A Matter of Life and Death or Something by Ben Stephenson

Ten-year-olds always have an interesting and imaginative take on the universe — and Arthur Williams is no exception. A perpetually awkward boy, he thinks his father, or the guy who pretends to be his father, is boring. To cope, he creates a fantasy world — along with a fantasy father. Told with heartbreaking honesty, this debut novel invites us to join Arthur on a journey of self-discovery and rebellion, one that ultimately reveals what it feels like to discover you’re a small fish in a big pond.

A Matter of Life and Death or Something, Ben Stephenson, $23.