I loved this adorable read! I loved Miss Choldenko’s Al Capone series and her ongoing theme so I knew going in that this book would rock. I loved Liam and his sisters and how even though his life is tough Liam continues to care for his sisters. Now my favorite character overall was definitely Dakota because I can relate to her and some of her struggles and I adored her smart and fierce personality.

The pacing was fast but didn’t feel rushed and I enjoyed the setting because of how realistic it is in lots of kids’ lives. I can’t seem to escape the “divorced parents” theme lately but thankfully it didn’t take too much away from the actual story. The ending was pretty darn great and I was left immensely satisfied (for now). I can’t wait for Miss Choldenko’s next book!

Rating: 5 Stars

Reccomendation: all ages

FTC DISCLAIMER: I received this book in exchange for an honest review

I am a huge Gennifer Choldenko fan. I really love her writing. One-Third Nerd is written for a slightly younger audience than the books I have read by her in the past. I liked it but didn't love it. Cute story I believe will appeal to middle elementary... 3rd or 4th grade. It's a nice story that has enjoyable characters and several laughs.

Choldenko has a reputation for realistic portrayals of life for disabled kids and their families. That's certainly a strong aspect here. We've got a young teen who's shouldering too much responsibility, watching his sisters and worrying about bills. We have a neighborhood that's lower middle class at best, where families get evicted from bad apartments, streets away from neighborhoods where people join country clubs. A family where non-disabled kids feel ignored or imposed upon. So basically, we start out with a situation ripe for trouble. Add in an incontinent dog and of course its going to boil over. Obviously the dog is a stand in for the family damaged and struggling and difficult to help, to the point that the adults are wondering if its just time to give up. A sweet story, largely gentle.

For me, there was a very specific reason I picked this book up, beyond the fact that it just sounded really cute. My life, or more specifically, the life of my daughter, is painfully similar to Liam. Like Liam, my daughter is the same age (although because of her late year birthday, she is in fourth, not fifth grade. She also has two siblings, one of whom has special needs (autism, rather than downs syndrome), her parents have split up, and she even has a cat that likes to pee on laundry when the litter box isn’t emptied quick enough. All, in all, there were some great reasons for me to jump into this one and see if it was something to pass along to her.

And indeed it was. This book really felt like it touched on the day-to-day life and issues that an older elementary school student would face. All the things I mentioned above are typical of MANY families, and I didn’t even bring up the idea of money issues, which so many kids (mine included) can be painfully aware of. Liam’s life was complicated in a way that kids will understand – it isn’t some out-of-touch emotion that is too young or too old for the characters. The issues were something that kids will easily relate to and comprehend in a positive way. I definitely felt an emotional bond with Liam that I think kids will latch on to.

The book centers around Liam, Dakota (the “big personality” sibling who usually gets in trouble for it), and Izzy (the youngest with down syndrome). The book spends a great deal of time on their schemes to raise money, which I had to say reminded me of my schemes with my siblings as young children. It was just the right amount of trouble to solve throughout the pages.

The best part of the book, which I don’t get to see a lot of when I’m reading YA, was the added illustrations. It just added to the story in happy-making way. My heart was so happy each time I came up one.

So, I’ve passed this book on to my daughter and I definitely recommend it to your kids as well!

One-Third Nerd is a heartwarming middle grade story about a typically atypical family just trying to get by. I say typically atypical because, let’s face it, in today’s world very few families fit the standard nuclear family mold. Liam’s parents are divorced and they struggle financially. His youngest sister has Down’s Syndrome and his other little sis is brilliant (but maybe a bit of a handful). I think that Chodenko captured the family dynamic well. None of them are perfect, but they love each other and they’re doing their best.

Liam is sometimes self-conscious about his apartment and his brainy sister’s antics (she’s 100% nerd—perfect for her, but not great as far as Liam’s concerned). He’s especially concerned about how he looks to the new kid, Moses, who he thinks has it all together (especially since Moses is a superstar at tennis, Liam’s sport). To top everything off, the family dog is sick and has been peeing all over the house, and the landlord says they have to solve the problem or get rid of their beloved pet. Liam’s little sister isn’t about to let that happen so she puts her brain power toward saving her. Along the way, Liam starts to see his sister in a new light (at least a little) and he learns that maybe he doesn’t have to try to impress Moses—he’s just a kid looking for a friend. This is the type of middle grade where everything is tied up in a neat little bow, which might feel trite to some adult readers, but will probably go over well with the younger middle graders the book was written for. Overall, it’s a sweet story that will teach kids about the power of family, friendships, and not giving up.

***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley and Rockstar Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***

I received this book from the publisher/tour host in exchange of an honest review.

I was so very excited when I got the confirmation that I was accepted for the tour and was scheduled for a review/excerpt. This book has been on my Eep-2019 for some time, so you may just imagine my delight (yes, I was bookshimmying).

Oh, and then I opened the ecopy and found out that this author also wrote the Al Capone series, I read two in that series and liked them both. So my excitement was upped even further. Now I really couldn't wait to read this book.

And this book was such a fun one! Liam, the big brother, Izzy, his little sister who has Down Syndrome, Cupcake the Dog who has a problem, their divorced parents who try to take care of them. OH yes, Dakota. We don't talk about Dakota. This is a positive area, an area of happiness and joy. Dakota doesn't fit in there. But, yes, she sadly exists and was the reason why this book isn't a 5 stars, but instead a 4.

I just adored Izzy, she was a sweetie and I loved how while she didn't always have the words, she always was there with hugs and love. She was just one big positive bundle of joy. She even hugged the angry neighbour next door, and she did things that other characters wouldn't have done but that were absolutely the sweetest. She even helped out her siblings when they needed help, it was adorable how she tried to explain what she meant, and how eventually they understood.

Liam was just the best, though I did feel sorry for him at times. He didn't have an easy life at times, which was mostly to blame to a certain person we aren't going to name in this positive space. I loved how he allowed Izzy to be part of the club just because she got all sparkly at seeing that beautiful pink bracelet, and how he sat down with her to explain things to her in a soft way so that she wouldn't be too upset. He also helped out with the club of kids like Izzy. Making up a song, including all of them, being so sweet and understanding. He brought a smile to me at so many moments in the book.
I hope he can be a bit more honest about where he lives though. That was also something that was mentioned quite a few times. He has made a new friend, but he is afraid that person would judge him if he saw his house. I did love the friendship between him, his old friend, and his new friend. They made quite the trio.

Then there is Cupcake. An adorable dog with a big problem... She is peeing everywhere. Is there something big happening or is it the medicines she uses? Sadly, our characters don't have the money to go to the vet any more. I found the prices ridiculous. Who the hell can pay 3k for a treatment? I know I never would be able to do that.
So most of this book is Liam, Izzy, and She-who-will-not-be-named, try to make money in various ways to help out their dog. Most of the ideas were just dumb, but there were a few that made me happy. I could have thought of a few more ideas of things they could have done. Like doing groceries for those less-abled/eldery, selling cupcakes/lemonade, making things and selling those.

There are also many many illustrations that warmed up my heart even further. Then again, Églantine Ceulemans is one of my favourite illustrators, she draws so well.

All in all, I loved this book, and I would recommend it. Just ignore the one we shall not name in this positive and happy place.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Children’s for the advance Kindle copy of this 1/29/19 release. All opinions are my own.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. Liam, a fifth-grader, deals with a lot during the course of this story. His parents are divorced, which causes his family to move into a tiny rental; his sister Dakota is wild in her quest to win a Makerspace competition; his dog is sick and might be the reason they get evicted. There are plenty of laughs, and the author does a wonderful job of including Liam’s sister Izzy, who has Down Syndrome. With illustrations sprinkled throughout, it it a quick read that I think is best suited for older elementary readers.

This terrific family story is about Liam who is the big brother to Dakota, a genius, and Izzy, who has Down's syndrome. What's great about this story is that it's NOT about dealing with Izzy and her Down's Syndrome. It's about the whole family (mom and dad are divorced) trying to figure out how to deal with their dog, who has been having trouble. There's some excellent problem solving strategies, some interesting science, and a lot of heart. I can't wait to put this one in my library.

The award-winning author of the Al Capone series returns with a book for younger children. Liam is a fifth grader whose life has gotten complicated. He lives with his mother and two younger sisters in a basement apartment near San Francisco. Fifth grade isn’t the same as younger grades and Liam is concerned with appearing to not be as poor as his family actually is. Even worse, their dog, Cupcake, has started having a peeing problem and they don’t have the money to get her special tests done. Meanwhile, Dakota, one of Liam’s sisters is trying to make enough money to save Cupcake, since if she doesn’t stop peeing on things they will need to get rid of her. Unfortunately, it involves selling some of Liam’s favorite things and conducting some wild science experiments. Then you have the youngest in the family, Izzy a child with Down syndrome, who makes friends easily and gives great hugs. Can this family of nerds, jocks and friendliness come together and save Cupcake?

The writing here is just right for younger readers who will love the brisk pace mixed with with madcap humor. Liam is a strong protagonist who is starting to become more aware of social standing and how others perceive him, and being a big brother to the disruptive Dakota is not helping matters. Even when he is exasperated with his sister though, he tends to be calm and show a great deal of maturity in each situation.

I love that this book is not focused on big issues. There are several that could have been the focus in a more dramatic book, such as poverty, Down syndrome, and divorce. Instead Choldenko tells the story of a family facing a variety of challenges and weathering them together, several of the obvious challenges actually turn out to be strengths along the way. The light tone is also conveyed in the illustrations with their light touch and humorous takes on the scenes.

This funny wild romp will be enjoyed by elementary readers. Appropriate for ages 6-9.

One-Third Nerd
by Gennifer Choldenko
Random House Children's
Wendy Lamb Books
Children's Fiction
Pub Date 29 Jan 2019


I am reviewing a copy of One Third Nerd through Random House Children’s and Netgalley:


Liam knows fifth grade is not for amateurs, he knows that being one third nerd is okay but anything more than that is not cool. Dakota is his third grade sister whose extremely smart and has a big personalit’s but struggles to make friend. Izzy is in first grade, she has Down Syndrome and makes friends easy, she also notices things that not everyone else notices. And they have Cupcake their well loved German Shepherd that guards their basement apartment. Their Father lives across town and comes over often but doesn’t live with them.


Lately Cupcake has a problem she’s peeing all over the apartment and their Mother is told by the landlord that they must get rid of her but Dakota, Liam and Izzy are determinus to make sure that does not happen.


I give One Third Nerd five out of five star!


Happy Reading!

I appeciate having had an opportunity to read and review this book. The appeal of this particular book was not evident to me, and if I cannot file a generally positive review I prefer simply to advise the publisher to that effect and file no review at all.

Liam, Dakota, and Izzy live in a basement apartment with their mother and dog, Cupcake. Liam's friend, Dodge, is a staple in their house and soon Liam's new friend, Moses, joins the crew. Cupcake develops medical issues and needs to see an expensive doctor at UC Davis, so the kids try to earn enough money for her.

The premise of the book sounds good and full of potential, but I just could not warm up to the characters. Liam is probably the most realistic character in the family. He is protective of his sister Izzy, who has down syndrome, wants to help his mom, and takes on the role of the "man of the house" after his parents divorce. Dakota is a science obsessed, inquisitive, demanding, and selfish character. She annoyed me from the first chapter. It is all about her, what she wants, and what she's going to do. The adults in the book, with the exception of Mr. Torpse, their landlord, just seem to let this eight-year-old rule the roost (so to speak).

Unfortunately, for me, it was a great idea, supported by wonderful illustrations, but crashed and burned because of the unbelievable characters.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House Children's for the opportunity to review an advance reader copy.

This is such a great story for young people. Liam, Dakota, Izzie, and their dog, Cupcake, are such lovable characters, though Dakota would give any parent gray hair before their time. The children work very hard to keep their dog while keeping up with their daily lives and not letting on that they do not have a lot of money. Liam especially does not want the new kid, Moses, to know because he thinks Moses is rich and would not want to be his friend. The landlrod, Mr. Torpse, is a curmudgeon who lves upstairs and wants the dog gone. I love the energy and tenacity thay Dakota has as well as Liam’s mature understanding as the oldest child.

Liam is in fifth grade and enjoys playing tennis with his friend Dodge. He doesn't enjoy his younger sister Dakota's antics quite so much-- she loves science, and often conducts ill-advised experiments, such as blowing up watermelons and collecting their dog Cupcake's urine to see why she's peeing on the carpets. Too bad she feels compelled to keep it in the refrigerator in a drinking glass! Because their landlord, Mr. Torpse, lives below them, they have to try to be quiet, not let Cupcake bark, and generally not make the elderly, fractious man irritated. Liam's parents are divorced, and they are both struggling with their jobs. His dad brings dinner over once in a while, but doesn't stay to eat, and his mom after has to work long hours, so occasionally leaves Liam and Dakota in the apartment by themselves, or with Dodge's grandfather, Crash. Izzy has Down Syndrome, so she needs to go to speech therapy and has frequent doctor's appointments. Cupcake's overactive bladder is such a concern that Mr. Torpse is threatening to evict the family unless the issue can be resolved. There isn't money for an expensive doctor's visit, so the children have several money making schemes, from collecting newspapers to winning the science fair. Eventually, it is Izzy who has the good idea to seek a second opinion about Cupcake's problem, and not a moment too soon, since Mr. Torpse is all set to evict the family.

Strengths: This is a great book for showing realistic elementary school concerns. Dealing with parents living in different locations, having altercations with siblings, and agonizing over pets are all things far more likely to happen to most children than having a parent die. Money issues affect children deeply, and it's hard for younger ones to realize that these happen to other people, too. Liam shows typical tween embarrassment, but also takes steps to make his situation better. I especially like his interactions with another "nerd" friend at school; he thinks the other boy is cool and doesn't want him to see where he lives, but when the friend finds out, he is very understanding.
Weaknesses: The illustrations are great, but it seems completely unrealistic for both of the girls to be wearing skirts. Jeans, leggings, perhaps, but I hardly ever see a student in a skirt!
What I really think: This was a lot of fun, but I am debating whether it is too young for my students. I thought Clement's The Losers Club would be great for my 6th graders, but it has languished on the shelves, and this has a similar vibe.