Author & Illustrators
Stewart knows that he thinks differently from a lot of people, incredibly bright but socially inept, he knows that his Mum was relieved for him to get into a school with other children, where he could be himself. After his Mum loses her battle to cancer he is determined not to fall into the future she feared for him, where he struggles to fit into mainstream society so when his Dad gets together with someone new and they decide to move in together, he chooses to move to the same school as his new partner’s daughter, Ashley and even dares to dream that this is the opportunity for him to gain the sibling he so longed for. Ashley tries to be modest but knows that she is the girl others can only aspire to be. Attractive with rich, successful parents, she struggles with her father’s apparent new choice of life and is not at all happy at the prospect of the world’s biggest dweeb invading first her home and now her school. Can her life get any worse?
Beautifully scripted to enable the reader to see life from each of their perspectives, situations, which are at times agonising, are dealt with delicately and with a humour that manages to be both respectful and shine a beacon of joy in the darkest of times. An excellent source of discussion of some potentially difficult topics, so useful for PSHE, can also be used to unpick the language chosen by the author and for independent work, with the addition of questions about the text at the end of the story.
‘No Fixed Address’ is a wonderfully written story about Felix Knutsson and his mother, Astrid. The story follows Felix’s journey of living in a Volkswagen Westfalia with no fixed address.
The story, written from Felix’s perspective, is complex, funny and relatable. There are themes of friendships running throughout the book, and as a reader, you feel connected to the characters. The way Felix’s friends support him but also must make tough decisions when they are concerned about his wellbeing is something children may experience themselves. Felix’s struggles throughout the book are relatable, and I feel that some children could resonate with Felix and what he is going through. The themes of a mother and son bond and the day-to-day problems Felix must try and solve add depth to the story.
I would recommend this book to children who are in the early years of KS3 or any children who might be amid moving to or from a new school. There is a game show that Felix gets to be a part of, creating hope and an aspect of fun, and you feel as if you want Felix to achieve his dreams to better his life.
No Fixed Address’ is a great book that creates discussions about sensitive topics which could be discussed during KS3 PSHE lessons or form time. The book is highly recommended and was one I struggled to put down until I had finished reading it.
review
Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:
Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:
Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?
Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?
Would you recommend the book for use in primary schools?
yes
Curriculum links (if relevant)
Curriculum links (if relevant)
Any other comments
Any other comments