No Fixed Address
by Susin Nielsen
Interest age: 11 to 15
Reading age: 11+
Published by Andersen Press, 2018
About this book
Felix hasn’t always lived in a van. In fact, there was a time when his life was happy, settled and secure. And, to be fair, living in the van over the summer had been fun. A bit of an adventure.
Four months later, as winter begins in earnest, the novelty has most definitely worn off and Felix is beginning to realise that, although his mum is a great person, she may not be a great parent. But if he can get accepted as a contestant on Canada’s biggest quiz show, maybe he can be the one to turn their fortunes around?
Felix’s story is hard to put down and, while it doesn’t shy away from the grim reality of "accidental" homelessness, this gritty, contemporary issue is tackled with sensitivity and gentle humour.
As the problem of families finding themselves homeless becomes more common, there is a message here about not being judgemental, and also about the redemptive power of kindness.
More books like this
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Lily Alone
by Jacqueline Wilson, illustrated by Nick Sharratt
9 to 14 years
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My Messed-Up Life
by Susin Nielsen
11 to 14 years
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Optimists Die First
by Susin Nielsen
11 to 14 years
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We Are All Made of Molecules
by Susin Nielsen
11 to 14 years
Lists of recommended reads
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Books featuring homelessness
We have curated a list of books for mixed ages which explore themes of homelessness, offering readers a window into the lives of those who confront poverty and uncertainty every day yet who are all too often overlooked. These stories sensitively explore the complex situations that may lead to homelessness and shine a light on the extraordinary resilience, empathy and sense of community shown by those who find themselves in such challenging circumstances.
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Summer reads for teens
The holidays are here and we're celebrating with this list of brilliant books that are perfect summer reading. From love stories to dark comedy, we think teenagers will love digging into this list over the break.