Barfing in the Backseat: How I Survived My Family Road Trip

Hank Zipzer #12

by Henry Winkler, Lin Oliver, Jesse Joshua Watson (Illustrations)

Hank's dad has decided to enter a crossword-puzzle tournament, and he wants to make a family road trip of it! So the family piles into the car—along with Frankie and Katherine the iguana (Hank and Emily each get to bring a "friend"). When they reach their destination, they'll get to spend the day at a roller-coaster park during Hank's dad's tournament! The only caveat is that Hank has a homework packet to finish before they get there . . . which he somehow manages to lose at a stop along the way. Suddenly, Hank doesn't feel so good . . . Can Hank and Frankie rescue the lost packet and get Hank on a roller coaster?

Genres: Middle Grade, Childrens, Travel, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary, Humor

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

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

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun! My first attempt at Hank Zipzer. Now I can confidently recommend this series. Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver are the authors. (Yes, that Henry Winkler!) Hank is excited about the family road trip but the homework packet that is accompanying him has proved challenging. Here is a sample of the writing in the story that cracked me up:
"While Frankie got dressed, I strolled into the bathroom and found all the little bottles of free stuff they give in hotels. I love those little bottles. I jumped in the shower and washed my hair with green apple shampoo and conditioned it with a strawberry-smelling cream. I rinsed my mouth with minty mouthwash and finished off things with a peach body lotion. When I was done, I was a walking fruit cocktail."

[Kanon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a funny book! This book just pulled me in on the first page. This book is about the Zipzers family on a road trip to the crossword puzzle tournament. Everyone in the family except for the parents liked the idea. The kids, (Hank and Emily) didn't like the idea at all. But his mom said that there is a rollercoaster's park there. So he called Frankie if he can come to it, and said yes! THEY WERE SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They went to the last day of school before winter break. The day went out fine. When it was ten seconds before the last bell rang, Hank and Frankie, were counting down. Ten... nine... eight... seven... six... five... four... three... two... one...RRRRIIINNNNGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They ran outside to the yard when Mrs. Adolf called Hank. Hank was so scared because when you are called by her, something bad will happen. Hank got a homework packet that is about 1,0000 pages!!! He had to do it no matter what.
They went in the car the day after the last day of school before winter break. They went to so many places. But when they left the empty homework packet to one of the hotels, they went through so many things. Talking, screaming, and arguing. The serious argue was when Hank's dad noticed the homework packet was empty! He told him that he can't go on the rollercoaster's! It was the only reason he wanted to go on the family road trip!

[Evy · Rating 3 out of 5]

All the Hank Zipzer books I find to be hilarious and exciting. If you are more of an adventure person, I suggest you pick up another series, because Hank rarely ever leaves his school (to his dismay) or bed. However, in Barfing in the Backseat: How I Survived My Family Road Trip, there is more physical adventure (walking-to, driving-to) than in the other Hank Zipzer books. There's standing up in a Crossword Competition, there's calling a Frenchman for a homework packet, there's even the walking, standing up process to trade seats with an iguana, but there is NOT the one think Hank wants: the riding of a rollercoaster. Or yet, at least.
There's something else, though: inviting one of his best friends, Frankie Townsend, to go with him on his Zipzer family road trip to go to this really exciting, terribly terrifying rollercoaster park.
I put down the Zipzer series for a while but was welcomed back with this very hilarious story of how Hank Zipzer just barely survived his family road trip.

[Victor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think Hank gonna get in big trouble because he left his homwork in the hotel. I think because of all the eximent and the fun he froget his packet.
Because he was so exited about going on that roller coaster so he frogot his packet.
This makes me think that Hank in that time he wasn't caring about his homework because he would'v not left it in the hotel the last place.I think he should ow Frankie Towsend Alot because he gave up his basket ball game his money and hi vacation to help Hank.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first of this series that I have read. Loved it! Very clever writing. Loved the whole premise of the 2 boys having major problems with lost homework and then having to deal with the consequences of lying about it.

I thought it had great humour, made me laugh out loud. It had a very easy rhythm to it. Read it in one hit.

I also loved how this boy (Hank) has a learning problem and how he explains it in words kids will relate to... Good points of interest for boys, with the mention of the huge rollercoasters. Good storyline. I liked how there were consequences to his actions and his Dad stuck to them! This is not portrayed very often in kids books.

This would be great for 8+ boys (and girls like me!)

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious! I love this series, especially for my lower-level readers. Hank's Zipzer is great: his candidness about his learning differences always makes him a sympathetic character, and his ability to see the humor in any situation makes him a fun first-person narrator! In addition, family road-trips are always a recipe for both disaster and comedy :-) ...especially when your little sister insists on bringing her iguana along for the ride, you stay overnight at a honeybee farm, and your final destination is a national crossword puzzle contest! Winkler and Oliver have partnered up to write a wonderfully enjoyable series, and this installment (#12) doesn't disappoint.

[Jbussen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love HW. More so now in his golden years than as "the Fonz". That being said I think this book series is popular because he has something to do with it. Nothing good or bad here, just a book. Would the 12 year old me like this book? IDK, it is so very meh. TBF I have to say I'm 50+ and sometimes pick up children's books and conjure the 12 year old me and try to be young again. It's a 50-50 hit or miss but if a book can make me feel like a kid again, priceless. I was hoping this would hit because the child in me remembers when the "Fonz" was the king of cool! This one didn't hit the mark for me.

[Owen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good. Hank is going on a road trip, wich he thinks will be the best few days of his life. But things change when he gets a 900 page homework packet from his teacher, Ms. Adlof. On top of that, if he doesn't complete it by the time they get to Roller Coaster Kingdom, wich is his choise, no rides for him, and he has to go to the National Crossword Puzzle Chamionship. Plus, as the name suggests, he nearly barfs in the backseat.

[Marblesaurus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Different from the books before of this series, I couldn't tell where the story was heading. I even got irritated with Hank, which I rarely did. And then came the real good twist at the end. After all I liked it very much. I didn't like Hank's father much because he seems hot to understand his son's difficulties well, but in this book we could see Hank and his father made peace and became good friends.

[Kendall 11-12 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hank Zipzer try's to stay positive on this road trip that his dad is taking him on but he just can't seem to get the nice words out of his mouth just like me when I have nothing nice to say. I liked this book a lot. When they wear getting ready to leave to go on the road trip that was my favorite part because Hank didn't want to go but his dad was so existed about going. And sometimes I really don't want to go places but people think I do so they make me go anyways.

[Kenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book aloud to my 9 year old son, and we both enjoyed it. There were many parts that we both laughed out loud. I have long been a fan of Henry Wrinkler as an actor; now I am a fan of Henry Wrinkler as a children's author. This series is wonderful for boys, especially if they are reluctant readers. This will not be the only book in this series for my son and I. We have already started another one!

[Duane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another great book in the Hank Zipzer series by Henry Winkler. Hank finds himself on a family road trip but he can't enjoy himself completely because his dreaded teacher actually gave him homework to do on the trip! A enjoyable read.

[2 Alex E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ths was my favorite of the Hank Zipzer series, because he wants really badly to go to an amusement park but he has to do a homework packet first, which is really hard to do. In the end, he ends up having to go to his dad's crossword puzzle tournament

[Jamie]

I read this book and liked it! It was funny and about travling ( two things I like in a book!) I reccomend this book

[Characters With Disabilities]

LD

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

i feel bad for hank in this book

[Brett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hank Zipzer remains sympathetic & likable, even when he does things he shouldn't.

[Tori]

I read this book.. :)

[Schuyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite Hank Zipzer book!

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

very funny makes you want to never put it down

[Sue Poduska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious, good reading, and kid friendly! Careful. You might learn something.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really cute. I read it aloud to my 8 year old son and we really enjoyed it.

[Yasuko · Rating 2 out of 5]

2012.1.4 24232words

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am still continuing to enjoy the antics of Hank Zipzer and his friends and family. In this installment, Hank finds himself thrilled to be going on a family road trip to a famous roller coaster theme park for winter break, when his teacher tasks him with completing a giant homework packet, crushing his dreams for a fun break. Of course, thinking about Hank's challenges with planning and organization, this then becomes a challenge with taxing his executive functioning abilities in this way. In addition to his teacher dropping this assignment on him, he leaves the packet at a motel and has to work through many different opportunities and creative ways of getting this back in his hands. Ultimately, Hank has poor abilities to get this all accomplished and meet the expectations of his dad which, one would think, devastate his trip. However, he is able to find unexpected excitement in having to face the consequences of his incomplete work and poor time management. As I have stated for the other Hank Zipzer books, I appreciate that different skill sets and deficits are brought to the fore in discussing kids with learning disabilities (and probably ADHD in Hank's case as well). Clearly, time management, task organization, and distraction become the main issues here for Hank meeting his responsibilities, although he shines with his ingenuity in attempting to retrieve his homework back and using his wit and interpersonal skills to solve his problem and get things accomplished. While many of the scenarios that occur within these books are unbelievable and not necessarily realistic, I can appreciate that the theme behind being creative and playing to strengths is truly the message of each of these stories with Hank. I also like the discussion of different challenges faced and the negative consequences at stake for him, and how he chooses to face them and find solace in how things result for him. I have about 5 books left in this series and I look forward to completing them all and seeing how Hank continues to challenge his challenges.

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

The more I read this series the more I love it. Few series could hold my attention past 3 or 4 books yet this one is doing an admirable job. Not only am I excited about reading the books I have not finished yet, I am looking forward to those not yet published. Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver do an amazing job of capturing the angst, struggles and feelings of a young student struggling with a learning disability. I have said it before but reading parts of these books is like reading segments from my own childhood and my personal struggles with dyslexia.

In this segment of Hank's journey, the family is taking a road trip over the Christmas Holidays. Each member gets to choose a stop along the way. Hank's father, Stanley, started it all by wanting to go to the National Crossword championship. His mother, Randi, chose an organic bee farm; his sister a science museum, and Hank chose a roller coaster park. It looked like it would be a great vacation. Then on the last day of school he is handed a homework pack to help give him an advantage after the break. Once his father finds out about it, Hank's problems begin; he must complete it or he cannot go to the roller coaster park. But vacation and travel and hotels are so much fun he keeps putting it off, then he accidentally leaves it behind at one of the hotels. Hank tries to jump through all kinds of hoops to keep his parents from knowing he lost the package but in the end realized, maybe too late, that the truth is always the best plan.

This is another great book in an awesome series.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! My young niece and nephew (7 and 5) are constantly barfing on road trips. I plan to purchase this for them for Christmas. I hadn't even realized that Henry Winkler (and Lin Oliver) had a middle age children's book series until reading Being Henry: The Fonz and Beyond by Henry Winkler (publication date Oct 31, 2023).

This is now my second Zipster novel. So entertaining.

If you haven't read Being Henry ... I definitely recommend the audio, which Henry and his wife Stacey narrate. EXCELLENT!

This review is purely voluntary and not in exchange for an honest review. This book was borrowed from the local library! Although ... I do plan to purchase a copy soon.

[Emily Stokes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually really enjoyed this! Only reading as I have made it a challenge to read every book on my bookshelf and I’m letting a spinning wheel decide what I’m reading. This has been on my bookshelf since primary school. It’s a signed copy and my mum wanted me to get it as the author and main character have dyslexia. I think she wanted me to feel normal and not like I was the only one struggling. The funny thing is at the time I still hadn’t managed to read a full book.
Overall I think it was a really good children’s book. Definitely something I’d recommend to kids.

Two words: Accidental Adventure

[Liquidlasagna · Rating 3 out of 5]

seem that this book is the only memorable part of Winkler's entire career

sadly he gave up Method Acting, and could have done avant-garde reinterpretations of Abbot and Costello with Joseph Wiseman, using the material provided by ee Cummings

[Mindy Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Kenneth Flusche · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellant read for 3rd grader ready for 4th grade