Lopini has always been good at school, in Kapa Haka and in fact at anything he sets his mind to do. The only downfall to that, is when something doesn’t go to plan, he feels absolutely terrible. Shame engulfs him and even when it is not his fault, he feels nothing but failure.

Talking to his best friend and neighbour Fi, he tries to see things how she does. He does well at everything. He’s popular at school, and even well liked by teachers. He’s even got a nick-name – Lopini the Legend. Why does he worry so much about what other people think?

Lopini decides the only way to stop feeling bad at failure, is to get really good at… failing!

Fi thinks he’s crazy, but being the good friend she is, helps him in his quest to fail – at everything. The only problem is, even when he’s trying to fail, Lopini ends up doing okay. His personality always shines through, and his class mates find the positive in his actions.

He can’t believe it. He’s failing at trying to fail! It’s only when he realises that he’s failing as a friend to Fi that he relooks at his mission. Maybe Fi’s right, and fear of failure is not important after all.

This new novel by multi award winning New Zealand author Feana Tu’akoi, is the winner of the Tom Fitzgibbon Award 2022.

With school and home settings, young readers will recognise themselves and can empathise with the characters of Lopini the Legend. Lopini might be a high achiever, but he is a perfectionist, so much so that it often steals his self confidence in fear of failure.

When pushed to fail by his mission and his friend’s dares, he realises that not being perfect can be fun after all, and there are issues around him that are much more important.

There is a handful of illustrations throughout the novel and the chapters are headed up in English and Tongan numbering. A fun, engaging read for Primary and Intermediate School students.

Author – Feana Tu’akoi

Illustrator – Story Hemi-Morehouse

Age – 9+

Find Teacher’s Notes here

(2023, Scholastic, School, Perfectionist, Failure, Mission, Friendship, Problem, Feelings, Shame, Epic fails, Humiliation, What’s important, Resilience, Humility, Community, Dance, Trying something new, Helping out, Challenges, Humour, Funny, Award Winner, Tom Fitzgibbon Award, Secret, Overthinking, Internal Pressure)