce this book to my library next week, the students won't have any problem reading this. It's relatable and readable for their age level. There wasn't too much dialogue or too much description. In fact, there was the perfect balance of the two.
I do love the cover of this, the math calculations that float around the sky behind Henri. I'm not a math major, nor do I particularly enjoy math. When Henri was reading math word problems and percentages during her entrance test, I skipped over them. In that sense, Henri represents me. Math is the devil in my world. I can't make it work right for me and usually I will phone a friend if I have to actually do any kind of math during my day. The way the math swirls over her head on the cover, just out of reach and fading like clouds describes how math is to a T. I would pick this up in a store or a library to read. My students will as well.
For me, Figure It Out, Henri Weldon is a must-read, not just for middle schoolers, but also for anyone who deals with them on a a day-to-day basis. The understanding of that age group and how they think and the challenges they encounter I gained from this was extensive. I recommend this book to everyone. It was a five star read.
#gifted @tanita_writes #readyourworld #reviews #bookreviews #tanitasdavis #dyscalculia #mathishard #books #middleschoolreads #henriweldon #friendship #family
January 15, 2023
First I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the copy of the book for me to review. As a special education teacher, I am often drawn to stories about students or adults with learning disabilities or other special needs. The synopsis for this book mentioned the main character, Henri, leaving a special education school and mainstreaming into a general education school. It also mentioned that she had dyscalculia - which is a math learning disability. I have not seen this particular learning disability represented in books at all, so this interested me.
I was a bit confused then when reading the book, to find a seventh grader who did struggle with math, but I don't think the term dyscalculia was ever used to describe what she was dealing with. Nor did it ever say (unless I missed it) that she had been at a special education school. The storyline alluded to her having attended a private school that the family could no longer afford. This changes the tone of what kind of book it is - not that she is finally mainstreaming with general education students because of her abilities, but instead because of her family's economic status. Also, if her only learning disability was dyscalculia, it would be odd for her to be at a "special education school" in the first place.
Overall I felt like this book didn't know what it wanted to be. It was more or less a fish out of water story with Henri trying to learn how to fit in to 7th grade in a new school, while dealing with normal coming of age things such as trying to balance all of her commitments and sibling rivalry. Once or twice there was a nod to her needing to work harder because she is an "African American girl," but that was not the overall tone or point of the book either, so it was kind of tossed in there. Also tossed in there was her feeling like her family didn't support her or come together as a family unit, and then toward the end when her Mom attends her soccer game she starts to change her mind about how they act as a family. There was also major sibling rivalry with her sister which was never fully explained or resolved. Her sister is upset because Henri becomes friendly with a girl who used to bully her, and the book at one point tries to explore this - should she be friends with the bully? Was the girl a bully? What happened? But this is never resolved either and we still don't know what the storyline with the bully is all about.
Overall, this was a cute middle school read, Henri is a likeable character, but overall it seemed like a pretty typical middle school book about trying to learn where you fit in, at school, and in your family.
I was a bit confused then when reading the book, to find a seventh grader who did struggle with math, but I don't think the term dyscalculia was ever used to describe what she was dealing with. Nor did it ever say (unless I missed it) that she had been at a special education school. The storyline alluded to her having attended a private school that the family could no longer afford. This changes the tone of what kind of book it is - not that she is finally mainstreaming with general education students because of her abilities, but instead because of her family's economic status. Also, if her only learning disability was dyscalculia, it would be odd for her to be at a "special education school" in the first place.
Overall I felt like this book didn't know what it wanted to be. It was more or less a fish out of water story with Henri trying to learn how to fit in to 7th grade in a new school, while dealing with normal coming of age things such as trying to balance all of her commitments and sibling rivalry. Once or twice there was a nod to her needing to work harder because she is an "African American girl," but that was not the overall tone or point of the book either, so it was kind of tossed in there. Also tossed in there was her feeling like her family didn't support her or come together as a family unit, and then toward the end when her Mom attends her soccer game she starts to change her mind about how they act as a family. There was also major sibling rivalry with her sister which was never fully explained or resolved. Her sister is upset because Henri becomes friendly with a girl who used to bully her, and the book at one point tries to explore this - should she be friends with the bully? Was the girl a bully? What happened? But this is never resolved either and we still don't know what the storyline with the bully is all about.
Overall, this was a cute middle school read, Henri is a likeable character, but overall it seemed like a pretty typical middle school book about trying to learn where you fit in, at school, and in your family.
October 25, 2022
Tanita Davis has done a very nice job of creating a kids' book developed around children's problems. Henri Weldon has a learning disability specifically related to math. The issue is recognized by her family. In fact, until recently she attended a special school. She's now getting ready to attend a traditional school where her problem is still recognized and addressed. This is not a child surrounded by uncaring adults and left to fend for herself.
That's a big part of what I liked about this book. Because while Henri is supported, she still has problems. Which, sad to say, is life. Her problems are not those we often see in children's books, the problems adults value big time: Death, divorce, death, old age, death, illness, death, war, death, tragedies, and death. They are the real-life problems that children have and that are important to them.
Getting lost in the new school building. Sounds minor, but isn't being unable to find a classroom a classic adult dream? What's that about, huh? Henri's struggles to get around made me anxious for young family members who will be finding themselves at new schools.
Making friends. Not just in the sense of making any friends but making friends that will actually be friends for you. Minor? Then why are we always reading articles about how difficult it is for adults to make friends? It's not minor when it's us, is it?
Sibling issues. The one presented here is fantastic, because it's not about rivalry. It's about support. Should Henri be befriending someone who had a falling out with her sister, even bullied her?
Parent issues. Not parents fighting or getting a new boyfriend but parents who have their own work and time problems that they are dealing with in addition to being parents.
On top of that, foster children are portrayed in a realistically positive way here.
And, finally, Tanita is writing in the third person. Again, that doesn't sound like a big deal but not many children's books are written in the third person.
Many people are going to admire Figure It Out, Henri Weldon's portrayal of children with learning disabilities and in foster care. But it should also be admired for being a good book.
That's a big part of what I liked about this book. Because while Henri is supported, she still has problems. Which, sad to say, is life. Her problems are not those we often see in children's books, the problems adults value big time: Death, divorce, death, old age, death, illness, death, war, death, tragedies, and death. They are the real-life problems that children have and that are important to them.
Getting lost in the new school building. Sounds minor, but isn't being unable to find a classroom a classic adult dream? What's that about, huh? Henri's struggles to get around made me anxious for young family members who will be finding themselves at new schools.
Making friends. Not just in the sense of making any friends but making friends that will actually be friends for you. Minor? Then why are we always reading articles about how difficult it is for adults to make friends? It's not minor when it's us, is it?
Sibling issues. The one presented here is fantastic, because it's not about rivalry. It's about support. Should Henri be befriending someone who had a falling out with her sister, even bullied her?
Parent issues. Not parents fighting or getting a new boyfriend but parents who have their own work and time problems that they are dealing with in addition to being parents.
On top of that, foster children are portrayed in a realistically positive way here.
And, finally, Tanita is writing in the third person. Again, that doesn't sound like a big deal but not many children's books are written in the third person.
Many people are going to admire Figure It Out, Henri Weldon's portrayal of children with learning disabilities and in foster care. But it should also be admired for being a good book.
May 9, 2024
Representation: Black and Asian characters, character with dyscalculia
Trigger warnings: Bullying
Score: Six out of ten.
Find this review on The StoryGraph.
I wanted to enjoy Figure it Out, Henri Weldon by Tanita S. Davis more than I did, but I can't always get what I want. I only saw this one on a library shelf, and I only heard about it a few days ago. I checked the low ratings and adjusted my expectations, but when I closed the final page, I could've liked it more if only it received some improvements.
It starts with Henrietta Grace 'Henri' Weldon, recounting her life, particularly discussing a significant event, she transitioned from a school for neurodivergent people like her to a typical public school. I don't see how that can't go wrong, but okay. Sure. There was a lot to take in after that, though. Unfortunately, Figure it Out, Henri Weldon, has a lot of issues I'll address, but I'll start with the positive aspects, I liked Henri as a character, and I relate to her in a way because of her neurodivergence. I don't see a neurodivergent POC every day, either, as Henri is a young Black girl with dyscalculia, showing an example of intersectionality.
However, Figure it Out, Henri Weldon, stumbles with subplots, since there's a lot of them to put into a storyline that only lasts slightly above 300 pages. There's so many I'm unsure what the narrative is about. I'd assume it's about Henri trying to cope with a school designed for neurotypicals, but it lost focus. There's one about a sick pet snake, one involving character dynamics with her mother, another about Henri's interactions with another family, the Morgans, one about poetry and one about Henri joining the soccer team. Perhaps concentrating on one plot would improve the reading experience.
If Davis wanted to express all her points in her latest creation, there wasn't enough pages dedicated to every single part of the novel. Adding more pages would help. I only got a brief glimpse of the other side characters, like her sister, mother and other characters, like her tutor, Vinnie, and her peers, like Hayden (an Asian,) but I would appreciate the composition more if Davis dedicated more page time to them. The conclusion was alright as Henri 'figured herself out,' as I see her as a soccer player and a poet, but not a mathematician.
Trigger warnings: Bullying
Score: Six out of ten.
Find this review on The StoryGraph.
I wanted to enjoy Figure it Out, Henri Weldon by Tanita S. Davis more than I did, but I can't always get what I want. I only saw this one on a library shelf, and I only heard about it a few days ago. I checked the low ratings and adjusted my expectations, but when I closed the final page, I could've liked it more if only it received some improvements.
It starts with Henrietta Grace 'Henri' Weldon, recounting her life, particularly discussing a significant event, she transitioned from a school for neurodivergent people like her to a typical public school. I don't see how that can't go wrong, but okay. Sure. There was a lot to take in after that, though. Unfortunately, Figure it Out, Henri Weldon, has a lot of issues I'll address, but I'll start with the positive aspects, I liked Henri as a character, and I relate to her in a way because of her neurodivergence. I don't see a neurodivergent POC every day, either, as Henri is a young Black girl with dyscalculia, showing an example of intersectionality.
However, Figure it Out, Henri Weldon, stumbles with subplots, since there's a lot of them to put into a storyline that only lasts slightly above 300 pages. There's so many I'm unsure what the narrative is about. I'd assume it's about Henri trying to cope with a school designed for neurotypicals, but it lost focus. There's one about a sick pet snake, one involving character dynamics with her mother, another about Henri's interactions with another family, the Morgans, one about poetry and one about Henri joining the soccer team. Perhaps concentrating on one plot would improve the reading experience.
If Davis wanted to express all her points in her latest creation, there wasn't enough pages dedicated to every single part of the novel. Adding more pages would help. I only got a brief glimpse of the other side characters, like her sister, mother and other characters, like her tutor, Vinnie, and her peers, like Hayden (an Asian,) but I would appreciate the composition more if Davis dedicated more page time to them. The conclusion was alright as Henri 'figured herself out,' as I see her as a soccer player and a poet, but not a mathematician.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2023
THIS IS A NETGALLEY ARC REVIEW
______________________
Growing up I would've idolized a book like this one - one that normalized dyscalculia and neurodivergence struggles. There aren't enough middle-grade books about sensitive girls like Henri and I wish that this book would've been written while I was in middle school. Any young person who is neurodivergent, particularly those that struggle with math, will love reading about Henri's triumphs. Davis is able to write a story with numerous young adult voices and not have a single one sound forced or imaginary, but instead exactly like how kids talk. I've only ever come across one other book, My Thirteenth Winter: A Memoir, that discusses dyscalculia, so the fact that Davis makes this the focus of her book is something that I am eternally grateful for. Reading about a character whose brain works exactly like mine made me feel vindicated even as an adult.
Some of my favorite quotes:
"'Man, Henrietta, why you gotta always do everything the hard way?' Because. It was the only way her brain even sometimes worked to get the right answer."
"Dear Ms. Edana: I don't want to talk to math. Or have it talk to me. Thank you."
"Bus schedules were a torture made up by people who were never, ever late..."
"Henri really wished that Mom could understand how hard 'try' was when everyone was watching her - and judging."
"Why didn't they make it so money makes sense? I mean, why can't they, like, understand that there are people like me in the world, and this is hard?!"
"No matter what anybody said, things were fine. Everything was handled."
"This was the most Monday Friday, ever."
______________________
Growing up I would've idolized a book like this one - one that normalized dyscalculia and neurodivergence struggles. There aren't enough middle-grade books about sensitive girls like Henri and I wish that this book would've been written while I was in middle school. Any young person who is neurodivergent, particularly those that struggle with math, will love reading about Henri's triumphs. Davis is able to write a story with numerous young adult voices and not have a single one sound forced or imaginary, but instead exactly like how kids talk. I've only ever come across one other book, My Thirteenth Winter: A Memoir, that discusses dyscalculia, so the fact that Davis makes this the focus of her book is something that I am eternally grateful for. Reading about a character whose brain works exactly like mine made me feel vindicated even as an adult.
Some of my favorite quotes:
"'Man, Henrietta, why you gotta always do everything the hard way?' Because. It was the only way her brain even sometimes worked to get the right answer."
"Dear Ms. Edana: I don't want to talk to math. Or have it talk to me. Thank you."
"Bus schedules were a torture made up by people who were never, ever late..."
"Henri really wished that Mom could understand how hard 'try' was when everyone was watching her - and judging."
"Why didn't they make it so money makes sense? I mean, why can't they, like, understand that there are people like me in the world, and this is hard?!"
"No matter what anybody said, things were fine. Everything was handled."
"This was the most Monday Friday, ever."
June 22, 2024
2.5
"Figure It Out, Henri Weldon" follows the story of seventh grader Henrietta Weldon as she transitions from a special education school to a public school, marking a significant change in her academic and social life. Henri is excited about this new chapter, looking forward to a fresh schedule, new friends, and new classes. However, she faces the challenge of managing her dyscalculia, a learning disability that makes math difficult for her.
While Henri anticipated struggles with her learning disability, she didn't foresee the family drama that would ensue, particularly the feud with her sister over her new friends. On top of that, Henri joins the girls' soccer team and discovers a new passion for poetry. Her new friend and tutor, Vinnie, helps her navigate these changes, reminding her to take things one step at a time.
I thought "Figure It Out, Henri Weldon" was an average read. While it touches on significant themes such as learning disabilities, sibling relationships, and the transition to a new school environment, it lacks cohesion and depth. The narrative feels disjointed at times, with the storyline oscillating between feeling too mature and too elementary for a middle school setting.
There was just an excessive number of plot points, which include Henri's new school experience, her mother's return to school, bedroom-sharing issues with her sister, making the soccer team, struggling with schoolwork, a sick pet snake, and forming new friendships. This plethora of events makes the story feel crowded and unfocused, with some plot points left unresolved.
Overall, while the book has its strengths, particularly in its realistic portrayal of a young girl dealing with dyscalculia, it doesn't fully succeed in weaving these elements into a compelling and cohesive narrative.
"Figure It Out, Henri Weldon" follows the story of seventh grader Henrietta Weldon as she transitions from a special education school to a public school, marking a significant change in her academic and social life. Henri is excited about this new chapter, looking forward to a fresh schedule, new friends, and new classes. However, she faces the challenge of managing her dyscalculia, a learning disability that makes math difficult for her.
While Henri anticipated struggles with her learning disability, she didn't foresee the family drama that would ensue, particularly the feud with her sister over her new friends. On top of that, Henri joins the girls' soccer team and discovers a new passion for poetry. Her new friend and tutor, Vinnie, helps her navigate these changes, reminding her to take things one step at a time.
I thought "Figure It Out, Henri Weldon" was an average read. While it touches on significant themes such as learning disabilities, sibling relationships, and the transition to a new school environment, it lacks cohesion and depth. The narrative feels disjointed at times, with the storyline oscillating between feeling too mature and too elementary for a middle school setting.
There was just an excessive number of plot points, which include Henri's new school experience, her mother's return to school, bedroom-sharing issues with her sister, making the soccer team, struggling with schoolwork, a sick pet snake, and forming new friendships. This plethora of events makes the story feel crowded and unfocused, with some plot points left unresolved.
Overall, while the book has its strengths, particularly in its realistic portrayal of a young girl dealing with dyscalculia, it doesn't fully succeed in weaving these elements into a compelling and cohesive narrative.
November 20, 2022
This is a warm and funny middle grade novel about navigating a new school, a learning disability, sisters, and adolescence. As someone who grew up with 3 big sisters, I could totally relate to all the friction and room-sharing issues! Henri's juggling so many things, and neither she nor her family really has any confidence she can handle all of it. You root for Henri because she's trying so dang hard! And bolstered by new friends (who are also a source of friction), loads of coping strategies, a sense of humor, and her pet rat, Henri does indeed figure it out.
I especially love the Poetry Friday aspect--a real-life phenomenon that lets Henri start to see herself in a different way. This whole novel is a novel of discovery--about all the things that make Henri who she is, but also about various issues that all the characters are struggling with--even the less likeable ones. It's a great reminder that we never know all the challenges someone else is facing. While Henri might just seem forgetful or careless at first glance, we see behind the curtain to all the ways she's working so hard EVEN to be at the stage where people think she's just forgetful or careless.
Besides poetry and math, there's also a pet rat, a soccer team, and a lot of Henri's funny narrative voice. "Outside Discussions were a lot." "...and Henri would have died of relief, but Coach Bonnie didn't allow dying on the field." And there's some beautiful writing and some real insight. "Lily is her 'real' sister. Families we get stuck with we can still choose to make our real families." Amen.
All in all, a satisfying and even inspiring read!
Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I especially love the Poetry Friday aspect--a real-life phenomenon that lets Henri start to see herself in a different way. This whole novel is a novel of discovery--about all the things that make Henri who she is, but also about various issues that all the characters are struggling with--even the less likeable ones. It's a great reminder that we never know all the challenges someone else is facing. While Henri might just seem forgetful or careless at first glance, we see behind the curtain to all the ways she's working so hard EVEN to be at the stage where people think she's just forgetful or careless.
Besides poetry and math, there's also a pet rat, a soccer team, and a lot of Henri's funny narrative voice. "Outside Discussions were a lot." "...and Henri would have died of relief, but Coach Bonnie didn't allow dying on the field." And there's some beautiful writing and some real insight. "Lily is her 'real' sister. Families we get stuck with we can still choose to make our real families." Amen.
All in all, a satisfying and even inspiring read!
Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 7, 2023
I recieved a free eARC of this book, thank you for the opportunity to read it.
Henri is starting 7th grade at a new school. She's previously attended a small private one. See, Henri struggles with math, and sometimes other things. The author's note at the beginning explains that Henri has dyscalculia, Henri also obviously struggles with executive functioning in some ways. However, she is comfortable in a world of words, is a talented poet, and while left and right are confusing, she can run. I believe neurodiverse kids will see themselves in Henri's strengths and weaknesses. Henri pulled me in as she explained "Wil Snakespeare's" morph, because that's exactly the kid of detail that many neurodiverse kids thrive on, and a lot of kids will relate to,
When Henri gets to school, without much support from her sister, she connects with the Morgan family. Anna wants her to join the soccer team, Vinnie, and his rat, Fratty, help her with math, and Lily welcomes her to her lunch table. Except that Henri's sister, Katherine, hates Lily and doesn't want Henri around them, Pulled between family and friends, and between the need to focus on her weaknesses, but that she also now has people who encourage and admire her for her strengths, ans the need to juggle family and school, Henri works to find her place in the world.
This is a solid, enjoyable middle grade book. It has a lot of points where kids can connect to it, whether it be neurodiversity, sibling dynamics, or wanting to smuggle your pet rat to school, It deserves inclusion in schools and communities, particularly in libraries.
Henri is starting 7th grade at a new school. She's previously attended a small private one. See, Henri struggles with math, and sometimes other things. The author's note at the beginning explains that Henri has dyscalculia, Henri also obviously struggles with executive functioning in some ways. However, she is comfortable in a world of words, is a talented poet, and while left and right are confusing, she can run. I believe neurodiverse kids will see themselves in Henri's strengths and weaknesses. Henri pulled me in as she explained "Wil Snakespeare's" morph, because that's exactly the kid of detail that many neurodiverse kids thrive on, and a lot of kids will relate to,
When Henri gets to school, without much support from her sister, she connects with the Morgan family. Anna wants her to join the soccer team, Vinnie, and his rat, Fratty, help her with math, and Lily welcomes her to her lunch table. Except that Henri's sister, Katherine, hates Lily and doesn't want Henri around them, Pulled between family and friends, and between the need to focus on her weaknesses, but that she also now has people who encourage and admire her for her strengths, ans the need to juggle family and school, Henri works to find her place in the world.
This is a solid, enjoyable middle grade book. It has a lot of points where kids can connect to it, whether it be neurodiversity, sibling dynamics, or wanting to smuggle your pet rat to school, It deserves inclusion in schools and communities, particularly in libraries.
February 16, 2023
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Figure It Out, Henri Weldon is a sweet coming-of-age middle grade title about the various issues kids that age deal with, especially as Black kids and/or children with learning disabilities. Henri has dyscalculia, which makes math difficult for her, and a large plotline in the book is her frustration with it and figuring out various things related to numbers and how they work. While I don’t personally struggle with that disability, I found her struggles relatable, as I also am not particularly fond of math, and I love how she expressed the little ways things related to numbers and doing sums don’t make sense. Her tangent about how the appearance of American currency doesn’t make sense to their actual value is particularly insightful, and it definitely made me pause and think, “Yeah, that is weird.”
I also liked that she enjoyed writing, which further deepened my kinship with her. She expresses many deeply personal insights about the things she’s going through, from her ongoing struggle with math to her issues with her classmates to the tensions she has with her older sister. All of these issues are relatable to varying degrees to many kids, and will speak to them and show they’re not alone.
This is a cute book, and I’d recommend it to kids and their families who may be going through similar things.
Figure It Out, Henri Weldon is a sweet coming-of-age middle grade title about the various issues kids that age deal with, especially as Black kids and/or children with learning disabilities. Henri has dyscalculia, which makes math difficult for her, and a large plotline in the book is her frustration with it and figuring out various things related to numbers and how they work. While I don’t personally struggle with that disability, I found her struggles relatable, as I also am not particularly fond of math, and I love how she expressed the little ways things related to numbers and doing sums don’t make sense. Her tangent about how the appearance of American currency doesn’t make sense to their actual value is particularly insightful, and it definitely made me pause and think, “Yeah, that is weird.”
I also liked that she enjoyed writing, which further deepened my kinship with her. She expresses many deeply personal insights about the things she’s going through, from her ongoing struggle with math to her issues with her classmates to the tensions she has with her older sister. All of these issues are relatable to varying degrees to many kids, and will speak to them and show they’re not alone.
This is a cute book, and I’d recommend it to kids and their families who may be going through similar things.
May 10, 2023
My Rating: 4. A neurodivergent seventh grader must "figure out" how to navigate new friendships, the dreadful math homework, and sisterhood.
Thank you HarperCollins Children’s Books for providing an e-book copy through NetGalley.
Synopsis/What I Liked:
It is refreshing to see a young Black protagonist go through normal and neurodivergent struggles in realistic fiction. Henri has dyscalculia, a learning disability that makes math challenging to process and understand. So when she (finally) transfers to a public school for the 7th grade, she thinks that math is going to be her only problem. Turns out that making new friends, meeting family expectations, and adverse sisterhood are also issues that she has to face, much to her confusion. Her overachieving mother and laid-back father don’t seem to get her at all, her sister grows more and more antagonistic each day, and a new group of kids who are labeled as “bad” turn out to be the opposite. Henri has to “figure out” all these moving parts in her new social and family life, all while not failing math on top of it. Henri herself is warm and charming, and the other characters bring their own unique voice and energy to the story. Watching her join the soccer team, develop a love for poetry, and learn how to juggle all of her activities is a treat for readers. Henri and her family are African-American, and the kids she meets are a mix of ethnicities.
What I Didn’t Like:
The conflict resolution between Henri and her sister feels partly unresolved. Henri’s sister has been mean, rude, and abrasive toward Henri the entire story, but then she performs one act of kindness and all is forgiven. There needed to be a bigger or more emotional payoff between the two sisters, because right now the story feels unfinished as it is. This can also be said with Henri’s parents (though it’s not as drastic): The book ends with neither fully understanding how Henri feels, so readers are left hanging for emotional resolution.
Who Would I Recommend This To: Middle school students
Review Date: February 15, 2023
Thank you HarperCollins Children’s Books for providing an e-book copy through NetGalley.
Synopsis/What I Liked:
It is refreshing to see a young Black protagonist go through normal and neurodivergent struggles in realistic fiction. Henri has dyscalculia, a learning disability that makes math challenging to process and understand. So when she (finally) transfers to a public school for the 7th grade, she thinks that math is going to be her only problem. Turns out that making new friends, meeting family expectations, and adverse sisterhood are also issues that she has to face, much to her confusion. Her overachieving mother and laid-back father don’t seem to get her at all, her sister grows more and more antagonistic each day, and a new group of kids who are labeled as “bad” turn out to be the opposite. Henri has to “figure out” all these moving parts in her new social and family life, all while not failing math on top of it. Henri herself is warm and charming, and the other characters bring their own unique voice and energy to the story. Watching her join the soccer team, develop a love for poetry, and learn how to juggle all of her activities is a treat for readers. Henri and her family are African-American, and the kids she meets are a mix of ethnicities.
What I Didn’t Like:
The conflict resolution between Henri and her sister feels partly unresolved. Henri’s sister has been mean, rude, and abrasive toward Henri the entire story, but then she performs one act of kindness and all is forgiven. There needed to be a bigger or more emotional payoff between the two sisters, because right now the story feels unfinished as it is. This can also be said with Henri’s parents (though it’s not as drastic): The book ends with neither fully understanding how Henri feels, so readers are left hanging for emotional resolution.
Who Would I Recommend This To: Middle school students
Review Date: February 15, 2023
June 19, 2023
Henri Weldon's efforts to balance home life, school work, and soccer make up the heart of this relatable middle grade novel. Henrietta, called Henri, struggles to adapt to a public middle school after attending a private school to help with her learning disability. She befriends a group of foster siblings much to her sister's dismay and tries out for the soccer team despite her family's doubts of her ability to handle it on top of her school work. Increasing conflict with her sister and feeling a lack of support from her family leads Henri to attempt to juggle everything on her own which naturally leads to her making mistakes. The ups and downs of her relationships felt realistic and empathy-inducing. The relationships Henri develops with her science lab group provide an interesting side story. The connections Henri makes with the Morgans makes for the most interesting aspects of the story as she learns about Lily Morgan's bullying of her sister but care for her family. Her growing friendship with Vinnie as he tutors her in math and their common interest in animals was especially enjoyable as was her growing friendship with Ana which leads her to try out for soccer. I found the story quite compelling as I become invested in Henri's life and activities. The secondary characters added a great deal to the story with their various relationships with Henri and the ups and downs of those relationships. Henri's family feels very much like a realistic family with their conflicts and misunderstandings but willingness to support each other despite their disagreements. I thoroughly enjoyed this realistic tale of a middle schooler trying hard to 'figure it out'.
January 17, 2023
“Figure it out, Henri Weldon” is a middle grade slice of life of Henrietta, who has had to go to public school, because her parents are trying to save money, and she has to learn to work with her dyscalculia (a bit like dyslexia for numbers), and her parents just keep saying she has to figure it out.
There are mean girls, and mean siblings, but what I like is that Henri figures out that just because someone is mean to someone else, it doesn’t mean they are always mean, or that their siblings are mean. She ends up making friends with a family that her sister doesn’t like, who keeps warning her against them.
Despite not feeling as though she is smart, Henri figures things out, such as how to write poetry, and how to play soccer, despite what others around her think.
What is nice about this novel is that there is no brilliant solution to Henri’s woes at the end of the book, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t grow and change. Because disabilities don’t have to be fixed in order for the character to grow.
Thanks to Edelweiss for making this book available for an honest review.
There are mean girls, and mean siblings, but what I like is that Henri figures out that just because someone is mean to someone else, it doesn’t mean they are always mean, or that their siblings are mean. She ends up making friends with a family that her sister doesn’t like, who keeps warning her against them.
Despite not feeling as though she is smart, Henri figures things out, such as how to write poetry, and how to play soccer, despite what others around her think.
What is nice about this novel is that there is no brilliant solution to Henri’s woes at the end of the book, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t grow and change. Because disabilities don’t have to be fixed in order for the character to grow.
Thanks to Edelweiss for making this book available for an honest review.
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