A review by lisawreading
The Book of Lost Things by Cynthia Voigt

4.0

Mister Max has a nostalgic feel to it -- a warm-hearted book about a boy with a predicament. Left alone by his parents due to mysterious circumstances, 12-year-old Max has to fend for himself, figure out how to get by, and try to find out where his parents are and whether they're in danger. Meanwhile, he falls into a new career as a "solutioneer" -- not a detective, but simply a resourceful person helping people figure out their problems and how to make them better. Max is a smart boy who, inspired by his actor parents, uses costuming and acting to take on a variety of personas in order to carry out his business and investigate the odd jobs that come his way. The writing is matter-of-fact and easily accessible, although it lacks a sense of urgency in a way that's a bit puzzling, given that Max's parents have disappeared and may have met with foul play.

I enjoyed Mister Max, although I wonder whether the target age group (ages 8 - 12) will take to a 400 page book that's not as fast-paced as the adventure and fantasy stories that seem to be popular now. Mister Max is the first in a series, and I'd like to read more and see where the story goes.

My full review is up at Bookshelf Fantasies.

I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley and the publisher.