This was an incredibly wholesome story touching on some really important and needed to talk about topics. I think it should be a staple for many children to read!

A fantastic middle grade book that is very thought provoking, How many people do we pass everyday, in stores or on buses, that are truly homeless but that find ways to cover it up? I think I will look at people a bit differently for a while after reading this, I was a beautiful read I would highly recommend it.

Felix and his mum, Avril, have been forced to live in a volkswagen van. Initially there problems are outwith their control but as the months go on Avril has to take responsibility for their ongoing situation, however she always has a good reason for losing her current job. How are they going to get themselves out of this situation, Felix has a solution and with the help of his friends he has a chance of succeeding.
A tale of personal hardship and the value of true friends.

I enjoyed this book. Felix was a great character and it was a fun quick read. The story had some humour and also some heart wrenching moments.

Such a readable book, that I couldn't put down. I loved the Felix character and really felt for the situation he and Astrid were in. This book touches on homelessness and mental health and really squeezes your heart.

Heartwarming and emotional. This take about poverty and growing up on and below the breadline is hard hitting, raw and honest. It's refreshing to read an un-glorified depiction of how homelessness can really hit families and how we can all be one or two pay checks away from a similar situation. A must read for young and old.

I really enjoyed this book as I thought I would from reading some of her previous works. I loved her writing style and how it made me feel so involved in the story following Felix and his mam.

Would definitely recommend to friends and people who are already a fan of Nielsen’s work.

This was a really amazing book for me. The story was really heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. No fixed Address dealt with serious issues like homelessness, mental health and poverty. Reading this issues from a child perspective was different and author did an amazing job. I cried and laugh a lot. Everyone can read this book no matter how old are you.

As soon as I saw the title of this book, I knew it had the potential to be amazing and thank god it was. This is a beautifully written story about a young boy and his mother who wind up living in a campervan when they can no longer make ends meet. I read it in one sitting and loved every second.

I was in tears several times thanks to the kindness of the characters and the amazing writing that made it undeniably clear that this situation was not really the fault of anybody, just a series of difficult times. It's written with such compassion and care that it really does make you think about homelessness and the reasons for it. It's not as simple as all homeless people being addicts or unable to live within their means and this is hammered home throughout the book.

It doesn't get preachy at all despite a couple of very clear political statements and it really does feel as if a 13 year old has written it. There's an innocence in the narration that makes the situation even more heartbreaking. I loved Felix's relationships with his best friends (although I found the romance with Winnie unnecessary) and thought that their dynamic was brilliant. I also LOVED the fact that adults in authority were respectful and never treated like villains, which happens far too often in MG/YA.

This is gorgeous and necessary and I would urge everybody to read it.

This was basically an Canadian version of Slumdog Millionaire for kids. Felix is a optimistic teenager who just wants to save him and his mum through the junior edition of his favourite game show! It's a great blend of hope, friendship and real life issues.

Living in a van with his single mum, Astrid, Felix has a lot of struggles. I can't remember if it was stated specifically that Astrid had bipolar or if it was something that I read into it, but it definitely dealt with her going into depressive slumps and Felix having to look after her. Spending most of the time trying to hide from the questions of friends, teachers and anyone else who might report them to the authorities (something that Astrid is terrified of due to her own bad experiences in the past), Felix has to get through life and school and friendships without anyone finding out he lives out of a van. It's amazing that Nielson managed to squeeze so many real life issues into one book so completely naturally.

I loved the bond between Felix and his friends. He had such a great friendship with Dylan that he could so easily pick up after so many years, but the best thing was how Winnie just inserted herself in the group through shear force of will. Winnie was a great character who is definitely the sort of person who everyone hates at school, but the friendship still worked once Felix and Dylan just accepted that they wouldn't be able to get away from her. She proved herself to be such a great friend to Felix and shows that the most unexpected friends can be the best.

This is an important book and also a thrilling on. It is fun to read while still hitting the hard issues without shying away. Definitely a book to pick up this year.

In this book we meet Felix and his mum whom live in a van. All their life is packed away as his mum relies on her cunning will to make sure she can provide a little food and a place to sleep that is at least slightly safer than a park bench.



They get his mum's friends to cover for them and not get them found out as Felix enrols in school and makes some friends especially and become a more settled despite their situation.



It seems their luck may change when Felix gets the chance to go on a tv show with a cash prize only then trouble strikes for the pair and their future looks even more uncertain than ever before...



It was a thought provoking book and was realistic as more families fall into poverty and struggle more and more. Though his mum was trying her best we see how she fell into deep times of depression due to their unending situation which is understandable alike Felix's hatred towards their situation which mounts throughout the novel too especially as he grows ill repeatedly and can't face his friends knowing his situation.

I really liked the topic being tackled and would love to see it mentioned more in young adult fiction as it rarely is.

I wasn't expecting anything going into this book. Some fun, some emotions, nothing major. This book completely blew me away.

I binged it in two days and I loved every second of it. Maybe it was cause it reminded me of Slumdog Millionaire and that movie always makes me cry. Mostly it was this amazing story though.

This novel tells the story of Felix and his mother Astrid who have to live in a van for months after she loses her job, their flat and all possibility to return to a regular life. The story unfolds over a couple months, shows the different stages of their life in the van and how their situation influences every other part of their life as well. When everything seems hopeless, Felix gets the chance to participate in a popular quiz show and win the money that could lead them back to a normal life.

This book is so beautiful. It has fun moments, truly devastating moments and overall never gets boring. The characters are well fleshed out and diverse and were an absolute delight to experience. I would recommend this book to everyone who enjoys these kinds of middle grade contemporary novels with deeper messages. It's a truly important story that actually brought me to happy tears in the end.

Another memorable protagonist and story from Nielsen, the topic of homelessness an important one to expose.

I've liked Nielsen's books previously, and this sounded as though it was going to be another bittersweet story with characters in difficult positions. Felix is 12, and yes, his life is not a standard one. We see just how he and his mother, whose temperament makes her unable to hold down a job, have ended up with no home, moved from place to place and finally ended up in a 'borrowed' van.

Blagging their way into Felix's new school after having moved around a lot, Felix is thrilled to meet up with a friend he knew years ago, finally able to enjoy a friendship and settle to a stable routine.
"You know how sometimes you don't realise how much you've missed something until you get it back? That's how I felt about having a friend again."

Surely his mum will find work soon and they can find somewhere to live?

The indignities and problems associated with having no fixed abode come across quite clearly, the lies Felix feels he has to tell to Dylan and slightly-annoying-but-smart Winnie, the frustration he feels for mum Astrid. The author even says in her afterword "I wanted to write a deeply flawed parent."

Felix shows us just how easily circumstances can change, but just who can be affected - he's a trivia game show enthusiast and has dreams of using his talent to pull him and his mum out of their nomadic existence.

I couldn't really empathise with Astrid, my own instinct to provide a roof for my children would keep me biting my tongue and keeping a job. But I did feel for Felix, admired his wish to help his mum, and could see his conflicted feelings for her amidst his hand-to-mouth existence. When his mother ends up shoplifting to feed them both, Felix determines he will pay every shop back what they owe, keeping a tally of what they have stolen. Definitely a young man I admire.

The game show subplot seemed a little 'last minute' in the plot, but I liked how it was covered, with Winnie reporting the events second-hand.

Some memorable characters and scenes, a very timely look at an important topic. I loved Felix's narration and moments talking to the reader, Winne is a very appealing female in this as well.

Great for ages 10-14.

With thanks to Netgalley for the advance reading copy.

I really enjoyed reading this book, as I felt very close to the protagonist Felix right from the start, as Susin Nielsen describes and constructs all her characters in a great way. I liked the way that the past of Felix and his mother was described by listing all the places they had lived before, showing how they ended up living in a van. Besides that, the relationship between Felix and his mother Astrid was depicted in a heartwarming way, as even though Astrid was not able to be a good mother to him, she still loved him and Felix loved her too and always tried to cover for her and protect her. This hard situation was handled well in the book. I liked the other characters presented, for example Felix' friends and it was nice to read how they were treating him with a lot of kindness.
I can recommed this book to everyone, not just to children, as it is really not only a children's book but something everyone can read.

I cannot tell you HOW MUCH I loved this book. It was simple, informative, and intensely entertaining. Felix and his mother's plight was heart wrenching as bad luck crashes over them again and again.

Felix is like a child version of Sherlock Holmes, but instead of the art of deduction, the practise is points of observation, and instead of figuring out whodunnit, Felix battles homelessness. To turn the tide on his luck, Felix decides to enter a quiz show which could win him £25,000; enough to solve all his and his mum's problems. With the help of his inquisitive friends, Dylan and Winnie Wu, Felix is in good hands, maybe good enough hands to win the quiz show entirely?

Dylan and Winnie Wu are like a muggle version of Ron and Hermione from HP, I loved them for this and for their own tenacities and merit. Every character in this book is relatable, and I couldn't help but pursue their happiness as though it were my own.

Thank you to Net Galley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Felix and his mother have had a run of bad luck and are currently living in a camper van. He needs to hide this from his friends and teachers at school as his mother promises him that she'll find work soon and they'll get an apartment. This is a wonderful story and I rushed through it in just over a day. The book is very well written and I would definitely recommend it as a YA book and also for any adult looking for a great story!

I have loved Susin's previous books so i was so excited to be sent a copy of this from Andersen Press Publicity.

This story follows Felix and his mums (Astrid) life being homeless and living in a van. It is told over the course of 3 months with background information too. It is then when Felix gets a spot on his favourite tv show that his life could be turn't around.

I found this very easy to read as it flowed perfectly. The voice of Felix and the reality of their situation was portrayed wonderfully and in a heartfelt way . I also enjoyed the aspect of Astrid's 'slumps' and how they were described with such and the impacts they had on Felix . The friendship between Felix , Winnie and Dylan was great fun and showed the true aspects of friendships through the good and bad times.

Although tackling sensitive and real word topics/problems it was done in a mature way and the characters always remained Positive and hopeful making the reader invest in the story and want to find out the ending.

I would definitely recommend this book for MG and YA fans because its amazing and not too hard hitting but still shows many problems adults and children face in the real world.

With echoes of Slumdog Millionaire, this is a heartwarming story that looks at an increasing problem in modern times.
Felix and his mother are having an adventure, she says. Having been asked to leave their apartment, they are going to live in a van. That is not an adventure, it’s desperate. Astrid, Felix’s mother, makes him promise not to let anyone know their circumstances.
Astrid has some mental health issues. She irritated me at times because her behaviour was so selfish. She didn’t seem to consider the impact her choices were having on Felix at all. Perhaps this seemed the case because we see everything through Felix’s eyes, but it rankled. That may sound harsh but not ever really seeing her thoughts meant it was hard to tell how much of their situation was caused by Astrid’s state of mind.
We know that rising living costs and many other factors can leave someone in a precarious situation. There was no sense of judgment here, and there were some genuinely lovely characters within the book who you just wish could be bottled.
The details of Felix’s life in the van are told with grim humour but this did mean we focus on the character rather than simply honing in on his living circumstances.
Ultimately I was cross by how many people guessed at there being a problem but who did nothing. While we act like this, little can change.

Thank you NetGalley for granting me access to this before publication in October.

This book was brilliant and really had it all, a tricky home situation, dedicated friends, and a main character you're sure to love. The first person narrative is perfect for a book like this; being privy to Felix's thoughts about his situation only increases the book's appeal. I loved Felix’s story and how the author really brought home the realities of his situation - not just being “between places”, but his relationship with his mum (and hers with the truth!), as well as what a kids goes through to fit in.

What a wonderful tale. Felix, a delightfully odd kid who devours trivia and has a love of game shows, school and his hamster suddenly finds himself homeless. Having to look after his flaky mother Astrid and try to avoid getting caught by school and the dreaded social services.
It was a very sensitive handling of the topic and showed how easy it is to slip from unemployed to no fixed address and the lengths some people go to fix what seems like a hopeless situation.
Very delicately done with real heart and real warmth.
I'd highly recommended for schools and for teachers to read this for 'warning signs' but also as a great story in its own right.