Can a worrier really become a warrior Nine-year-old Erik Sheepflatteners life motto is Avoid Stuff,despite his familys attempts to bring out his inner Viking. In this outrageously quirky, "funny and perceptive"* novel . . .why not be both (*Booklist, starred review)

Meet Erik Sheepflattener.Each member of his modern-day Viking-heritage family has a motto to live by. His parents have Familyand Pride. His sisters have ConquerandWin. His grandfather has Turnip. But Erik is developing a motto he can truly believe in: Avoid Stuff.

Mostly, Eriks fierce family ignores or discounts him, especially when he tries to say no.But while spending the summer with his rough-and-tumble cousins and older sister Brunhilde in Minnesota, axe-wielding Bru gets theidea to name and Conquerall of Eriks fears. Will anyone hear him say nobefore its too late And will Erik end up defined by his fears, or by his fearless family

Erik vs. Everythingis an adventurous, humorous, and heartfeltromp aboutfinding your place, speaking up for yourself, and pursuing what you love . . . even when it scares you.