Horn Book
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Seventeen-year-old Calvin, recently diagnosed as schizophrenic, believes that his life is inextricably linked to Bill Watterson, the reclusive artist of comic strip Calvin and Hobbes. On a pilgrimage to find Watterson, Calvin sets off across frozen Lake Erie, and girl-next-door Susie insists on accompanying him. A more accessible, not-as-dark treatment of teenage mental illness than Shusterman's Challenger Deep but just as memorable. (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Calvin's personality seems to have been destined: he was born on the day comic strip "Calvin and Hobbes" ended, his grandfather gave the infant a Hobbes-like tiger toy that was his constant childhood companion, and his best (and only) friend was always Susie. But now important senior-year assignments are going undone, Susie has abandoned him for more popular kids, and suddenly Calvin is convinced that Hobbes is right there with him. It's schizophrenia. Calvin is placed on a locked ward for treatment. He decides his last, best hope is to go on a dangerous pilgrimageto hike all the way across frozen Lake Erie from his Canadian home to Cleveland, where the comic-strip creator lives. Watterson could, perhaps, save him if he'd just agree to write one last comic strip featuring a healthy Calvin and no Hobbes. Susie, loyal still in spite of her previous behavior, accompanies him. The evolving relationship between the two shines a light on Calvin's unbroken soul. Hobbes' biting commentary keeps Calvin grounded enough to make most things work, as Calvin's voice, bewildered, frustrated, sometimes tragic, but always determined and surprisingly insightful, provides counterpoint to alter ego Hobbes'. Equal parts coming-of-age tale, survival adventure, and love story, this outstanding novel also sensitively deals with an uncommon but very real teen issue, making it far more than the sum of its parts. (Fiction. 12-18) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.