December 2, 2025 by Scholastic Press
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Augustus Constantine lives in Vancouver with his mother and father while his older sister, Ruby, is off at college. He has ADHD, and has a lot of trouble maintaining a train of thought, much less appropriate behavior at school. For example, he has been given the opportunity to read the announcements at school, but can't stick to the script, and ends up making fun of other people in an attempt to be funny. When the principal, Ms. Gorby, tells him he can't do that, he calls her a Nazi and is suspended for hate speech. It's good timing, though, because Ruby is moving back home and wants Gus to hop on a bus to come and help her. Of course, Gus forgets the instructions she has given him and has a series of accidents where he hallucinates and passes out. For instance, on the ferry he thinks that a dog has jumped overboard and that he has gone after it and gotten wet, when he has apparently had a seizure and just fallen to the ground. This happens again on the street, and an ambulance is called. At the hospital, when he is lying on a gurney, it is hit by a car and speeds off down the street. Gus is saved by a skateboarder named Jamie who knows Ruby. Soon, Gus is at his sister's apartment. His friend Gale has gotten a call from Gus' mother and has driven with her to get Gus. After another incident, he is back in the hospital and talks to another doctor about medication and coping strategies. He also learns to breathe through some of his spirals. At the end, he goes to a comedy show and gets applause for his interactions with the comedian. There is an author's note that is not included in the E ARC that I read.
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Augustus Constantine lives in Vancouver with his mother and father while his older sister, Ruby, is off at college. He has ADHD, and has a lot of trouble maintaining a train of thought, much less appropriate behavior at school. For example, he has been given the opportunity to read the announcements at school, but can't stick to the script, and ends up making fun of other people in an attempt to be funny. When the principal, Ms. Gorby, tells him he can't do that, he calls her a Nazi and is suspended for hate speech. It's good timing, though, because Ruby is moving back home and wants Gus to hop on a bus to come and help her. Of course, Gus forgets the instructions she has given him and has a series of accidents where he hallucinates and passes out. For instance, on the ferry he thinks that a dog has jumped overboard and that he has gone after it and gotten wet, when he has apparently had a seizure and just fallen to the ground. This happens again on the street, and an ambulance is called. At the hospital, when he is lying on a gurney, it is hit by a car and speeds off down the street. Gus is saved by a skateboarder named Jamie who knows Ruby. Soon, Gus is at his sister's apartment. His friend Gale has gotten a call from Gus' mother and has driven with her to get Gus. After another incident, he is back in the hospital and talks to another doctor about medication and coping strategies. He also learns to breathe through some of his spirals. At the end, he goes to a comedy show and gets applause for his interactions with the comedian. There is an author's note that is not included in the E ARC that I read.
Strengths: There are a significant number of students on medication for ADHD, so it's always good to see representation in middle grade literature. Despite Gus' difficulties, he is generally upbeat, and straight forward with his friends about his therapy appointments, even though his mother tends to be more secretive about them. Road trip books, even by bus and ferry, are always fun. Gus' hallucinations, especially about a dog he calls Buddy, add an extra layer of interest. It was fun to travel around Vancouver with Gus, and it was certainly a frenetic journey.
Weaknesses: This was rather hard to follow at times because of the stream of consciousness style, and I would have liked to know a LOT more about Gus' medical diagnoses. These may be included in the author's note to which I did not have access.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Larsen's Quagmire Tiarello Couldn't Be Better or Pla's The Someday Birds.
Weaknesses: This was rather hard to follow at times because of the stream of consciousness style, and I would have liked to know a LOT more about Gus' medical diagnoses. These may be included in the author's note to which I did not have access.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Larsen's Quagmire Tiarello Couldn't Be Better or Pla's The Someday Birds.
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