Blurb

Sometimes Xavier wakes up feeling hopeless.

Every new doctor … this will fix it.
Removing him from school … this will fix it.
The therapy group … this will fix it.
And his dad moving out. Maybe, this will fix it.

His daily affirmations seem to be helping, yet the black dog never really goes away. But Xavier has a plan. Enlisting the help of best friend Aster, he tries to convince his dad to turn the family hogget farm into a therapy retreat for the group session kids. But he is up against decades of tradition, his parents who are on a “break,” and the spectre of the black dog.

Can Xavier learn to cherish the moments in between the struggles—the moments in the meantime? Companion to 'Aster's Good, Right Things'.

The CBCA judges say...

This book enables readers to delve into the impact of mental health issues in an authentic and age-appropriate way without being too explicit and confrontational. The characters are realistic in their struggles and the thought patterns are immersive and relatable. The link to the black dog and how it is described is true to life and offers hope without a cure. It also shows the importance of a supportive community and how it may work. Despite the heaviness that permeates the text, the plot leaves the reader with a sense of conclusion and hope for the characters.

The Reading Time reviewers say...

Read the Reading Time review Xavier in the meantime>.

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