This memoir succeeds because it pairs the slapstick comedy of public disasters with a brutally honest look at growing up with asthma. Readers find comfort in Jordan's self-deprecating wit as he navigates unfair teachers and chaotic mishaps. Books in this family share a first person voice, a humorous underdog perspective, and stories where everyday resilience overcomes childhood embarrassment.
Reach for this book when your child feels like a 'magnet for trouble' or is struggling with the weight of school expectations and physical health challenges. Jordan Sonnenblick delivers a relatable memoir about a year where everything seems to go wrong, from a teacher who just does not get him to the frightening reality of chronic asthma. This story normalizes the experience of childhood anxiety and the feeling of being misunderstood by adults. It is an excellent choice for kids aged 8 to 12 who need to see that even a disastrous year can be survived with a drum kit and a sense of humor. Parents will appreciate how it balances laugh-out-loud comedy with honest, vulnerable moments about childhood health and self-doubt.
