My Secret Life as a Ping-Pong Wizard (Hank Zipzer: The World's Greatest Underachiever, No. 9)
Gr. 3-5. In the ninth book in the Hank Zipzer series, the self-styled "world's greatest underachiever" is trying yet again to please his father and keep the class bully at bay. The school's Parade of Athletes is drawing near, and Hank just wants to opt out. His learning disabilities make eye-hand coordination difficult, which causes him no end of embarrassment. It's not until Grandpa Pete introduces the fifth-grader to ping-pong that he finally discovers that sports can be fun. The Hank books haven't the depth of Jack Gantos' Joey Pigza novels, but they're fun without being overly messagey, and the success experience will speak to numerous readers.Stephanie ZvirinCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved