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No Fixed Address
Felix Knutsson is nearly thirteen, lives with his mother and pet gerbil Horatio, and is brilliant at memorising facts and trivia. So far, pretty normal. But Felix and his mom Astrid have a they are living in a van. Astrid promises it’s only for a while until she finds a new job, and begs Felix not to breathe a word about it. So when Felix starts at a new school, he does his very best to hide the fact that most of his clothes are in storage, he only showers weekly at the community centre, and that he doesn’t have enough to eat. When his friends Dylan and Winnie ask to visit, Felix always has an excuse.But Felix has a plan to turn his and Astrid’s lives he’s going to go on his favourite game show Who, What, Where, When and win the cash prize. All he needs is a little luck and a lot of brain power . . .Susin Nielsen deftly combines humour, heartbreak, and hope in this moving story about people who slip through the cracks in society, and about the power of friendship and community to make all the difference.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 11, 2018
262 people are currently reading
5523 people want to read
About the author
Susin Nielsen
28 books620 followersSusin got her start feeding cast and crew on the popular television series, Degrassi Junior High. They hated her food, but they saw a spark in her writing. Nielsen went on to pen sixteen episodes of the hit TV show. Since then, Nielsen has written for over 20 Canadian TV series. Her first young adult novel, Word Nerd, was published in 2008 to critical acclaim. It won multiple Young Readers’ Choice Awards, as did her second novel, Dear George Clooney: Please Marry My Mom. Her third novel, The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen, was published in August 2012. It went on to win the Governor General’s Literary Award, the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Award, the Canadian Library Association’s Children’s Book of the Year Award, and a number of Young Readers’ Choice Awards. Author Wally Lamb named it his top YA pick for 2012 in his “First Annual Wally Awards,” and recently Rolling Stone magazine put it at #27 in their list of “Top 40 Best YA Novels.”
Her books have been translated into multiple languages. Susin’s new novel, We Are All Made of Molecules, will be published in Canada, the US and the UK in Spring of 2015. She lives in Vancouver with her family and two naughty cats. She is delighted to have finally figure out how to "claim" her author profile on Goodreads!
Her books have been translated into multiple languages. Susin’s new novel, We Are All Made of Molecules, will be published in Canada, the US and the UK in Spring of 2015. She lives in Vancouver with her family and two naughty cats. She is delighted to have finally figure out how to "claim" her author profile on Goodreads!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 902 reviews
October 25, 2022
This story talks about being homeless and how the people under such circumstances are trying to survive especially when it involves a young single mother and a 12 year old boy.
The story brings up in parts about domestic violence, abandonment, homophobia, substance abuse, depression and grief which I feel have been told as basic as for the reading age group but they might be triggering for some readers.
I find the writing really good. Never a dull moment and the emotions hit right.
Friendship goals!
The characters are so real and their development is just fantastic.
The ending gave me so much relief and satisfaction.
A must read.
And you will be grateful for all the small and big things you have.
The story brings up in parts about domestic violence, abandonment, homophobia, substance abuse, depression and grief which I feel have been told as basic as for the reading age group but they might be triggering for some readers.
I find the writing really good. Never a dull moment and the emotions hit right.
Friendship goals!
The characters are so real and their development is just fantastic.
The ending gave me so much relief and satisfaction.
A must read.
And you will be grateful for all the small and big things you have.
April 15, 2019
There are difficult topics and there are ones where socially we like to pretend they don't exist. Susin Nielsen has brought a hard topic, children who are homeless, to the forefront. Set in Vancouver, the homeless capital of Canada due to it's temperate weather, No Fixed Address is a moving and tear jerking story. I'm not a crier, and I tend to dislike books that are written to intentionally make readers cry (John Green and I are not friends). The difference here is that I wasn't crying by the end because of the story per say. I had tears thinking about any child being homeless at any given moment. Especially in my own home country of Canada.
Canada is not perfect
I try to read at least 15% Canadian authors in any given year. And I was pleased to see that Nielsen is Canadian. However, Nielsen has reminded me in No Fixed Address that Canada has many flaws that need to be worked on. Just being a first world, relatively nice and supportive member of the world does not make us better or without our struggles. We still have homelessness here; and it's no more acute than in Vancouver (where both my siblings happen to live). Between it's warm weather, it's close proximity to the USA border, and housing prices that are out of reach for households that make $100,000 a year; Vancouver is a very difficult place to have a warm, safe place to sleep in. It's the perfect setting for this story and Nielsen uses areas of Vancouver that are familiar and accurately depicts the city and it's residents. In 2017 it was reported that 35% of the homeless population in Vancouver never used drugs or abused alcohol. A stark difference from the stereotypes often given to this population.
Still Playful at Times
There are super cute illustrations at the front of the chapters that give a sense that while this is a heavy topic that these are still kids who just want to play outdoors and have fun. All of our child characters are well developed and significantly different. I liked how Nielsen showed that doctors might live in a condo in Vancouver (because housing prices are crazy!) and that other families might be in a small townhouse and all live in different areas of Vancouver. Because the school that our lead boy ends up at is 'coveted' there is a wonderful diversity to it. Just like most of Canada.
Anxiety, Smells, and Coping
No Fixed Address does a beautiful (yet tragic) job of focusing on the homelessness. There's no 'extra' trauma or issues to be resolved here; because there doesn't need to be. This is something that bugs me in a lot of teen books lately; they always have a focus issue and then some trauma to go with it. Nielsen does a great job of ensuring the homelessness is the focus and is never lost in any of the other teenage issues that come up. She ensures you know that smelling badly because you have no shower (or washroom of any sort!), nowhere to take your friends to after school, and starving many days is more than enough for one kid to deal with. it
Our lead boy shows extreme anxiety alongside some typical coping mechanisms throughout the book. He hiccups when too stressed or anxious, he counts or recites lists when he needs stability in his mind (this is exactly like many children that count steps or stairs; they do this because the counts never change and it makes them feel stable), and he is ashamed to tell anyone. In some ways the shame of being homeless is the hardest for our lead boy to accept. Top that off with a Mother that steals, cheats and lies; all the while somehow pretending her son is not aware? Our lead boy starts to gain some confidence throughout the story and call his Mother out for her bad behaviour. Those were some of the best (and saddest) moments of the story as you saw a 13-year-old tell an adult how childish and awful they were being.
Support Systems
Given the Canadian setting, in a large city, and that our lead boy attends school; I felt the outcome(s) of No Fixed Address fit would what likely happen in real life. Eventually people start to ask questions, including the other children, and then adults start noticing. This is the slow progression that happens in schools and communities when the bubble the parent thinks they have put their child in starts to deflate. Our lead boy also starts to realize that maybe he doesn't have to live this way. This is, of course, a turning point in the story.
I love how Nielsen portrays the system for support as being both good; but with it's flaws. This could not be a truer representation of how it goes. Some kids get into the system and do well; others don't. And some only ever see the edges of it. I won't tell you how it plays out here; except to say that I was content with the ending and that the refugee couple who are 'involved' a few times during our lead boys struggles were my absolute favourite people in the story. Just like in real life, those with the littlest to give are always the most generous.
Overall
I hope a copy of this book makes it to every single library (school or public) in Canada. It's truly a great story. Easy to read, fast paced and so genuine. Nielsen has shed light into how trapped children can be by their parents poor decisions and how easy it is to justify those bad decisions for the kids affected. I can't help but feel despair in how to help those who find themselves out on the streets. Especially when I know my brother was paying $1400+ for a one-bedroom, 450 sq. ft. apartment in downtown Vancouver just last year. That is at least one pay cheque (or more) for the average income earner. When more than 50% of your income goes to housing (and nothing else) where do you find the money for clothes, toiletries, food and other necessities? This is certainly not a question I can answer or an issue I can solve. However, I can only hope that others will read No Fixed Address and understand that many of these people are NOT drug users and have just been unlucky or have a mental health issue that brings them down. The one of the most poignant moments in the book is when the lead boy asks his mom where her "pills" are (used for depression as far as we can tell) and she tells him it was prescriptions or food this month. What a horrible decision to have to make.
The light and hope that peeks through in Nielsen's novel is just as important as the tough subject matter. A reminder that people should ask for help. That the despair, shame and fear they feel are all valid; but regardless the best thing to do is to ask for assistance. Especially when the quality of life and even survival of a child is on the line.
To read this and more of my reviews visit my blog at Epic Reading
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
Canada is not perfect
I try to read at least 15% Canadian authors in any given year. And I was pleased to see that Nielsen is Canadian. However, Nielsen has reminded me in No Fixed Address that Canada has many flaws that need to be worked on. Just being a first world, relatively nice and supportive member of the world does not make us better or without our struggles. We still have homelessness here; and it's no more acute than in Vancouver (where both my siblings happen to live). Between it's warm weather, it's close proximity to the USA border, and housing prices that are out of reach for households that make $100,000 a year; Vancouver is a very difficult place to have a warm, safe place to sleep in. It's the perfect setting for this story and Nielsen uses areas of Vancouver that are familiar and accurately depicts the city and it's residents. In 2017 it was reported that 35% of the homeless population in Vancouver never used drugs or abused alcohol. A stark difference from the stereotypes often given to this population.
Still Playful at Times
There are super cute illustrations at the front of the chapters that give a sense that while this is a heavy topic that these are still kids who just want to play outdoors and have fun. All of our child characters are well developed and significantly different. I liked how Nielsen showed that doctors might live in a condo in Vancouver (because housing prices are crazy!) and that other families might be in a small townhouse and all live in different areas of Vancouver. Because the school that our lead boy ends up at is 'coveted' there is a wonderful diversity to it. Just like most of Canada.
Anxiety, Smells, and Coping
No Fixed Address does a beautiful (yet tragic) job of focusing on the homelessness. There's no 'extra' trauma or issues to be resolved here; because there doesn't need to be. This is something that bugs me in a lot of teen books lately; they always have a focus issue and then some trauma to go with it. Nielsen does a great job of ensuring the homelessness is the focus and is never lost in any of the other teenage issues that come up. She ensures you know that smelling badly because you have no shower (or washroom of any sort!), nowhere to take your friends to after school, and starving many days is more than enough for one kid to deal with. it
Our lead boy shows extreme anxiety alongside some typical coping mechanisms throughout the book. He hiccups when too stressed or anxious, he counts or recites lists when he needs stability in his mind (this is exactly like many children that count steps or stairs; they do this because the counts never change and it makes them feel stable), and he is ashamed to tell anyone. In some ways the shame of being homeless is the hardest for our lead boy to accept. Top that off with a Mother that steals, cheats and lies; all the while somehow pretending her son is not aware? Our lead boy starts to gain some confidence throughout the story and call his Mother out for her bad behaviour. Those were some of the best (and saddest) moments of the story as you saw a 13-year-old tell an adult how childish and awful they were being.
Support Systems
Given the Canadian setting, in a large city, and that our lead boy attends school; I felt the outcome(s) of No Fixed Address fit would what likely happen in real life. Eventually people start to ask questions, including the other children, and then adults start noticing. This is the slow progression that happens in schools and communities when the bubble the parent thinks they have put their child in starts to deflate. Our lead boy also starts to realize that maybe he doesn't have to live this way. This is, of course, a turning point in the story.
I love how Nielsen portrays the system for support as being both good; but with it's flaws. This could not be a truer representation of how it goes. Some kids get into the system and do well; others don't. And some only ever see the edges of it. I won't tell you how it plays out here; except to say that I was content with the ending and that the refugee couple who are 'involved' a few times during our lead boys struggles were my absolute favourite people in the story. Just like in real life, those with the littlest to give are always the most generous.
Overall
I hope a copy of this book makes it to every single library (school or public) in Canada. It's truly a great story. Easy to read, fast paced and so genuine. Nielsen has shed light into how trapped children can be by their parents poor decisions and how easy it is to justify those bad decisions for the kids affected. I can't help but feel despair in how to help those who find themselves out on the streets. Especially when I know my brother was paying $1400+ for a one-bedroom, 450 sq. ft. apartment in downtown Vancouver just last year. That is at least one pay cheque (or more) for the average income earner. When more than 50% of your income goes to housing (and nothing else) where do you find the money for clothes, toiletries, food and other necessities? This is certainly not a question I can answer or an issue I can solve. However, I can only hope that others will read No Fixed Address and understand that many of these people are NOT drug users and have just been unlucky or have a mental health issue that brings them down. The one of the most poignant moments in the book is when the lead boy asks his mom where her "pills" are (used for depression as far as we can tell) and she tells him it was prescriptions or food this month. What a horrible decision to have to make.
The light and hope that peeks through in Nielsen's novel is just as important as the tough subject matter. A reminder that people should ask for help. That the despair, shame and fear they feel are all valid; but regardless the best thing to do is to ask for assistance. Especially when the quality of life and even survival of a child is on the line.
To read this and more of my reviews visit my blog at Epic Reading
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
August 2, 2018
My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House UK Children’s Publishers for a review copy of this one.
This was such a wonderful wonderful read for me—heart-breaking, and cute, and making me smile a little all at the same time. The story is told in the voice of twelve-and-three-quarters-year-old Felix Knutsson, who lives with his single mother, Astrid (she insists he calls her by name) in a Westfalia van. They have seen a change in fortunes from a time when they were doing ok and had a home, to one where Astrid is more or less jobless, and almost penniless, and have to take the only option available to them, of living in a van. Felix had had to change schools and homes many times over the years as they moved around various parts of Vancouver but finds himself now back in school with one of the only friends he ever had, Dylan Brinkerhoff. Before long Winnie Wu, somewhat Hermione-Granger-like, and a bit over-enthusiastic about school joins their little group. But Felix has to navigate through all of this without ever letting slip his living arrangements as both Felix and his mother are terrified of falling into the ‘clutches’ of the Ministry of Children and Family Development, which they are convinced will place him in foster care, and apart from his mother. Alongside, he must also deal with his mother, who isn’t exactly a bad mother but not a particularly good one either, with many facets to her character (specifics might be a spoiler), that are far from perfect. His only hope lies in participating in his favourite game show Who, What, Where, When, which is having a junior edition, through which he might win some prize money that can help tide them over.
I loved Felix—he was so sensible, mature for his age, able to face much more than anyone his age could and all without constantly whining or pitying himself. This is not to say that he doesn’t want life to get back to normal, or that he is a Pollyanna, but he takes things in his stride better than even a grown-up would. One can’t help but feel sorry for him having to not only present a brave face to the world but also to be the strong one in his family in some situations. Some of the situations they have to face are plain frightening at times, and others require Felix to accept things that he wouldn’t normally approve of (after all, he has to live). I also liked how the author conveyed so many things subtly capturing things in a way a child might perhaps see them, and not having to say things explicitly/directly all the time. Seeing Felix’s situation, one can’t help but think about people like him who have to live every day without the things we tend to take for granted—food to eat, a bed to sleep in, a toilet in one’s home—and realise the need to have more help at hand for people in such circumstances, and feel grateful in having those things, besides also realising, that a life with dignity which is a ‘basic’ human right remains a luxury for so many. At the same time, the book gives a positive and hopeful message about people themselves. I also liked that the book really reflected well how multicultural our world really is now. This may be classified as a YA book, but is one that can be appreciated by everyone, even adults (perhaps more so), and I highly recommend it. Simply wonderful read. (p.s. of course, I loved the little illustrations!!!!)
This was such a wonderful wonderful read for me—heart-breaking, and cute, and making me smile a little all at the same time. The story is told in the voice of twelve-and-three-quarters-year-old Felix Knutsson, who lives with his single mother, Astrid (she insists he calls her by name) in a Westfalia van. They have seen a change in fortunes from a time when they were doing ok and had a home, to one where Astrid is more or less jobless, and almost penniless, and have to take the only option available to them, of living in a van. Felix had had to change schools and homes many times over the years as they moved around various parts of Vancouver but finds himself now back in school with one of the only friends he ever had, Dylan Brinkerhoff. Before long Winnie Wu, somewhat Hermione-Granger-like, and a bit over-enthusiastic about school joins their little group. But Felix has to navigate through all of this without ever letting slip his living arrangements as both Felix and his mother are terrified of falling into the ‘clutches’ of the Ministry of Children and Family Development, which they are convinced will place him in foster care, and apart from his mother. Alongside, he must also deal with his mother, who isn’t exactly a bad mother but not a particularly good one either, with many facets to her character (specifics might be a spoiler), that are far from perfect. His only hope lies in participating in his favourite game show Who, What, Where, When, which is having a junior edition, through which he might win some prize money that can help tide them over.
I loved Felix—he was so sensible, mature for his age, able to face much more than anyone his age could and all without constantly whining or pitying himself. This is not to say that he doesn’t want life to get back to normal, or that he is a Pollyanna, but he takes things in his stride better than even a grown-up would. One can’t help but feel sorry for him having to not only present a brave face to the world but also to be the strong one in his family in some situations. Some of the situations they have to face are plain frightening at times, and others require Felix to accept things that he wouldn’t normally approve of (after all, he has to live). I also liked how the author conveyed so many things subtly capturing things in a way a child might perhaps see them, and not having to say things explicitly/directly all the time. Seeing Felix’s situation, one can’t help but think about people like him who have to live every day without the things we tend to take for granted—food to eat, a bed to sleep in, a toilet in one’s home—and realise the need to have more help at hand for people in such circumstances, and feel grateful in having those things, besides also realising, that a life with dignity which is a ‘basic’ human right remains a luxury for so many. At the same time, the book gives a positive and hopeful message about people themselves. I also liked that the book really reflected well how multicultural our world really is now. This may be classified as a YA book, but is one that can be appreciated by everyone, even adults (perhaps more so), and I highly recommend it. Simply wonderful read. (p.s. of course, I loved the little illustrations!!!!)
May 22, 2020
Felix leads the whole story. And beautifully...
I felt like he was a real person all along the novel. I fully understood his needs and emotions, and can share some of his life experience also.
He was very much alive.
I love the end, the last sentence is : "And I am choosing to believe"
I felt like he was a real person all along the novel. I fully understood his needs and emotions, and can share some of his life experience also.
He was very much alive.
I love the end, the last sentence is : "And I am choosing to believe"
March 23, 2020
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
Twelve-year-old Felix lives in a van with his mum Astrid in Vancouver, Canada. They used to live with his Grandmother but when she died they had to move into an apartment, but then they lost that and moved around into smaller places until they ended up living in the van.
Astrid suffers from depression and so keeping a job is hard for her meaning that they never manage to save up enough money to find a place of their own. Felix is attending school but he has to go in early each day to have a wash and change in the disabled toilets so that no-one realises that he is homeless.
When a TV games show hosts a junior edition with the prize fund for the winner set at $25,000 Felix has an idea. He’s going to win and use that money to get the two of them a home.
No Fixed Address is a book that will open young people’s eyes to the plight of the homeless and make them realise that it is not just people sleeping in doorways that are homeless. The book begins with a scene in a police station and then moved back in time to when the family became homeless.
Felix is a very smart kid, he understands the world better than a lot of people and thus explains to the reader his version of lying and when it is or isn’t justified. He also explains in great detail the situation he is in and how he feels. He doesn’t like having to lie to his friends, Winnie and Dylan but he feels he has no option as his mum has made him believe that if he tells anyone then the social services will get involved and they are bad people.
I love how real the book felt. In the past year, I think this is the third book I have read about a young homeless person and it is wonderful to see these books as hopefully, they will make the readers understand the plight of what some kids are going through.
It’s not a doom and gloom, sob story of a book though as there are plenty of light-hearted moments too. The book is engaging and I love that it is set out in months. It’s a real eye-opener of a book and well worth a read.
Twelve-year-old Felix lives in a van with his mum Astrid in Vancouver, Canada. They used to live with his Grandmother but when she died they had to move into an apartment, but then they lost that and moved around into smaller places until they ended up living in the van.
Astrid suffers from depression and so keeping a job is hard for her meaning that they never manage to save up enough money to find a place of their own. Felix is attending school but he has to go in early each day to have a wash and change in the disabled toilets so that no-one realises that he is homeless.
When a TV games show hosts a junior edition with the prize fund for the winner set at $25,000 Felix has an idea. He’s going to win and use that money to get the two of them a home.
No Fixed Address is a book that will open young people’s eyes to the plight of the homeless and make them realise that it is not just people sleeping in doorways that are homeless. The book begins with a scene in a police station and then moved back in time to when the family became homeless.
Felix is a very smart kid, he understands the world better than a lot of people and thus explains to the reader his version of lying and when it is or isn’t justified. He also explains in great detail the situation he is in and how he feels. He doesn’t like having to lie to his friends, Winnie and Dylan but he feels he has no option as his mum has made him believe that if he tells anyone then the social services will get involved and they are bad people.
I love how real the book felt. In the past year, I think this is the third book I have read about a young homeless person and it is wonderful to see these books as hopefully, they will make the readers understand the plight of what some kids are going through.
It’s not a doom and gloom, sob story of a book though as there are plenty of light-hearted moments too. The book is engaging and I love that it is set out in months. It’s a real eye-opener of a book and well worth a read.
March 18, 2020
No Fixed Address is about being homeless, people who don't have a permanent home, but don't sleep rough, but may find places to stay with friends or family, sleeping in a spare room, or basement or on a sofa. Some people maybe on a waiting list for social housing for a while, living in hostels or bed and breakfast that the local authorities provide.
In No Fixed Address
I found it a a very tough, touching novel, feeling sorry for young Felix with no proper home to live in and keeping it a secret.
Felix Fredrick Knutsson age 12 with no fixed address had lived in a few places. First of all he lived with his mother in his grandma's bungalow, then with his mother in a six- hundred -square foot apartment and then a basement.
By August they were living in a Volkswagen Westfalia van, with a two ring stove and a bar size fridge. It had little cubbyholes for storage tucked into every nook and cranny. But when Felix starts a new school he tries his best to keep it away from his friends, that he lives in a van.
I certainly recommend this book to every reader!
In No Fixed Address
I found it a a very tough, touching novel, feeling sorry for young Felix with no proper home to live in and keeping it a secret.
Felix Fredrick Knutsson age 12 with no fixed address had lived in a few places. First of all he lived with his mother in his grandma's bungalow, then with his mother in a six- hundred -square foot apartment and then a basement.
By August they were living in a Volkswagen Westfalia van, with a two ring stove and a bar size fridge. It had little cubbyholes for storage tucked into every nook and cranny. But when Felix starts a new school he tries his best to keep it away from his friends, that he lives in a van.
I certainly recommend this book to every reader!
July 3, 2025
#️⃣3️⃣2️⃣1️⃣ Read & Reviewed in 2025 🌀🌊💠
Date : 📬 Thursday, July 3, 2025 🫧🛌
Word Count📃: 55k Words 🛢️✈️
𝜗𝜚⋆₊˚ 💧🥏🩻 ‹𝟹 𓇢𓆸 𓂂 𓇼˚｡ •
ʚ(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )ɞ My 5th read in "Why is Lorde's latest album so bad" 🩻 July
4️⃣🌟, why the last 25% be boring tho
——————————————————————
➕➖0️⃣1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣4️⃣5️⃣6️⃣7️⃣8️⃣9️⃣🔟✖️➗
This book talks about a homeless kid named Felix and how he manages through life being financially handicapped. He also participates in this sort of competition to possibly get some money on the side!
But noticably there is a part of this book that is more hidden then all the broke boi shenanigans and that is the way that he treats his mom. Felix doesn't even call his mom by....MOM, but rather he calls her by her real name. It may just be a distinct choice but i swear this book has underlying negative family power dynamics, child abuse and child neglect undertones taken all behind the ongoing financial crisis.
HECK, HE DOES THE SAME THING WITH HIS FATHER.
But as a 12-year-old that just do 12-year-old things, we get a suspiciously "fun" and "innocent" book, but analyzing this piece even more, it has more of a struggle on family and your new found family/friendships that you make along the way which is productive i must say when reading.
Date : 📬 Thursday, July 3, 2025 🫧🛌
Word Count📃: 55k Words 🛢️✈️
𝜗𝜚⋆₊˚ 💧🥏🩻 ‹𝟹 𓇢𓆸 𓂂 𓇼˚｡ •
ʚ(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )ɞ My 5th read in "Why is Lorde's latest album so bad" 🩻 July
4️⃣🌟, why the last 25% be boring tho
——————————————————————
➕➖0️⃣1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣4️⃣5️⃣6️⃣7️⃣8️⃣9️⃣🔟✖️➗
This book talks about a homeless kid named Felix and how he manages through life being financially handicapped. He also participates in this sort of competition to possibly get some money on the side!
But noticably there is a part of this book that is more hidden then all the broke boi shenanigans and that is the way that he treats his mom. Felix doesn't even call his mom by....MOM, but rather he calls her by her real name. It may just be a distinct choice but i swear this book has underlying negative family power dynamics, child abuse and child neglect undertones taken all behind the ongoing financial crisis.
HECK, HE DOES THE SAME THING WITH HIS FATHER.
But as a 12-year-old that just do 12-year-old things, we get a suspiciously "fun" and "innocent" book, but analyzing this piece even more, it has more of a struggle on family and your new found family/friendships that you make along the way which is productive i must say when reading.
July 16, 2021
J’ai sincèrement a-do-ré ce roman! C’est le troisième que je lis de cette autrice et je suis vraiment toujours charmée par ses histoires. Ici, on traite de pauvreté et d’itinérance. Je réalise que je ne lis pas souvent d’œuvres où les personnages sont issus de milieux socio-économiques différents. C’est rafraîchissant, ça fait du bien et ça fait réfléchir en même temps. Susin a le don d’écrire des histoires qui amènent une réflexion avec des sujets plus tabous et j’adore ça. C’est certain que la fin est « bubbly », mais j’aurais été déçue que ça se termine autrement! De belles valeurs y sont véhiculées et l’intrigue est vraiment bien amenée.
December 6, 2018
Susin Nielsen, you've done it again!! A few years ago I unabashedly gushed over her We Are All Made of Molecules so, readers, be prepared because there's a strong chance of gushing in the forecast for her latest book, No Fixed Address (a book I read in one day). The story focuses on the life Felix, a 12-year-old boy who loves trivia, his gerbil, Horatio and his mom, Astrid. They're a regular, small family except that they live in a van. They are one of the unseen homeless.
With No Fixed Address, Nielsen has written a touching and revelatory read about the issue of homelessness in Canada. Readers witness the lengths Felix will go to ensure that no one finds out that he's homeless. His mother, Astrid, for reasons of her own, has instilled a fear of the Ministry of Children and Family Development in her son and insists that this is a secret they must keep until they can get back on their feet which she keeps promising will be 'any day now'.
One of my favourite things about Nielsen's work is the diversity of her characters. Once again, Nielsen provides a diverse cast which showcases the wonderful heterogeneity of Canada. As Felix says
But while there is an assortment of backgrounds/beliefs/ethnicities to her characters, the focus remains on the issues, the plot and her complex main characters.
Felix is smart, kind, quirky and has more on his plate than most kids his age. With more than a little ingenuity and strength, he struggles to take care of his mom, get his own basic needs met, go to school and hide their secret. He finds strength in his friendships with Dylan and the very Hermione-like Winnie Wu, his love of learning and his plan to compete on his favourite trivia show and win enough money to bring him and Astrid out of poverty. Through it all, you know Felix loves his mom, but you also see his growing frustration with their situation and his inability to care for himself during his mother's long emotional 'Slumps'.
Astrid is a complicated character. You know she won't be in the running for Mother of the Year, nor is she the worst of the bunch, but you understand her fierce love for her son even though her behaviours were deeply flawed and often unethical/illegal.
This story will tug at your heart strings and will open your eyes to the issue of homelessness in Canada and how easily one's circumstances can change from home owner to homeless. Sprinkled liberally with great Canadian culture, this is a touching story about poverty, friendship, family and hope.
With No Fixed Address, Nielsen has written a touching and revelatory read about the issue of homelessness in Canada. Readers witness the lengths Felix will go to ensure that no one finds out that he's homeless. His mother, Astrid, for reasons of her own, has instilled a fear of the Ministry of Children and Family Development in her son and insists that this is a secret they must keep until they can get back on their feet which she keeps promising will be 'any day now'.
One of my favourite things about Nielsen's work is the diversity of her characters. Once again, Nielsen provides a diverse cast which showcases the wonderful heterogeneity of Canada. As Felix says
"I'm fifty percent Swedish, twenty-five percent Haitian, twenty-five percent French. Add it up and it equals one hundred percent Canadian."
But while there is an assortment of backgrounds/beliefs/ethnicities to her characters, the focus remains on the issues, the plot and her complex main characters.
Felix is smart, kind, quirky and has more on his plate than most kids his age. With more than a little ingenuity and strength, he struggles to take care of his mom, get his own basic needs met, go to school and hide their secret. He finds strength in his friendships with Dylan and the very Hermione-like Winnie Wu, his love of learning and his plan to compete on his favourite trivia show and win enough money to bring him and Astrid out of poverty. Through it all, you know Felix loves his mom, but you also see his growing frustration with their situation and his inability to care for himself during his mother's long emotional 'Slumps'.
Astrid is a complicated character. You know she won't be in the running for Mother of the Year, nor is she the worst of the bunch, but you understand her fierce love for her son even though her behaviours were deeply flawed and often unethical/illegal.
This story will tug at your heart strings and will open your eyes to the issue of homelessness in Canada and how easily one's circumstances can change from home owner to homeless. Sprinkled liberally with great Canadian culture, this is a touching story about poverty, friendship, family and hope.
December 3, 2018
There were aspects of this book that I liked, and there were aspects of it that I didn't. I liked watching how Felix dealt with his situation emotionally, how he loved his mother but got angry with her, how he operated in and normalized a situation that was very abnormal to those around him, how he was embarrassed, afraid, and ashamed because of potential responses of those around him. All of those were very nice.
I did not, however, like the oversimplification of poverty. There was this constant refrain that Felix's mom could get them out of poverty if she could just pull herself together enough to overcome her mental illness AND stop being a twit (she suffered from both problems, and they were different), and from my experiences with poverty, I don't see how that could be the case. Maybe if she had lots of external support (subsidized housing, food assistance, etc, which the book said she refused to take), but trying to support herself and a kid without help of any kind on a barista's salary (or a salary like that)? I absolutely don't see how that could be possible. The average salary for a barista (one of the jobs Felix's mom picks up and gets fired for) is $20,880 per year. An average rent for a 1 bedroom in Vancouver is $1500 per month for $18,000 per year, leaving Felix's family a grand total of $2,880 for all other expenses for that year. Yet the book actually said that Felix's mom had almost managed to get them an apartment at one point on a barista's salary, and the apartment only fell through because she got herself fired. How could she have gotten an apartment?! Even if she had kept her barista job, how could she possibly have afforded an apartment and literally anything else? So often there is this fundamental misunderstanding of the fact that even if you work, that doesn't mean you're going to make enough money to get by, even if you have no dependents and live frugally.
I did not, however, like the oversimplification of poverty. There was this constant refrain that Felix's mom could get them out of poverty if she could just pull herself together enough to overcome her mental illness AND stop being a twit (she suffered from both problems, and they were different), and from my experiences with poverty, I don't see how that could be the case. Maybe if she had lots of external support (subsidized housing, food assistance, etc, which the book said she refused to take), but trying to support herself and a kid without help of any kind on a barista's salary (or a salary like that)? I absolutely don't see how that could be possible. The average salary for a barista (one of the jobs Felix's mom picks up and gets fired for) is $20,880 per year. An average rent for a 1 bedroom in Vancouver is $1500 per month for $18,000 per year, leaving Felix's family a grand total of $2,880 for all other expenses for that year. Yet the book actually said that Felix's mom had almost managed to get them an apartment at one point on a barista's salary, and the apartment only fell through because she got herself fired. How could she have gotten an apartment?! Even if she had kept her barista job, how could she possibly have afforded an apartment and literally anything else? So often there is this fundamental misunderstanding of the fact that even if you work, that doesn't mean you're going to make enough money to get by, even if you have no dependents and live frugally.
February 17, 2020
Following the death of his grandmother and some untenable interim arrangements with his mother Astrid's boyfriend and another friend, Felix and Astrid find themselves living in a Westphalia camper van, because Vancouver is expensive. Astrid has some psychological issues, and cannot keep a steady job either, but she manages to get Felix into a prestigious school, using some guile. Felix is embarrassed about his living situation, which puts pressure on his relationship with his school friends. His main love is trivia, and he enters a junior version of a national Canadian game show with the hopes that the grand prize will allow them to find a real home.
August 2, 2018
My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House UK Children’s Publishers for a review copy of this one.
This was such a wonderful wonderful read for me—heart-breaking, and cute, and making me smile a little all at the same time. The story is told in the voice of twelve-and-three-quarters-year-old Felix Knutsson, who lives with his single mother, Astrid (she insists he calls her by name) in a Westfalia van. They have seen a change in fortunes from a time when they were doing ok and had a home, to one where Astrid is more or less jobless, and almost penniless, and have to take the only option available to them, of living in a van. Felix had had to change schools and homes many times over the years as they moved around various parts of Vancouver but finds himself now back in school with one of the only friends he ever had, Dylan Brinkerhoff. Before long Winnie Wu, somewhat Hermione-Granger-like, and a bit over-enthusiastic about school joins their little group. But Felix has to navigate through all of this without ever letting slip his living arrangements as both Felix and his mother are terrified of falling into the ‘clutches’ of the Ministry of Children and Family Development, which they are convinced will place him in foster care, and apart from his mother. Alongside, he must also deal with his mother, who isn’t exactly a bad mother but not a particularly good one either, with many facets to her character (specifics might be a spoiler), that are far from perfect. His only hope lies in participating in his favourite game show Who, What, Where, When, which is having a junior edition, through which he might win some prize money that can help tide them over.
I loved Felix—he was so sensible, mature for his age, able to face much more than anyone his age could and all without constantly whining or pitying himself. This is not to say that he doesn’t want life to get back to normal, or that he is a Pollyanna, but he takes things in his stride better than even a grown-up would. One can’t help but feel sorry for him having to not only present a brave face to the world but also to be the strong one in his family in some situations. Some of the situations they have to face are plain frightening at times, and others require Felix to accept things that he wouldn’t normally approve of (after all, he has to live). I also liked how the author conveyed so many things subtly capturing things in a way a child might perhaps see them, and not having to say things explicitly/directly all the time. Seeing Felix’s situation, one can’t help but think about people like him who have to live every day without the things we tend to take for granted—food to eat, a bed to sleep in, a toilet in one’s home—and realise the need to have more help at hand for people in such circumstances, and feel grateful in having those things, besides also realising, that a life with dignity which is a ‘basic’ human right remains a luxury for so many. At the same time, the book gives a positive and hopeful message about people themselves. I also liked that the book really reflected well how multicultural our world really is now. This may be classified as a YA book, but is one that can be appreciated by everyone, even adults (perhaps more so), and I highly recommend it. Simply wonderful read. (p.s. of course, I loved the little illustrations!!!!)
This was such a wonderful wonderful read for me—heart-breaking, and cute, and making me smile a little all at the same time. The story is told in the voice of twelve-and-three-quarters-year-old Felix Knutsson, who lives with his single mother, Astrid (she insists he calls her by name) in a Westfalia van. They have seen a change in fortunes from a time when they were doing ok and had a home, to one where Astrid is more or less jobless, and almost penniless, and have to take the only option available to them, of living in a van. Felix had had to change schools and homes many times over the years as they moved around various parts of Vancouver but finds himself now back in school with one of the only friends he ever had, Dylan Brinkerhoff. Before long Winnie Wu, somewhat Hermione-Granger-like, and a bit over-enthusiastic about school joins their little group. But Felix has to navigate through all of this without ever letting slip his living arrangements as both Felix and his mother are terrified of falling into the ‘clutches’ of the Ministry of Children and Family Development, which they are convinced will place him in foster care, and apart from his mother. Alongside, he must also deal with his mother, who isn’t exactly a bad mother but not a particularly good one either, with many facets to her character (specifics might be a spoiler), that are far from perfect. His only hope lies in participating in his favourite game show Who, What, Where, When, which is having a junior edition, through which he might win some prize money that can help tide them over.
I loved Felix—he was so sensible, mature for his age, able to face much more than anyone his age could and all without constantly whining or pitying himself. This is not to say that he doesn’t want life to get back to normal, or that he is a Pollyanna, but he takes things in his stride better than even a grown-up would. One can’t help but feel sorry for him having to not only present a brave face to the world but also to be the strong one in his family in some situations. Some of the situations they have to face are plain frightening at times, and others require Felix to accept things that he wouldn’t normally approve of (after all, he has to live). I also liked how the author conveyed so many things subtly capturing things in a way a child might perhaps see them, and not having to say things explicitly/directly all the time. Seeing Felix’s situation, one can’t help but think about people like him who have to live every day without the things we tend to take for granted—food to eat, a bed to sleep in, a toilet in one’s home—and realise the need to have more help at hand for people in such circumstances, and feel grateful in having those things, besides also realising, that a life with dignity which is a ‘basic’ human right remains a luxury for so many. At the same time, the book gives a positive and hopeful message about people themselves. I also liked that the book really reflected well how multicultural our world really is now. This may be classified as a YA book, but is one that can be appreciated by everyone, even adults (perhaps more so), and I highly recommend it. Simply wonderful read. (p.s. of course, I loved the little illustrations!!!!)
October 11, 2023
AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!! That’s the only way I can put it
October 15, 2018
I loved this book. I picked it up on Sunday night and ended up finishing it before I went to bed. I couldn't quit reading about Felix and his life living in a van. While he knows it's "only temporary" (at least, that's what his mom Astrid says, but it has been four months by now), he is getting tired of it. He would like to live in a place with heat. A toilet. Some doors that close. Those things don't seem like too much to ask. And while the van started off as an adventure, an extended summer vacation of sorts, now the weather is turning and he doesn't think it's as fun anymore. Plus, his mom is having more and more of her "Slumps", those times when she just can't get out of bed and get moving. That's OK-as long as they only last a few days, Felix knows how to take care of himself. He's been doing it for years.
But now, his friends are starting to notice. His mom's getting worse. His teachers want to schedule meetings. And he knows he wants to have things change, but he also knows how his mom feels about getting anyone involved. He would do anything to not have to go with the Ministry people and risk being separated from her.
This was a fantastic read about what it means to take care of your friends and yourself. I loved it. Highly recommend for all readers who like realistic fiction, especially stories like Crenshaw and Paper Things . Appropriate for grades 5-9.
But now, his friends are starting to notice. His mom's getting worse. His teachers want to schedule meetings. And he knows he wants to have things change, but he also knows how his mom feels about getting anyone involved. He would do anything to not have to go with the Ministry people and risk being separated from her.
This was a fantastic read about what it means to take care of your friends and yourself. I loved it. Highly recommend for all readers who like realistic fiction, especially stories like Crenshaw and Paper Things . Appropriate for grades 5-9.
June 5, 2018
Nielson writes about the important subjects of hidden homelessness, depression and poverty in a powerfully authentic and funny way. I adored Felix. His wit, kindness, humour and nerdiness are utterly charming, and the loyalty he has for his mother is as beautiful as it is heartbreaking. A truly important story about hidden homelessness, beautifully told. I absolutely loved this novel.
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July 12, 2025📖 کتاب: آدرس نامشخص
✍🏼 نویسنده: سوزین نیلسن
✨ مترجم: حسنا حسینیفر
📌 نشر: پاپلی
🌿 موضوع: ادبیات نوجوان، واقعگرایانه، فقر، سلامت روان
👟 فلیکس، پسر دوازدهسالهایست با ذهنی تیز و علاقهای خاص به مسابقهی دانستنیها؛ پسری که حیوان دستآموزش را به افتخار مجری برنامهی موردعلاقهاش نامگذاری کرده و رویاهای بزرگی توی سرش دارد. اما زندگی واقعی او از جنس سؤال و جوابهای سرگرمکننده نیست. وقتی مادرش، آسترید، شغل خود را از دست میدهد و آنها از خانه بیرون انداخته میشوند، تنها پناهشان میشود یک ون زهواردررفته. ضمن اینکه آسترید تاکید دارد فلیکس به هیچکس نگوید کجا زندگی میکنند...
🌸 در دل این پنهانکاری و ترس از جدا شدن از مادر، فلیکس تصمیم میگیرد رویای شرکت در نسخهی نوجوان برنامهی محبوبش را دنبال کند. شاید جایزهی نقدی بتواند همهچیز را تغییر دهد؛ شاید حتی بتواند «خانه» را دوباره به زندگیاش برگرداند. اما مسیر رسیدن به رویاها همیشه مستقیم نیست و زندگی، حتی وقتی خوب پیش میرود، همیشه آسان نیست.
📖 «آدرس: نامشخص» داستانیست کوچک و درعینحال بزرگ. کوچک، چون از نگاه پسری نوجوان روایت میشود؛ و بزرگ، چون با بیپیرایهترین لحن ممکن، به یکی از واقعیترین بحرانهای اجتماعیِ امروز، یعنی بیخانمانی میپردازد.
🌱 چیزی که این کتاب را از روایتهای معمول نوجوانانه متمایز میکند، این است که نیلسن بهجای ساختن یک قهرمان معصوم، پسری را به ما معرفی میکند که در موقعیتی خاکستری گیر کرده. او دروغ میگوید، وانمود میکند، راز نگه میدارد؛ اما همهاش از سرِ اجبار و ترس. ترسی واقعی از جداشدن از تنها کسی که دارد: مادرش.
🌷 آسترید، مادر فلیکس، شخصیتیست که در تقابل با الگوهای معمول مادری قرار میگیرد. او هم عاشق و حمایتگر است، هم ناپایدار و گاه خودمحور.
✨ من این کتاب رو چند وقت پیش در گروه همخوانی نشر پاپلی خوندم و از خوندنش لذت بسیاری بردم. بهنظرم از اون دست کتابهای کودکونوجوانی بود که شاید در اصل برای بزرگترها نوشته شدن تا بلکه تلنگری باشن... همچنین، بهعقیدهی من، مسابقهی «کی، کجا، چه کسی» استعارهای هست از میل فلیکس به دیدهشدن، شنیدهشدن و داشتن صدایی در جهانی که اون رو نادیده گرفته. راهی برای اینکه بگه: «منم هستم. منم میفهمم. منم حق دارم خونهای داشته باشم.»
🎁 طولانی شد؛ اما اینو هم باید بگم. نکتهی بسیار زیبا و قابلتوجه دربارهی نشر پاپلی اینه که: یک درصد از شمارگان هر کتابشون به کتابخانههای عمومی مناطق محروم اهدا میشه.
✍🏼 نویسنده: سوزین نیلسن
✨ مترجم: حسنا حسینیفر
📌 نشر: پاپلی
🌿 موضوع: ادبیات نوجوان، واقعگرایانه، فقر، سلامت روان
👟 فلیکس، پسر دوازدهسالهایست با ذهنی تیز و علاقهای خاص به مسابقهی دانستنیها؛ پسری که حیوان دستآموزش را به افتخار مجری برنامهی موردعلاقهاش نامگذاری کرده و رویاهای بزرگی توی سرش دارد. اما زندگی واقعی او از جنس سؤال و جوابهای سرگرمکننده نیست. وقتی مادرش، آسترید، شغل خود را از دست میدهد و آنها از خانه بیرون انداخته میشوند، تنها پناهشان میشود یک ون زهواردررفته. ضمن اینکه آسترید تاکید دارد فلیکس به هیچکس نگوید کجا زندگی میکنند...
🌸 در دل این پنهانکاری و ترس از جدا شدن از مادر، فلیکس تصمیم میگیرد رویای شرکت در نسخهی نوجوان برنامهی محبوبش را دنبال کند. شاید جایزهی نقدی بتواند همهچیز را تغییر دهد؛ شاید حتی بتواند «خانه» را دوباره به زندگیاش برگرداند. اما مسیر رسیدن به رویاها همیشه مستقیم نیست و زندگی، حتی وقتی خوب پیش میرود، همیشه آسان نیست.
📖 «آدرس: نامشخص» داستانیست کوچک و درعینحال بزرگ. کوچک، چون از نگاه پسری نوجوان روایت میشود؛ و بزرگ، چون با بیپیرایهترین لحن ممکن، به یکی از واقعیترین بحرانهای اجتماعیِ امروز، یعنی بیخانمانی میپردازد.
🌱 چیزی که این کتاب را از روایتهای معمول نوجوانانه متمایز میکند، این است که نیلسن بهجای ساختن یک قهرمان معصوم، پسری را به ما معرفی میکند که در موقعیتی خاکستری گیر کرده. او دروغ میگوید، وانمود میکند، راز نگه میدارد؛ اما همهاش از سرِ اجبار و ترس. ترسی واقعی از جداشدن از تنها کسی که دارد: مادرش.
🌷 آسترید، مادر فلیکس، شخصیتیست که در تقابل با الگوهای معمول مادری قرار میگیرد. او هم عاشق و حمایتگر است، هم ناپایدار و گاه خودمحور.
✨ من این کتاب رو چند وقت پیش در گروه همخوانی نشر پاپلی خوندم و از خوندنش لذت بسیاری بردم. بهنظرم از اون دست کتابهای کودکونوجوانی بود که شاید در اصل برای بزرگترها نوشته شدن تا بلکه تلنگری باشن... همچنین، بهعقیدهی من، مسابقهی «کی، کجا، چه کسی» استعارهای هست از میل فلیکس به دیدهشدن، شنیدهشدن و داشتن صدایی در جهانی که اون رو نادیده گرفته. راهی برای اینکه بگه: «منم هستم. منم میفهمم. منم حق دارم خونهای داشته باشم.»
🎁 طولانی شد؛ اما اینو هم باید بگم. نکتهی بسیار زیبا و قابلتوجه دربارهی نشر پاپلی اینه که: یک درصد از شمارگان هر کتابشون به کتابخانههای عمومی مناطق محروم اهدا میشه.
August 20, 2022
Another Nielsen book, another winner for me. I am so happy I discovered Susin Nielsen, because every one of her books end up on the "makes-me-happy" list. She has done it once again with No Fixed Address, which was, as intrepid reporter Winnie Wu stated in the book, a feel-good story.
• Pro: Nielsen does so many things well in her books, but most importantly, she crafts these incredible characters. Felix was one of those incredible characters. The kid won my heart as soon as he described himself as "Fifty percent Swedish, twenty-five percent Haitian, twenty-five percent French. Add it up and it equals one hundred percent Canadian." He was funny, quirky, and he charmed the pants off of me.
• Pro: Felix was homeless or, as he liked to say, "between places". There was a chapter in the book called "A Brief History of Homes", where Felix told us about all the places he had lived. This chapter was a brilliant way to show how quickly one's circumstances can change. How you can be living in a big victorian house one day and in the back of a van the next. I am glad it was included, because it can combat some of the assumptions people make about why people are homeless.
• Pro: The quiz show storyline was fantastic! I was so glad it was part of the story.
• Pro: It was obvious that Astrid was not winning any parenting prizes. Her inability to keep a job combine with her mental health issues, often left Felix to fend for himself, but one thing was clear - Astrid loved Felix and he loved her.
• Pro: Mental health and abuse are some of the issues addressed in this story. Both were handled honestly and with care.
• Pro: It was really beautiful the way so many people rallied for Felix. I swear! My heart grew three sizes due to some really wonderful characters in this book and their acts of kindness towards Felix and his mom.
Overall: A touching, funny, and heartbreaking look at homelessness, featuring a protagonists you will stand and cheer for.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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• Pro: Nielsen does so many things well in her books, but most importantly, she crafts these incredible characters. Felix was one of those incredible characters. The kid won my heart as soon as he described himself as "Fifty percent Swedish, twenty-five percent Haitian, twenty-five percent French. Add it up and it equals one hundred percent Canadian." He was funny, quirky, and he charmed the pants off of me.
• Pro: Felix was homeless or, as he liked to say, "between places". There was a chapter in the book called "A Brief History of Homes", where Felix told us about all the places he had lived. This chapter was a brilliant way to show how quickly one's circumstances can change. How you can be living in a big victorian house one day and in the back of a van the next. I am glad it was included, because it can combat some of the assumptions people make about why people are homeless.
• Pro: The quiz show storyline was fantastic! I was so glad it was part of the story.
• Pro: It was obvious that Astrid was not winning any parenting prizes. Her inability to keep a job combine with her mental health issues, often left Felix to fend for himself, but one thing was clear - Astrid loved Felix and he loved her.
• Pro: Mental health and abuse are some of the issues addressed in this story. Both were handled honestly and with care.
• Pro: It was really beautiful the way so many people rallied for Felix. I swear! My heart grew three sizes due to some really wonderful characters in this book and their acts of kindness towards Felix and his mom.
Overall: A touching, funny, and heartbreaking look at homelessness, featuring a protagonists you will stand and cheer for.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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December 22, 2018
After hitting a rough patch financially, 12-year old Felix and his mom, Astrid, find themselves living in a van. Astrid assures Felix that it’s just temporary, but as time goes on Felix finds it increasingly difficult to deal with their situation. Felix is quirky, intelligent, and in many ways far more mature than his mother… and by the time they’ve put in three months of living in the van, all the poor kid wants is a toilet and his frustration with his mom justifiably increases.
I really liked this book. Susin Nielsen has created a wonderful character in Felix, and her supporting cast is also strong (especially Felix’s friends, Winnie and Dylan). Nielsen really brings to the forefront the issue of homelessness in Canada, and how easy it can be for people to find themselves in this situation and how invisible they become to the rest of society. As I read about Felix’s daily challenges of making friends, going to school, and carrying on trying to be a regular kid yet having to do it without letting people know he’s homeless, it made me really stop and wonder if there are people who cross my path who are in similar situations and I’m just blissfully unaware. It really makes you stop and think.
I also loved the book for its unabashed “Canadian-ness”! There’s absolutely NO doubt you’re in Canada, with plenty of cultural references (Reach for the Top!).
I really liked this book. Susin Nielsen has created a wonderful character in Felix, and her supporting cast is also strong (especially Felix’s friends, Winnie and Dylan). Nielsen really brings to the forefront the issue of homelessness in Canada, and how easy it can be for people to find themselves in this situation and how invisible they become to the rest of society. As I read about Felix’s daily challenges of making friends, going to school, and carrying on trying to be a regular kid yet having to do it without letting people know he’s homeless, it made me really stop and wonder if there are people who cross my path who are in similar situations and I’m just blissfully unaware. It really makes you stop and think.
I also loved the book for its unabashed “Canadian-ness”! There’s absolutely NO doubt you’re in Canada, with plenty of cultural references (Reach for the Top!).
November 12, 2022
I cannot say enough good things about Susin Nielsen’s books. This is the 4th or 5th I have read and every time I think ‘this is her best!’
Susie Nielsen is a Canadian middle grade author who always tackles tough topics that while fiction ring true. This book is about the ‘hidden homeless’; those who do not have a permanent home but do not sleep rough. Felix and his mother Astrid are evicted and forced to live in a van. Astrid struggles with conventional society so can’t hold down a job and Felix is trying to find his friendship group at school and struggling with his living conditions. Simple things like a toilet, regular showers, quality sleep, privacy and security are not available to him.
As with all Susin Nielsen’s books there’s a fun twist. In Dear George Clooney: Please Marry My Mom there was a celebrity element, in Word Nerd there was the Scrabble Club. In No Fixed Address Felix sees an opportunity to ‘fix’ his situation by appearing on a game show and winning prize money.
Susin Nielsen previously worked on the ground breaking TV series Degrassi Junior High so her empathy for young people shines through.
This is a great book!
Susie Nielsen is a Canadian middle grade author who always tackles tough topics that while fiction ring true. This book is about the ‘hidden homeless’; those who do not have a permanent home but do not sleep rough. Felix and his mother Astrid are evicted and forced to live in a van. Astrid struggles with conventional society so can’t hold down a job and Felix is trying to find his friendship group at school and struggling with his living conditions. Simple things like a toilet, regular showers, quality sleep, privacy and security are not available to him.
As with all Susin Nielsen’s books there’s a fun twist. In Dear George Clooney: Please Marry My Mom there was a celebrity element, in Word Nerd there was the Scrabble Club. In No Fixed Address Felix sees an opportunity to ‘fix’ his situation by appearing on a game show and winning prize money.
Susin Nielsen previously worked on the ground breaking TV series Degrassi Junior High so her empathy for young people shines through.
This is a great book!
March 17, 2023
No Fixed Address really packed a punch. In addition to focusing on homelessness, it also featured a variety of issues that no 12 year old should be shouldering on their own.
Main character Felix is saddled with two parents who really aren't cut out to be parents. Felix's mom, Astrid, decided that her biological clock was ticking so she decided to have a baby with her gay best friend. Never mind that she couldn't even take care of herself and pay for her housing on her own but she decided that at since she was 31, she couldn't wait any longer to have a child. Astrid put her pride above the needs of her child, Felix. While he didn't have regular access to a restroom, shower, or water, Astrid advocated for lying, stealing, and mooching off others in front of Felix.
Somehow, Felix managed to rise above his crummy upbringing but all of the wrenches life was throwing at him put him in an untenable position. I definitely teared up a few times.
I would only recommend this book to the most mature middle grade readers. There were a couple of scenes that are inappropriate for middle grade readers, such as a person sitting in the library engaging in grossly inappropriate sexual behavior and another incident. Overall, unless this reader has experiences with emotional experiences to those of a similar depth explored in this book, this reading experience may either be too much or go over their head.
Main character Felix is saddled with two parents who really aren't cut out to be parents. Felix's mom, Astrid, decided that her biological clock was ticking so she decided to have a baby with her gay best friend. Never mind that she couldn't even take care of herself and pay for her housing on her own but she decided that at since she was 31, she couldn't wait any longer to have a child. Astrid put her pride above the needs of her child, Felix. While he didn't have regular access to a restroom, shower, or water, Astrid advocated for lying, stealing, and mooching off others in front of Felix.
Somehow, Felix managed to rise above his crummy upbringing but all of the wrenches life was throwing at him put him in an untenable position. I definitely teared up a few times.
I would only recommend this book to the most mature middle grade readers. There were a couple of scenes that are inappropriate for middle grade readers, such as a person sitting in the library engaging in grossly inappropriate sexual behavior and another incident. Overall, unless this reader has experiences with emotional experiences to those of a similar depth explored in this book, this reading experience may either be too much or go over their head.
July 22, 2020
Encore une fois j’ai été charmée par l’histoire de cette autrice tellement talentueuse. Je ne sais pas de quelle façon elle s’y prend, mais tous ses romans sont absolument addictifs. On s’attache hyper rapidement aux personnages (principaux comme secondaires). Elle arrive à aborder des sujets lourds et importants avec légèreté et humour. On parle ici d’itinérance et de la honte que cela peut entraîner. On découvre Félix et sa mère Astrid, une mère que j’ai jugée à l’occasion, qui vivent dans un Westfalia. J’ai franchement beaucoup aimé ce roman, surtout qu’on y retrouvait Henry et Alberta de ma lecture précédente..
January 5, 2025
I enjoyed this young adult novel about a homeless teen and his mom who were living in a VW van. Told from the student’s perspective, it really brought forth things that he had to deal with that most people don’t think about. Hopefully, it can spark empathy in young people to continue finding ways to solve the homeless crisis that most places are dealing with today.
June 6, 2019
Zooo schattig!
Recensie staat op My Perfect Book Life
Recensie staat op My Perfect Book Life
November 7, 2023
کتابی با راوی نوجوان، اما اصلا مناسب نوجوان نیست.
August 13, 2018
The book starts at the end of the story and Felix takes the reader back to how he got into this situation. Although it is never stated and certainly not an issue, Felix probably has higher than average autistic tendencies - he is literal and has an amazing memory for facts.
Felix accepts his Mum's story about moving homes, although notes some strange decisions he is unable to understand. As the novel progresses he begins to piece together more realisations and is extremely sensitive about these, which in turn helps the reader to be less judgemental. He hides his home life from school, from his friends and their parents. He recounts his Mother's childhood background towards the end of the story which helps explain her reluctance to ask for help, and by then the reader is firmly rooting for Felix and sympathetic to his desire to protect his Mum.
Felix is offered the opportunity to turn his and Astrid’s lives around, and I was as shocked as Felix to discover that may not mean the end to his troubles.
This is a moving story about judgement, misconceptions, not wanting to ask for help, but friends (and teachers) willing to give that help.
Felix accepts his Mum's story about moving homes, although notes some strange decisions he is unable to understand. As the novel progresses he begins to piece together more realisations and is extremely sensitive about these, which in turn helps the reader to be less judgemental. He hides his home life from school, from his friends and their parents. He recounts his Mother's childhood background towards the end of the story which helps explain her reluctance to ask for help, and by then the reader is firmly rooting for Felix and sympathetic to his desire to protect his Mum.
Felix is offered the opportunity to turn his and Astrid’s lives around, and I was as shocked as Felix to discover that may not mean the end to his troubles.
This is a moving story about judgement, misconceptions, not wanting to ask for help, but friends (and teachers) willing to give that help.
January 1, 2019
I won this ARC in a Goodreads giveaway. Really good read that provided some food for thought. 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, wondering...
January 5, 2020
a few inappropriate (and in my opinion completely unnecessary) innuendos to sex and drugs make this a more mature book for my recommendations. (Gr 8+) This is such a great window book for all students to read and empathize with other's circumstances. Wish the author left those seemingly irrelevant details out :/
October 3, 2020
cinq étoiles parce que c’est Susin Nielsen — pour ses mots, pour sa plume, pour les histoires qu’elle crées et pour celle-ci, tout particulièrement, qui m’a attristée, mais qui m’a aussi réconfortée puisque Félix mérite tout le bonheur du monde. Je suis triste de le quitter et j’ai le cœur heureux d’avoir lu cette belle histoire.
March 14, 2018
Another fab middle grade story from Susin Nielsen. A thoughtful examination of homelessness and family dynamics, with plenty of great characters, one-liners, and hope.
April 11, 2020
Such an important topic! I appreciate that the author didn't oversimplify Astrid or the relationship between her and Felix.
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