Parents' Guide to

Mister Max: The Book of Lost Things

By Darienne Stewart, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Intriguing tale of boy as detective after parents vanish.

Mister Max: The Book of Lost Things Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

age 7+

Based on 1 parent review

age 7+

A Contrived Tale

This book was a huge disappointment, particularly as I bought it new, in hard cover, and was initially expecting an unusual and intriguing tale. There's simply "no there there" -- the story is meandering and eventually proves pointless. The central mystery of the book -- why the young protagonist's parents disappeared -- is hurriedly and unsatisfactorily tied up at the end. It left me shaking my head and wondering why I bothered. My son, who is 7, lost interest midway. I finished to find out whether it was worth returning to at a later date. It isn't.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (1):
Voigt is a skilled writer, and her prose and pacing may challenge younger children. Patient readers who enjoy connecting the dots will savor a nuanced mystery with the promise of more satisfying adventures as the trilogy unfolds.
In MISTER MAX: THE BOOK OF LOST THINGS, Cynthia Voigt -- author of Homecoming -- presents another resourceful child left to fend without parents. Max, challenged to prove his independence at age 12, is a perceptive and resourceful old soul. An atypical 12-year-old, he's often mistaken for an adult: He never seems to want to play, or shirk responsibility, or act selfishly. That may sound dreary, but he's a charming hero who grows on you.

Book Details

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