Advertisement
  • Newsletter
  • Subscribe
Books

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.
By Laurie Jennings
A Matter of Life and Death or Something by Ben Stephenson book cover

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.

The very best of Chatelaine straight to your inbox.

By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Copy link
The cover of Chatelaine magazine's spring 2025 issue, reading "weekend prep made easy"; "five delicious weeknight meals", "plus, why you'll never regret buying an air fryer"; "save money, stay stylish how to build a capsule wardrobe" and "home organization special" along with photos of burritos, chicken and rice and white bean soup, quick paella in a dutch oven, almost-instant Thai chicken curry and chicken broccoli casserole in an enamelled cast-iron skillet

Subscribe to Chatelaine!

Want to streamline your life? In our Spring 2025 issue, we’ll show you how—whether it’s paring down your wardrobe, decluttering your messiest spaces or spending way less time cooking thanks to an easy, mostly make-ahead meal plan for busy weeknights. Plus, our first annual Pantry Awards.