Figure It Out, Henri Weldon

October 15, 2022
A girl with a learning disability navigates the demands of her new school and family dynamics. Henrietta "Henri" Weldon, a Black tween, is cautiously excited about starting seventh grade. It'd be helpful if her older sister, Kat, answered any of her probing questions about what to expect, but she's acted strangely ever since Henri completed her math placement test. In the middle of a mentally taxing first day, the last thing Henri needed was to drop her change in the lunchroom, but it results in her meeting Vinnie Morgan and his multiracial group of foster home siblings. As they form friendships, Henri craves the bond that the Morgans possess; it contrasts with her own competitive, driven family. Kat warns her to stay away from the Morgans, however, seeing them as troublemakers. But Henri doesn't have much time to worry about this, as she tries to stay on top of parental schoolwork expectations, playing soccer, and writing poetry. The story's brisk pace and accessible vocabulary help readers quickly get to know Henri and the interesting supporting cast. Without sacrificing the story's light tone, the author highlights the daily obstacles that Henri confronts due to her dyscalculia (which is never explicitly named in the text) and her longing for a tighter family unit. Skillfully realized, this is an affirming and inspiring tale for readers who are only ever told what they can't accomplish. Uplifting and amusing, this book will leave readers with valuable lessons. (Fiction. 8-12)

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November 14, 2022
Seventh grader Henri Weldon is determined to start the new school year on a high note, though she wishes her older sister Katherine were more supportive. As the two start classes, Katherine refuses to answer Henri’s questions about what to expect, won’t sit with her at lunch, and treats her as a “problem to be solved.” Henri’s unnamed learning disability, which reads as similar to dyscalculia, often leaves her feeling disconnected from her classmates, so she’s heartened when she meets friendly Vinnie Morgan, a foster kid who later becomes her peer tutor. The support Henri receives from her committed teachers and Vinnie allow Henri to flourish, but when she tells her parents she wants to try out for soccer, her mother worries about whether Henri can juggle everything at once. Henri’s struggles with her learning disability, her feeling overwhelmed with her increasingly busy life, and her contentious relationship with Katherine are matter-of-factly portrayed via a complex character who is not singularly defined by her personal challenges. In this hopeful, well-paced volume, Davis (Partly Cloudy) centers accommodation, community, and understanding. The Weldons are Black; supporting characters are racially diverse. Ages 8–12.

November 1, 2022
Grades 5-7 Henri, who has been attending private school to bolster her math skills, switches to public school for seventh grade. She finds the workload heavier than expected and making friends more challenging. When her mother tells her that she doesn't have time for soccer, because "Black girls have to work twice as hard to get half as far," she considers that advice, but since Ana, her new friend at school, is urging her to try out, she does and joins the team. Meanwhile, Henri's older sister warns her against befriending Ana but doesn't adequately explain why. Tension builds at school and at home, but in the end, Henri begins to recognize the allies who surround her. The author of Serena Says (2020) and Partly Cloudy (2021), Davis does a particularly good job of portraying Henri's sister and parents as individuals, while keeping the narrative focused on the main character. Henri makes understandable mistakes, and her reactions involve meaningful reflection about issues such as letting others down. An involving middle-grade narrative with a very likable protagonist.

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