The Boy with 17 Senses by Sheila Grau

If it isn't bad enough to live in a world where he sees colors, tastes letters, emotions have shapes and there are a lot more senses, then living next door to a bully whose father bought their farm out from under them is worse.  He also has animal pests in his garden that bite him.  You'd think things couldn't get worse, but the the nasty neighbor changes the river channel and they have no water for their crops...

Amulet Books sent me an ARC of this story to read for review (thank you).  It is being published today.

Yipsmix is one of the many worlds in this story.  When Jaq gets the runt of the litter of a pet he wanted, he works hard to keep it alive and it becomes his best friend.  When the crops fail because of lack of water, his mother tells him he must sell it.  He trades it for a key that opens a door that has lots of food behind it and it's always restocked.  Only people with the key can get in.  He knows she'll be happy about that.  The problem is that he was conned.  And now his pet belongs to the bully next door.  He's very unhappy.

Then he finds out that the key opens and there is a message in it.  That message is dangerous.  It's from a man wanting to be rescued and he is stuck on earth!  Jaq takes the portal to earth and finds out it's full of giants.  How will he find the man and get back home again safely?  It's good that Jaq has a couple of friends help him.

There's lots of action, odd animals and bullies on both worlds but Jaq won't give up.  Middle school students will enjoy this read.  I wonder if there will be more visits on these strange worlds?  I'll just have to wait and see.