The Trouble with Mark Hopper

by Elissa Brent Weissman

Mark Hopper is the smartest student in the sixth grade, and he knows it. When another Mark Hopper moves to town (the same age, with similar looks), Mark Hopper makes trouble for Mark Hopper. The Mark everyone knows isn't very nice, so the other Mark finds no one will talk to him. The new Mark isn't very brainy, so the other Mark worries that people will think he's a dummy. When a teacher forces them to be study partners, they realize that they can benefit from one another's strengths - and maybe win the Mastermind Challenge together. Trouble is, one of the Marks wants to win so badly that he's willing to steal from Mark.

Genres: Middle Grade, Contemporary

240 pages, Hardcover

First published June 29, 2009

About the author

Elissa Brent Weissman is an award-winning author of novels for young readers. Best known for the popular Nerd Camp series, she and her books have been featured in Entertainment Weekly, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The Huffington Post, NPR’s “Here and Now,” and more. Named one of CBS Baltimore’s Best Authors in Maryland, Elissa spent many years in Baltimore City, where she taught creative writing to children, college students, and adults. She currently lives in Christchurch, New Zealand with her husband and their two super cool nerds-in-training.

Reviews

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amusing story of two boys with the same names but different personalities who struggle with their friendship. A good read!

[Holly Behrend · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished reading The Trouble with Mark Hopper by Elissa Brent Weissman. Mark Geoffrey Hopper is a very smart boy but he doesn't have very many friends because of his reputation of arguing with teachers if he doesn't get his way. Then, another Mark Hopper moves to Greenburgh where Mark already lives. Even though they have the same name the boys aren't very much alike. The Mark who moves is very nice,shy,and not as smart as the other Mark. Everybody starts to mix the boys up and the secretaries even mess up their schedules. The Marks are the most worried though because one thinks that he will be mistaken for a mean arguable boy and the other thinks he will be mistaken for a dumb shy boy. Soon enough the boys learn that their shared names might not be as bad as they thought. The mean Mark is preparing for the big Mastermind tournament that takes place in town every year. He feels like he has to win it since his dad won it for three years straight when he was a kid. Mark finds out that the nicer Mark is a very good artist and he thinks that his painting he's doing might be useful for artistic talent for the Mastermind tournament.So Mark's plan begins. He is very nice to the other Mark and then one day when the other Mark least expects it, he steals his painting. The two Marks have lots of adventures together,including infesting people's lockers with bugs and going to a Mastermind tournament. I think that this book is good for anyone who loves humor and adventure.

[Written Word Review · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book's key market is for mainly middle school boys: with that said I am neither a boy or in middle school. So I'm going to try to give my opinion based with this in mind.

The storyline had a unique quality to it, maybe a bit unbelievable at times but it kept my interest. When you read this book you have to be paying attention, it's not one of those books you can quickly skim over.

You have to keep paying attention to little details, if you don't you won't know what Mark Hopper you're reading about. Yes, you heard me right There are two characters with identical monikers and physical characteristics, to the point each one has a sister sharing the same name. That's what made this book confusing and unbelievable, but it kept me on my toes, so to speak. The difference comes in their personality traits and this is what fuels the plot and drives the storyline.

The characters are a bit predictable at times but they're also well developed. I gave this book to my sister to read after I was finished and she agreed that the book was enjoyable also.

All around I would recommend this book to 7th or 8th grade middle school student because of the journey each character takes.

I give it 3 stars.

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two boys with exactly the same name: Mark Geoffrey Hopper. Two boys with side-parted hair and freckles that wear button down shirts tucked into their pants. Two boys with very different personalities - but no one can really tell them apart - or even seems to realize there are two of them.

yeah, right. very believable, isn't it? it doesn't really get any better either. but at least there actually is a coherent plot-line in this book. One Mark is nice, the other is not. One Mark is smart, the other is not so smart. One Mark is a musician, the other is an artist. One Mark enters a competition to try to get his dad to come back to the family and not divorce his mom - and steals the other Mark's painting as part of the competition entry requirements. Complications ensue. Predictable - and really quite confusing to not be able to easily distinguish the two protagonists. which i realize is part of the point. but still. annoying.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I was confused when the characters were introduced. It was funny and hilarious how the boys had the same full name and how both Marks also had older sisters who also shared the same name. I kept guessing, which Mark it was that the author was telling. After a while, the story went smoothly.

So there were two Mark Hoppers: the Nice Mark and the Not Nice Mark. They were totally different in personalities and aptitude. The smart Mark aced in every subject at school but had only one friend who could stand him. The nice Mark wasn’t very smart but made friends easily and was likeable. The nice Mark seems a bit Gary Stu for me but then I think I have many students who are nice, loveable and corteous. So yeah, this Mark represents many of my students’ characters.

This book should get more spotlight. it was fascinating and a bit cliche on some issues but definitely worth reading.

[Tweller83 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhat confusing book about a Mark Geoffrey Hopper that moved into a new middle school in Greensburg where there was already a Mark Geoffrey Hopper that looks extremely similiar. They are both thinking the other is ruining his reputation. The math teacher makes the "smart" Mark help the new Mark with math and they become friends. Good read - recommend to all students.

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't an wildly original or groundbreaking title, but what it does, it does very well. Interesting premise, and it tells its story economically, without any bloat or needless descriptions. Weissman does a nice job of pacing her character/background "reveals."

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really fun! I'm reminded of a few name mix-ups in my high school, and the author does a nice job of creating a whole narrative about how those mix-ups can occur and get out of control.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was ok. I have read better ones.