Very Bad at Math - (Very Graphic Novel) by Hope Larson (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Verity "Very" Nelson can do it all. She's student body president, debate club whiz, and first chair clarinetist. You could say she's pretty much the best at everything...Well, almost everything. Everything except math. And it's not like she doesn't try. Math just doesn't make sense in her brain. But it better start soon, or else she can kiss her presidency--and her campaign promises--goodbye."--

Book Synopsis

An ALA 2026 Notable Children's Book

From New York Times bestselling and Eisner Award-winning author Hope Larson comes a middle grade graphic novel full of hijinks, unexpected friendships, and pizza, perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Kayla Miller.

Verity "Very" Nelson can do it all.

She's student body president, debate club whiz, and first chair clarinetist. You could say she's pretty much the best at everything...Well, almost everything. Everything except math.

And it's not like she doesn't try. Math just doesn't make sense in her brain. But it better start soon, or else she can kiss her presidency--and her campaign promises--goodbye. Soon Verity finds herself enrolled in a remedial math class where, despite her best efforts, failure persists. All seems lost until a teacher helps her discover the truth: Verity has dyscalculia, a learning disability that causes her to mix up numbers.

Armed with a new diagnosis and improved grades, Verity is confident her math struggles will remain secret. But when a gossipy podcaster dismantles her perfect image, Verity must choose: remain part of a broken system or fight to fix it.

A Children's Book Council Hot Off the Press Feature!
A 2025 Nebraska Sower Nominee!

Review Quotes

"You'll root for charming Very and her friends in this fun, relatable, masterfully written and illustrated tale of friendship and perseverance." - Terri Libenson, author of the New York Times bestselling Emmie & Friends series

"A smart and thoughtful story about how even the most perfect among us can have hidden challenges. Hope Larson deftly spins a joyful, snappy tale that readers of all abilities can relate to." - Jen Wang, New York Times bestselling creator of Stargazing

"A great coming-of-age story about friends working together to better themselves." - Kazu Kibuishi, author of Amulet

"Perfect for kids with big dreams and a lot on their shoulders." - Kayla Miller, bestselling author of the Click series

"Kids are going to love the perfectly imperfect Very Nelson!" - Gene Luen Yang, author of American Born Chinese and Dragon Hoops

"Graphic novelist Larson has aimed her latest story at middle-grade readers who...will make a lot of readers feel seen. A solid addition." - Booklist

"This is a worthy addition to the solid mix of graphic novels about middle-school girls triumphing over a significant but surmountable obstacle. Larson, as always, makes full use of the graphic novel format, allowing the illustrations to do as much work as the text, and changing up panel and - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"With captivating characters and a thoughtful exploration of dyscalculia, this book is a wonderful addition to any library and perfect for fans of Shannon Hale's and LeUyen Pham's Real Friends and Raina Telgemeier's Smile." - School Library Journal (starred review)