Felix and his mom, Astrid, are living in a van. He hates it. And he hates how good his mom is at lying, although he’s grateful she got him into the sixth grade French Immersion class in one of their former Vancouver neighborhoods using a false address. Reunited with old friend Dylan, he doesn’t tell Dylan or new friend Winnie that he’s homeless. The difficulties of keeping the secret and managing daily life become more challenging when Astrid’s savings run out. She hasn’t found another job and begins to steal food. So Felix sets his sights on winning a television quiz program—the prize would be enough to rent an apartment and pay the store owner what they owe. Then Astrid falls into one of her “slumps” and can’t get out of bed. Felix holds out hope that his birth dad, Daniel—a gay Black man and an old friend of Astrid’s who lives in Toronto—might be able to help, but it’s clear Daniel has struggles of his own so Felix doesn’t tell him what’s happening. A novel that illuminates difficult truths doesn’t fall into the trap of a perfect ending. But warmth abounds, and Felix and Astrid’s lives are looking up by story’s end. Felix and Astrid’s richly developed backstories are among the things that make this novel stand out. (Ages 9–13)

For fans of Wendelin van Draanen and Cynthia Lord, a touching and funny middle-grade story about family, friendship, and growing up when you're one step away from homelessness.

Twelve-and-three-quarter-year-old Felix Knutsson has a knack for trivia. His favorite game show is Who What Where When; he even named his gerbil after the host. Felix's mom, Astrid, is loving but can't seem to hold on to a job. So when they get evicted from their latest shabby apartment, they have to move into a van. Astrid swears him to secrecy; he can't tell anyone about their living arrangement, not even Dylan and Winnie, his best friends at his new school. If he does, she warns him, he'll be taken away from her and put in foster care.

As their circumstances go from bad to worse, Felix gets a chance to audition for a junior edition of Who What Where When, and he's determined to earn a spot on the show. Winning the cash prize could make everything okay again. But things don't turn out the way he expects. . . .

Susin Nielsen deftly combines humor, 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.