A mysterious neighbor moves next door to Andie Gladman. Andie checks his mailbox and sees the initials H.C.A. She thinks Hans Christian Andersen has moved in. She pulls out one of his books that her uncle got for her a few years ago and starts to read The Emperor’s New Clothes which she was already familiar with. She gets inspired to write a poem version of it. A rhyming poem. She decided HCA has old-fashioned ideas about women so she continues to covert his stories in her own poetry format and changing them to reflect stronger more independent women. This is happening while Andie is getting bullied at school by a girl named Myrtle. So much so that she has no friends. Luckily for Andie, a new boy moves and she ends up making friends with him in her funny way and shares her secret about HCA. I won't spoil the ending so read it! I love Andie's personality. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read Hans Christian Andersen Lives Next Door by Cary Fagan. My opinions are my own.

Hans Christian Andersen Lives Next Door by Cary Fagan is a delightfully fresh middle-grade novel about young Andie, who believes that the famous author HCA has moved in next door. Inspired by his classic fairytales, Andie writes her own original poetry, providing an outlet for coping with school bully Myrtle Klinghoffer. But an encounter with Myrtle will reveal some truths that Andie is not prepared to hear. Will her newly acquired knowledge change everything?

This is a wonderfully charming and unique story that speaks to not only bullying, but to the infinite capacity for imagination in a young mind. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for an ARC.