This book was just ok. It was really kind of bland. I was excited to read it since I was interested in Viking culture, but the parents just seemed oblivious in all the wrong ways.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me a free copy of this advanced copy of the book to read and review.

Erik is only timid member of his ferocious, modern-day Viking family. While his siblings are brave and know exactly who they are, Erik's motto is "avoid stuff." But everything changes for Erik when he's sent to Minnesota to spend the summer with cousins, an experience that tests Erik's fears and ultimately teaches him that he can achieve more than he ever imagined. I adored the fun, quirky characters in this book, and the way Erik's family both savored their lore and traditions while also making them relevant to modern-day challenges.

Erik comes from a Viking family but he doesn't fit in because he is afraid of everything. His older sister Brunhilde helps him by teaching him breathing techniques so he can conquer his fears. Erik gets invited to join a local mountain bike team and Erik finds that he really likes it. Will his positive experience with mountain bike racing help him overcome his katagelophobia?

This is a charming story about fears and how to overcome them. This was a higher reading level with mention of all the phobias and some of the chapters are long. I really enjoyed the humor and how the family worked together as a team to help Erik. The book mentions two techniques used to combat fear; breathing techniques and exposure therapy. It is a great read for children that experience anxiety and fear!

Thank you to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you #NetGalley for an opportunity to read Erik vs. Everything in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed the book and think middle grade readers will too. Erik seems to be afraid of almost everything. His quirky family helps him meet his fears head on and I think will resonate with young readers.

This is such a fun book! Viking family + anxiety - what an awesome way for middle grade readers to understand this wildly important mental health topic. Such a great concept. Congrats!

Erik vs Everything by Christina Uss is a upper elementary/ middle grade children’s book with a unique take on facing your fears. Erik is a boy who is afraid of almost everything, but he comes groan a strong family which are descended from Vikings who don’t believe in fear. The family has embraced their heritage and follow the Lore of their ancestors. Erik’s family is fierce, but Erik is scared of squirrels, speaking in class, playing sports, piano lessons, etc. One of his sisters decides to help Erik identify and face his fears. She also teaches him the importance of managing his fears.
Overall, I really liked this book. For starters, it’s actually pretty funny. I loved learning the Lore of the family. I also enjoyed learning about different fears and phobias mixed in with The Art of War. I feel that this will be a big hit with the target audience and that even reluctant readers will willingly read this book. Children can learn about anxiety without actually thinking they’re having to read a book about managing anxiety.

With thanks to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group for an early copy in return for an honest review.

A unique take on facing your fears. I think kids will be able to relate to a lot of the fears Erik has and the way his fears are actually named, instead of just lumped all together. The ways Erik and his family go about conquering those fears left me both laughing and appreciating the sense of togetherness within their family.

I think this book is geared towards younger MG readers and is great for kids who have fears and anxieties.

I'm very much on-the-fence about this book. It's not bad by any means, but nothing about seems to wow me either. Honestly, it took far longer than I would have like to get through it. I do think kids are going to enjoy reading about the Sheepflattener family, so for them it's good purchase.

I received an electronic ARC from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group through NetGalley.
Erik is anxious about many things. He is part of a Viking family who honor and live out their heritage so he feels like he doesn't fit in. The rest of the family is happy to take on battles and competitions; he wants to be left alone and be completely ignored. That doesn't work out well as his mother is constantly signing him up for groups and activities so he fits the family norms. His one sister, Brunhilde notices and decides to help Erik conquer his fears. She compares it to a battle as that is what she knows. It's a sweet gesture and is a huge help by the end of the story. Erik also takes charge of some portions of his life and finds an activity that interests him.
The writing style is a bit slow paced, especially at the beginning, but the humor does come through along with the point about letting fears control your life. The cover art is terrific and captures the essence of the entire story in one picture.

Written for younger children (Primary School-age), Erik reflects many of the anxiety issues children face on a daily basis. it is particularly relevant at the moment with a hundred-and-one changes going on in children's lives.

Erik is terrified of failing, and extremely nervous of trying anything new, and his paranoia and efforts to hide it are shown with humour without being demeaning.

Bumbling along with his frankly bizarre (but wonderful) family and friends, we are drawn into a circus of hilarity where Erik (sort of) learns to stand up for himself (a little), and, with their help, confronts his fears.

9 year-old Erik Sheepflattener is the final child in a family of fierce modern-day Viking warriors living in Connecticut. His older twin sisters both know exactly who they are, Allison is a competitive cheerleader while Brunhilde has completely embraced the family Viking heritage and battles everything. But Erik isn’t like the rest of his family. Erik is afraid of everything. Erik's motto is to avoid stuff. But a summer spent in Minnesota with his cousins and sisters just might test Erik's fears more than he ever imagines.
Throughout the book we learn along with Erik about the good and bad about fear. Erik learns how to be who he is, say no, and that family always looks out for each other. Erik grows a lot in the book. Filled with crazy but loveable characters, this book was an adventure. It wasn’t my favorite middle grade book that I’ve read lately, but it was still enjoyable.

What a fresh take on facing your fears. While the farcical Sheepflattener family might not actually live and act like a typical family, this setting will help the reader get to know Erik and his many fears. So many kids want to crawl under their bed or desk the way Erik does, to avoid embarrassment and fear. This story will ease them into the challenge of confronting their fears with Erik. The Sheepflatteners are definitely unique, but their love for each other shines through. I loved how Erik slowly found his way into something he loved and conquered that fear. So many kids will start reading this book, and suddenly realize that they are like Erik, and will want to succeed with him.

A must-read for kids with anxiety. Erik is a Viking who is nervous about everything and no matter how much his family tries to help him overcome his anxiety, it's a war that only he can fight.

Thank you NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group for the opportunity to read an advance reading copy.

It took me a bit to get used to the not-quite contemporary but contemporary style of this book, but the character, Erik, pulled me and in and kept me reading. A quirky and fun read about a kid with anxiety and his over the top "No Fear" Viking family that both helps and hinders him on his journey. In the end, I enjoyed the story and even came to appreciate Erik's take charge sister, the one-eared squirrel, and the rest of of the Viking crew. I think this would make a fun read aloud that could spark some interesting research, writing, and art projects.

This is a middle grade. This follows Erik who is scare of everything, but he is trying to get over being a fear of everything. His Aunt and sister helps him to overcome his fears. I think this book was well written with great characters, and I also thinks this book will show kids that it is ok to be scared sometimes. I also think it will show them that if you are to scare of stuff it can hold you back. I really loved the Erik character, and his Aunt and sister is well great characters as well. I will be buying this book from my daughter as soon as it comes out. Great Characters with a great storyline, and it is well written which makes a win win. My daughter has Anxiety, and she is also a fear of trying new things and failing. I think this book will be a great book from her and kids like that. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) or author (Christina Uss) via NetGalley, so I can give honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that. This book is schedule to be release on August 3-2021.

This hilarious book about facing your fears is unique in its setting with a Viking family. Readers will relate to being forced to do things you hate— no, are terrified of— and a well-meaning big sister’s “intervention.” A good coach and friend comes in handy to save the day!

I wasn't sure about this book.at first, I suffer from anxiety and reading a book about a child who worries a lot was uncomfortable for me. But I have to say that I found the support he got from his family, even when it was over the top, very endearing. Everyone who suffers with worrying should have a Brunhilde on their side 😍📖😍

Our family goes to the rennasaince festival together every year during Viking weekend. Our family also has genetic anxiety disorders. I was beyond excited to discover this book, something I definitely think my kids will relate to and enjoy!

I loved Erik and his family! I laughed and cried. This is a wonderful story!

Thank you so much Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free e-arc to review.

This is such a fun, quirky story! Erik Sheepflattener's family is ALL Viking. Erik, however, is ALL fear. He's afraid of everything! Teachers, bus rides, piano lessons, sports, and, most importantly, SQUIRRELS. Poor Erik can't seem to get his family to understand that he just wants to hide under his bed and AVOID STUFF.

In fact, AVOID STUFF is what he thinks his motto will be. Each Sheepflattener has a life motto, which they have tattooed on them as adults in runes. His parents have FAMILY and PRIDE; his sisters, CONQUER and WIN. But Erik just wants to AVOID STUFF.

When Erik is schlepped off to his aunt and uncle's house for the summer, his sister Brunhilde decides to accompany him. She devises a scheme to help Erik get over his phobias using exposure therapy - but in the end, it's a battle Erik has to fight on his own.

This is a great story about fear and anxiety, and the crushing weight a person can feel when dealing with it. I really appreciated the author's note at the end to reach out to someone you trust if you experience anxiety like Erik's. This story is about finding your place, finding your voice, and finding what you love, even if it's a little bit (or a lot!) scary. I will definitely be purchasing this for my library!