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A review by readsewknit
No Fixed Address by Susin Nielsen
3.0
In No Fixed Address by Susan Nielsen, Felix is being raised by his single mother Astrid. He is independent and bright, a typical middle-schooler who can be awkward around girls and relishes time at his best friend Dylan's house watching the Who, What, Where, When game show while constantly eating.
Felix does have one secret, though. His mother has irregular employment, which eventually leads to them living out of a van. Not one to admit to friends or teachers what is going on, he devises excuses for why he doesn't invite his friends over. Astrid struggles with depressive episodes, and when one of those is upon her, she's catatonic, leaving Felix to fend for himself.
There comes a point when Felix recognizes that Astrid, while an interesting person, is not a good mother. For those who want to know what they're getting into so they can make an educated decision for when to introduce books to their children, there are some mentions of drug use and hints of Astrid's promiscuity (even suggestions of sleeping with a landlord in exchange for remaining in an apartment).
I see value in books that tackle relevant issues, such as homelessness or borderline homelessness. This isn't a literary work, but it can engage readers and lead to discussions about empathy and how to get involved when you suspect a friend is struggling at home.
(I received a digital ARC from NetGalley and Random House Children's in exchange for my honest review.)
Felix does have one secret, though. His mother has irregular employment, which eventually leads to them living out of a van. Not one to admit to friends or teachers what is going on, he devises excuses for why he doesn't invite his friends over. Astrid struggles with depressive episodes, and when one of those is upon her, she's catatonic, leaving Felix to fend for himself.
There comes a point when Felix recognizes that Astrid, while an interesting person, is not a good mother. For those who want to know what they're getting into so they can make an educated decision for when to introduce books to their children, there are some mentions of drug use and hints of Astrid's promiscuity (even suggestions of sleeping with a landlord in exchange for remaining in an apartment).
I see value in books that tackle relevant issues, such as homelessness or borderline homelessness. This isn't a literary work, but it can engage readers and lead to discussions about empathy and how to get involved when you suspect a friend is struggling at home.
(I received a digital ARC from NetGalley and Random House Children's in exchange for my honest review.)