What This Book Is About
Felix Knutsson is a twelve-year-old boy with a gift for trivia, a talent for lying, and a secret that could ruin everything: he and his mother, Astrid, are homeless. They have been living in a van for months, parking in different spots around Vancouver each night to avoid detection. Astrid, once a promising artist, struggles with addiction and a string of failed relationships, and Felix has become the de facto adult in their little family of two.
At school, Felix hides his situation with elaborate deceptions—memorizing shower schedules at the community center, keeping his clothes clean at laundromats, and inventing a fictional home address. When he lands a spot on a televised trivia competition called "Who, What, Where, When," the prize money could change everything. But the closer Felix gets to winning, the harder his secret becomes to keep, and the more he realizes that the help he needs cannot come from a game show. Susin Nielsen writes with warmth, humor, and unflinching honesty about a reality that many children face but few books address: the shame and invisibility of family homelessness.
Available at Popular bookstores, Kinokuniya, and the Singapore National Library.
Why UWC Chose This Book
No Fixed Address tackles a social issue that most middle-grade novels avoid entirely: child homelessness. For UWC students who come from relatively privileged backgrounds, Felix's story is an essential window into a reality they may never have considered. The novel builds empathy without sentimentality, showing that homelessness is not caused by laziness but by a cascade of circumstances that could affect anyone.
The book also explores the complex dynamics between parents and children when traditional roles are reversed—a theme that resonates with UWC students who may have experienced their own versions of family instability through international relocations, parental work pressures, or cultural displacement. Felix's resilience and resourcefulness embody the UWC values of perseverance and compassion in action.
Reading Level Guide
Accessible at strong A2. The conversational tone and humor make it welcoming for developing readers.
Perfect difficulty. The emotional depth rewards careful reading.
A quick, engaging read at B2. Consider Refugee or The Giver for more complexity.
Other UWC Recommended Books for This Grade
Not sure if this book is right for your child? Take our free 30-minute English assessment to find their CEFR level, then choose books that match.