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heather4994's review against another edition
5.0
I have been reading some fabulous Middle Grade fiction and this book continues that trend! I don't even remember requesting this book but it was in my NetGalley books so if it's still available and you read Middle Grade fiction, this is a great book! It even had illustrations in it and even on my old Kindle they were amazing. The chapters were all titled, some with funny names like "In which Max doesn't want to get out of bed, Grammie is bossy, and Madame Olenka enters the scene". And the chapters were manageable so that even a reader that isn't that comfortable with chapter books could easily read a chapter and come back to it later or mom or dad could read it at night, a chapter or two before bedtime.
Max is on the verge of being independent or so his dad has always said he is at the age of twelve. He doesn't feel that way, at least not as Max. But then he adopts the personnas of some of the characters in the plays he's seen his parents act in. Thankfully Max is a bit unremarkable and is able to pull off the chameleon like attitude and looks he needs to, and he's tall for his age. He becomes a detective of sorts, though he's quick to say he isn't one. He's a substitute teacher. A dog catcher. A gardener. A painter. But deep down, he's a very worried twelve year old boy.
His Grammie lives in a house right behind him and she wants him to live with her, but he can't stand that. He doesn't want to give up his independence and is very creative, resourceful and lucky in finding ways to make money to stay independent. He even gets an unwanted partner in his business, finder of lost things or "solutioneer" as he decides to call himself. But he isn't able to solve the biggest question. Where are his parents and why did they leave without him? What do his father's cryptic notes mean? And what's with that picture in the newspaper? And a very small part worries that they left him behind on purpose.
The characters in this novel are wonderful from the lost heir, to the stern but lovable Grammie to the annoying Pia. Their personalities are distinctive and you come to know them well. The setting is in the past as Max doesn't have a telephone and automobiles are scarce. I think it takes place in England. Max rides everywhere on his bike and you'll applaud Max for his fair decision making and his attempts to make life better for those around him.
I can't wait for the next book in this series and I think I'll buy my own copy of this novel. I believe it will become a favorite that I will read to future generations.
Thanks to the publishers who provided a copy for review through NetGalley for review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. I was not compensated for my review.
Max is on the verge of being independent or so his dad has always said he is at the age of twelve. He doesn't feel that way, at least not as Max. But then he adopts the personnas of some of the characters in the plays he's seen his parents act in. Thankfully Max is a bit unremarkable and is able to pull off the chameleon like attitude and looks he needs to, and he's tall for his age. He becomes a detective of sorts, though he's quick to say he isn't one. He's a substitute teacher. A dog catcher. A gardener. A painter. But deep down, he's a very worried twelve year old boy.
His Grammie lives in a house right behind him and she wants him to live with her, but he can't stand that. He doesn't want to give up his independence and is very creative, resourceful and lucky in finding ways to make money to stay independent. He even gets an unwanted partner in his business, finder of lost things or "solutioneer" as he decides to call himself. But he isn't able to solve the biggest question. Where are his parents and why did they leave without him? What do his father's cryptic notes mean? And what's with that picture in the newspaper? And a very small part worries that they left him behind on purpose.
The characters in this novel are wonderful from the lost heir, to the stern but lovable Grammie to the annoying Pia. Their personalities are distinctive and you come to know them well. The setting is in the past as Max doesn't have a telephone and automobiles are scarce. I think it takes place in England. Max rides everywhere on his bike and you'll applaud Max for his fair decision making and his attempts to make life better for those around him.
I can't wait for the next book in this series and I think I'll buy my own copy of this novel. I believe it will become a favorite that I will read to future generations.
Thanks to the publishers who provided a copy for review through NetGalley for review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. I was not compensated for my review.
kcibulskas's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
cherjbb_55's review against another edition
4.0
I loved reading about the adventures of 'Mister Max' and look forward to the further adventures of him and this wonderful cast of characters!
margeryb's review against another edition
3.0
Listened to the audiobook.
Audiobook factors:
I really liked the production. The narrator was really good, having a Jim Dale-esque quality, bringing the right balance of gravitas and fun to the narration. Additionally, how he did the different character's voices was good -- the were distinct and portrayed a lot of character, but were never over the top. I can be very picky about this, especially how sometimes male narrative does female voices, but this narrator did both adult and child female characters without any nasally-ness or clichness.
Book factors:
Cynthia Voigt's prose is fun and clever in the ways one would hope from the author of fun and clever children's novels, espically one who has been on Newberry lists before.
Plotwise... the story was very episodic. Although the episodic elements were intertwined, they were still episodes. The hook of the story, where the tension comes from, which is our lead's -- Max -- parents go missing under mysterious circumstances is not the main focus of the story, although I feel like it should have been. Because of that, there was very little tension to keep the story going, because the trouble never felt very evident. While his parents are gone, his grandmother is still around to help, house, and parent him. The nature of his parents going missing (on a voyage), means that this mystery is inherently delayed and slow paced. Because of this I often found it hard to pick up the story again after setting it down, because of the lack of tension. By the time I got to the end of the book, it feels like it was a prequel for the rest of the series, but I'm not sure I'm that interested in continuing. Additionally, a lot of the small issues Max gets involved as a sort of amueter detective/fixer (or solutioneer as he comes up with, which is really cut) were low stacks and slowed a lot by chance or chance-like elements.
Ultimately, I would have a hard time recommending to a child reader not because of the lack of tension and central plot to keep them engaged in the story.
Audiobook factors:
I really liked the production. The narrator was really good, having a Jim Dale-esque quality, bringing the right balance of gravitas and fun to the narration. Additionally, how he did the different character's voices was good -- the were distinct and portrayed a lot of character, but were never over the top. I can be very picky about this, especially how sometimes male narrative does female voices, but this narrator did both adult and child female characters without any nasally-ness or clichness.
Book factors:
Cynthia Voigt's prose is fun and clever in the ways one would hope from the author of fun and clever children's novels, espically one who has been on Newberry lists before.
Plotwise... the story was very episodic. Although the episodic elements were intertwined, they were still episodes. The hook of the story, where the tension comes from, which is our lead's -- Max -- parents go missing under mysterious circumstances is not the main focus of the story, although I feel like it should have been. Because of that, there was very little tension to keep the story going, because the trouble never felt very evident. While his parents are gone, his grandmother is still around to help, house, and parent him. The nature of his parents going missing (on a voyage), means that this mystery is inherently delayed and slow paced. Because of this I often found it hard to pick up the story again after setting it down, because of the lack of tension. By the time I got to the end of the book, it feels like it was a prequel for the rest of the series, but I'm not sure I'm that interested in continuing. Additionally, a lot of the small issues Max gets involved as a sort of amueter detective/fixer (or solutioneer as he comes up with, which is really cut) were low stacks and slowed a lot by chance or chance-like elements.
Ultimately, I would have a hard time recommending to a child reader not because of the lack of tension and central plot to keep them engaged in the story.
jtlars7's review against another edition
Fun new book by a favorite childhood author.
itabar's review against another edition
4.0
A fun book! The reader does a great job sounding authentically dramatic and actor-y.
bookworm32's review against another edition
3.0
This is one of the Battle of the Books selections at my school and I e read it to be sure I can have good discussion with my students. Max's parents are actors and somewhat self absorbed, but Max doesn't let this bother him much. His parents do love him and he knows that. When a new adventure, in the form of a mysterious letter inviting his parents to India appears, Max has no idea his life is about to take a drastic turn. His parents board a boat without him, he is left home with just his grandmother to help figure out the mysterious disappearance.
This book felt a little slow at the beginning, but it was enjoyable. It felt, at times, very predictable and yet it was definitely enjoyable and definitely perfect for 4/5th graders.
This book felt a little slow at the beginning, but it was enjoyable. It felt, at times, very predictable and yet it was definitely enjoyable and definitely perfect for 4/5th graders.
froydis's review against another edition
4.0
Thanks to Netgalley.com and Knopf Books for Young Readers for early access to this title.
I really enjoyed this book! I loved that Max was so resourceful in solving the many problems he found in this book. I also liked that the grandmother was a librarian! All the supporting characters are good, with the possible exception of Madame Olenska. She's a bit too black and white. This is a fun book full of adventure, and I liked how it wrapped up the majority of the issues in this one book. However, it does to a great job at setting up the drama for the next book in the series. Highly Recommended!
I really enjoyed this book! I loved that Max was so resourceful in solving the many problems he found in this book. I also liked that the grandmother was a librarian! All the supporting characters are good, with the possible exception of Madame Olenska. She's a bit too black and white. This is a fun book full of adventure, and I liked how it wrapped up the majority of the issues in this one book. However, it does to a great job at setting up the drama for the next book in the series. Highly Recommended!
juani's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5