The Life of Me: Enter at Your Own Risk

Hank Zipzer #14

by Henry Winkler

When Ms. Adolf hurts her back in a tango contest and goes on long-term leave, Mr. Rock (the music teacher) is called in as the sub. Hank is psyched until Mr. Rock suggests that Hank attend an after-school reading program, which means he'll miss tae kwon do.

Genres: Middle Grade, Childrens

186 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2008

About the author

Henry Winkler is instantly recognizable and admired by audiences of all ages for his role as the Fonz on the long-running series, Happy Days. In addition, he is an award-winning producer and director of family and children's programming. He is also the author of the critically-acclaimed Hank Zipzer series, which follows the everyday adventures of a bright boy with learning challenges.

Mr. Winkler has also continued his acting career on the big screen, including a Golden Globe nomination for his performance in Nightshift, a starring role in the box-office hit Scream, and co-starring roles in The Water Boy, and Holes. On television, he has guest-starred on ABC's The Practice and NBC's Law & Order: SVU. He recently starred on Broadway for nine months in Neil Simon's play The Dinner Party.

Mr. Winkler is deeply committed to children's welfare and works with numerous children's groups. He is involved with The MacLaren Children's Center (a facility for abused children), The National Committee for Arts for the Handicapped, The Special Olympics, and The Los Angeles Music Center's Very Special Arts Festival, as well as numerous teenage alcohol and drug abuse programs. He is a founding member of the Children's Action Network, a non-profit organization that sponsors informational briefings for writers, producers and directors on children's issues and serves as a clearing-house for the entertainment industry on children's issues.

Reviews

[Jermaine McIntosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

These books are very well written.They keep my attention, and are fun and enjoyable to read. The humor is age appropriate. This book is great for someone with dyslexia, these stories do an amazing job of capturing the experience of living with, and learning to deal with, learning disabilities. They are great reads just as books, but for young people with learning disabilities or people close to them, they will provide encouragement and support also.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious! The Life of Me is a wonderful book that I think will be especially appreciated by boys who are reluctant readers as a result of learning disabilities.

So I didn't start this series at Book #1, I started it at Book #14. That said, I didn't need any background history of the characters in order to fully enjoy the sense of humor and the realistic point-of-view of the main character: Hank Zipzer, a dynamic fifth grade boy who has fallen deep into "like" with a "blue-eyed, hat-wearing, learning-challenged, drumstick-carrying roundhouse kicker" named Zoe (46). Zoe also happens to be the cousin of the biggest bully in school, Nick McNulty.

Hank's vividly imaginative descriptions (including his chapters that are mental lists of come-backs to Nick's verbal abuse) perfectly capture the helter-skelter thought process of an eleven-year-old boy.

There is a reason why Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver have been on The New York Times best-selling list with the Hank Zipzer series. It's a treat to read :-)

[Marblesaurus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely a five-star story! Hank falls in love with this nice girl who actually is a cousin of his enemy, Nick McKelty. And in this book, finally his father realizes how much he's been making Hank's life even more difficult without knowing. I can sense the series is really heading toward the end. Only 3 books to go...

[Brett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Hank Zipzer, & this book is as strong as the others.

[Ariel · Rating 2 out of 5]

it was okay

[Stacia Leigh]

Characters were well developed and the dialogue flowed nicely.

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ready for the next one!

[Yasuko · Rating 2 out of 5]

2012.1.14 31085words

[Lance-Austin R · Rating 5 out of 5]

good book

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am finding it interesting to walk through the various components of Hank's sordid experiences in navigating life as to only a fifth grader, but also a fifth grade boy with learning issues. In this installment, Hank has to make the difficult choice as an 11-yr old to give up tae kwon do class over reading gym, an experience that many can commiserate with in finding need to sacrifice what we are excited about for what is needed in the moment. Hank demonstrates challenges in voluntarily making this decision, a sacrifice most fifth graders would not have the wherewithal to follow through with, although with some motivational factors involved in leading him down this road. Hank finds a connection with his blooming sense of identity and inspiration from others while learning to stand up for himself and others easily targeted for their differences, another major challenge for any kid his age to face, much less give a voice to directly in front of peers and pressure to conform or give in. I appreciated the sense of not only discussing the various complexities of learning challenges from a child's perspective in this story, but also standing up to the bullying and social features that are often overlooked in cases such as Hank's, where other children, through their own blunt ignorance and lack of cognitive flexibility in accepting and understanding others, are often made fun of and tacked with emotional challenges and social problems that don't necessarily accompany the experiences of typically developing children. While Hank's voice was much more mature in giving voice to his differences and his intolerance for intolerance of others (as this was, again, written by adults), it gives a springboard for other kids following Hank's lead to know exactly what to say, what to stand for, and when to know that the behavior of others is absolutely NOT okay in treating others differently. Not only is this a book for children like Hank, but also for those that are potential allies, the bystanders that also have a voice in tearing down bullying and injustice. I gave this four stars because I did enjoy it and thought the content was great for this reason, although still struggle with the conceptualization of Hank being so wise beyond his years and knowing what to say, often sounding just like the adult reflecting upon his own childhood experiences rather than coming from the child he is in the moment. However, I do appreciate the ferocity of this message conveyed in this book and still consider this as a wonderful opportunity for children of any age and developmental status to appreciate as a way to be proud of one's unique character and traits.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read half of this book on a four hour plane ride and the rest a few days later. This isn't my first time reading Hank Zipzer books, but it just might be my favorite.
For starters, it's absolutely hilarious and I laughed out loud so many times!
I love Henry Winkler to pieces and it's so wonderful that he and Lin Oliver created Hank Zipzer.
Although it starts out funny, the story takes a dramatic turn and the result is a positive one. I won't get into the details, bit I loved the storyline and all of the characters; even Nick The Tick McKelty and how Hank, Ashley and Frankie cope with him.
It's a wonderful, positive, upbeat and hilarious story. I absolutely loved it! The back of the book is the best, with the scrapbook that Hank shared with the readers (Thanks, Hank. You did a wonderful job!) and I really loved that Henry and Lin shared their personal "scrapbooks" as well.
Such a fun book series. I'm anxious to read them all. And if you've never met Henry Winkler, I speak from experience that he's a wonderful man. I'm so happy that his writing career is going so well and that he helps others through his writing. I learned several things about Tae Kwan Do and about Writing. I love that he refers to them as "Learning Differences " instead of "Learning Disabilities ". It's a wonderful thing.

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out of the 16 books available in the Zipzer series, this is now my favourite for a few reasons. First, Hank really begins to accept his learning disability; he also chooses to seek extra help for it. Now true, there is a female interest that draws him to that option but when a young person chooses reading gym over Tae Kwon Do, you know something serious is up. Hank has his first crush and Zoe is in the reading gym also. Hank also tries to keep this change in after-school activities a secret from his dad. But best of all Hank learns how to describe his life with his learning challenges and how it feels to live and struggle with them day in and day out. In learning to admit he has a problem and really working on it, Hank learns how to communicate his struggles and feelings that have been pent up for years.

What is remarkable about this book, and the series as a whole, is the ability by the authors to capture the essence of struggling with a learning disability. I was diagnosed in grade 2 because of a very persistent teacher, but many people are now being diagnosed in college, university and even in the workforce. I know many people who were not diagnosed in school and feel the way Hank does, but they did not know why. These books, even though written for children, are excellent for anyone struggling with learning disabilities, no matter their age. For they will help them see it is not just them and in Hank will see a mirror of some of their own experiences. These books are wonderfully written and are also fun to read. I highly recommend them.

[Debra Hahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having a courageous heart for others

In this book it shows how difficult it is when people tease and make
fun of people with learning problems. So when other people stand up for them. It takes a lot of courage. Especially when you’re hat person has a learning disability. This book is one that all kids should read. Then talk to their kids about it. My hat gos off to Hank for his
Courage to speak up and out to bullies like Mcnulyy.
Debra H.

[Momento Elmetwaly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book but I didn't like that hank can't read and all that and I liked his daily life I wanted when he was doing the bowling duel with the bully I wanted him to win and the girl gets impressed that hank gets his first kiss 💋 anyway I still liked it

[Annabelle Kocher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series sooooooo much, I just wish they were on Audible more than just the first four

[Bada Valentine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sounds like an intresting book to read, worst because I love Hank Zipzer books so much.

[Penney Letbetter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure how fair it is to give this book 3 stars. It's a good book. It just didn't meet my fancy at the time. I am more excited about his newer series about Hank because of the font used. But that doesn't apply here.
The story is pretty good. But I haven't read the first books in the series. Maybe things might make more sense if I had, but I do not feel like I was missing out on anything.

[Jnase1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably my favorite HZ yet. Little Hanky's growing up. =)

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Fair book that I finally got around to reading. Enjoyed it more than I was expecting.