Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

When 12-year-old Cyril Milligan posts an advertisement in a coffee shop bathroom, he begins a journey that redefines his understanding of family. Cyril and his single mother, Tina, live in an apartment in Montreal. Cyril’s mother used a sperm donor to start their family—the source of his red hair and dust allergy. Cyril doesn’t have grandparents in his life—his mom grew up in foster care—but the two of them have Lonnie, who’s Tina’s best friend, and the Kushnirs, a family of Ukrainian refugees who live downstairs. Tina dreams of owning a home but can’t afford one on her teaching salary. When she finally decides to stop visiting open houses, Cyril secretly comes up with an unconventional idea. He creates an advertisement seeking someone who needs companionship and household help from Cyril and Tina in exchange for their inheriting the property upon the homeowner’s death. An elderly man named Mr. Hartt responds, and their email exchange leads to a one-month trial—after Cyril, with Lonnie’s help, overcomes his mom’s initial resistance. Tensions arise as cantankerous, intolerant Mr. Hartt struggles to let others in. Cyril’s first-person narration underscores his confrontation with the harsh realities of aging. Through empathy and kindness, the three become a family, facing life’s challenges together. The unhurried pace allows for rich character development; the cast members’ complex emotions and challenges showcase their realistic flaws, strengths, missteps, and successes. Main characters read white. A well-executed celebration of chosen family and diverse family structures.(Fiction. 9-13) Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.