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Mister Max #1
The Book of Lost Things
Max Starling's theatrical father likes to say that at twelve a boy is independent. He also likes to boast (about his acting skills, his wife's acting skills, a fortune only his family knows is metaphorical), but more than anything he likes to have adventures. Max Starling's equally theatrical mother is not a boaster but she enjoys a good adventure as much as her husband. When these two disappear, what can sort-of-theatrical Max and his not-at-all theatrical grandmother do? They have to wait to find out something, anything, and to worry, and, in Max's case, to figure out how to earn a living at the same time as he maintains his independence. This is the first of three books, all featuring the mysterious Mister Max.
374 pages, Hardcover
First published August 24, 2013
132 people are currently reading
2473 people want to read
About the author
Cynthia Voigt
86 books1,022 followersCynthia Voigt is an American author of books for young adults dealing with various topics such as adventure, mystery, racism and child abuse.
Awards:
Angus and Sadie: the Sequoyah Book Award (given by readers in Oklahoma), 2008
The Katahdin Award, for lifetime achievement, 2003
The Anne V. Zarrow Award, for lifetime achievement, 2003
The Margaret Edwards Award, for a body of work, 1995
Jackaroo: Rattenfanger-Literatur Preis (ratcatcher prize, awarded by the town of Hamlin in Germany), 1990
Izzy, Willy-Nilly: the Young Reader Award (California), 1990
The Runner: Deutscher Jungenliteraturpreis (German young people's literature prize), 1988
Zilverengriffel (Silver Pen, a Dutch prize), 1988
Come a Stranger: the Judy Lopez Medal (given by readers in California), 1987
A Solitary Blue: a Newbery Honor Book, 1984
The Callender Papers: The Edgar (given by the Mystery Writers of America), 1984
Dicey's Song: the Newbery Medal, 1983
Awards:
Angus and Sadie: the Sequoyah Book Award (given by readers in Oklahoma), 2008
The Katahdin Award, for lifetime achievement, 2003
The Anne V. Zarrow Award, for lifetime achievement, 2003
The Margaret Edwards Award, for a body of work, 1995
Jackaroo: Rattenfanger-Literatur Preis (ratcatcher prize, awarded by the town of Hamlin in Germany), 1990
Izzy, Willy-Nilly: the Young Reader Award (California), 1990
The Runner: Deutscher Jungenliteraturpreis (German young people's literature prize), 1988
Zilverengriffel (Silver Pen, a Dutch prize), 1988
Come a Stranger: the Judy Lopez Medal (given by readers in California), 1987
A Solitary Blue: a Newbery Honor Book, 1984
The Callender Papers: The Edgar (given by the Mystery Writers of America), 1984
Dicey's Song: the Newbery Medal, 1983
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 559 reviews
September 17, 2013
If you grew up in the eighties and nineties, you probably came across a Cynthia Voigt book or five in your school library. I even remember having Homecoming read to me in sixth grade - a book about the astonishing Tillerman family, four kids (the oldest one was just eleven), who, after being abandoned in a parking lot, have to figure out a way to stay together and fend for themselves with nowhere to go and nothing to eat.
At the time, I was amazed by how Voigt could make such a crazy situation so rational and real. The sequels to Homecoming, especially Dicey's Song (which won the Newbery Medal), were brilliant in how they took such a crazy experience as a jumping off point for how people function and react in crises.
The Book of Lost Things is similar in that Max is thrown into just as implausible a situation and left to fend for himself. Max is a twelve year old from a theatrical family at the turn of the century. His parents, William and Mary Starling, own a theatre company in an unnamed town in England. They're what you expect of a theatrical family - dramatic about everything - and Max has spent his entire childhood watching and learning from them, helping out in the theatre, and living out some fun, crazy adventures.
When William and Mary get a mysterious letter inviting them to India, they quickly decide to close their theatre and take Max to learn something new. But disaster strikes, the Starlings leave without Max, and their parting becomes sinister. Max must learn to deal with their absence, follow the clues left to him to try to find them, while learning to be independent.
The Book of Lost Things feels somewhat similar to an Encyclopedia Brown book, in that Max becomes a sort of detective in order to survive. But it's also structured with short chapters that are called "acts" within the individual mysteries. And between that, you have the overarching mystery of Max's parents and Max himself trying to learn how to be. The structure is pretty great, and adds a lot to the book.
There is a cast of characters wide and hilarious. There's the brilliant, if a little too bossy Grammie, Max's grandmother, the pastry shop protege with a wonderful knack for baking and a broken heart, the local "richest woman on earth" who secretly has a decent heart, the frazzled, single-minded painter...the list goes on. While I enjoyed these characters, they did feel a touch one-dimensional to me - characters that served a purpose to get the hero on his way.
That said, it's hard to argue with the way that Voigt wrote this middle-grade historical, because this is a book about Max, and to be in the headspace of Max is quite a delight. Voigt's writing is precise, deftly and magically guiding you through Max's very realistic thoughts and feelings while adding excitement and fun to his adventures in learning to be independent.
Reading Mister Max now, almost two decades after I first picked up Voigt's Dicey books things really stood out to me as Voigt characteristics: 1) quirky, smart-ass grandmothers are totally her thing 2) she loves to create young people who are fiercely independent 3) she is fascinated by family - both blood relations and the family that you create around you.
While Mister Max is a mystery (with mysteries within mysteries), at it's heart, it's a book about the tension between independence and being part of a family. Even though Max desperately wants to be able to fix things and find his parents alone, as the story progresses, he slowly acquires more and more people who who like him and want to help him on his way. These people form a sort of family unit around him, teaching him that independence without people is just loneliness, and that even the most self-sufficient person needs a favour once in awhile.
Read the rest of this review at Mostly YA Lit
At the time, I was amazed by how Voigt could make such a crazy situation so rational and real. The sequels to Homecoming, especially Dicey's Song (which won the Newbery Medal), were brilliant in how they took such a crazy experience as a jumping off point for how people function and react in crises.
The Book of Lost Things is similar in that Max is thrown into just as implausible a situation and left to fend for himself. Max is a twelve year old from a theatrical family at the turn of the century. His parents, William and Mary Starling, own a theatre company in an unnamed town in England. They're what you expect of a theatrical family - dramatic about everything - and Max has spent his entire childhood watching and learning from them, helping out in the theatre, and living out some fun, crazy adventures.
When William and Mary get a mysterious letter inviting them to India, they quickly decide to close their theatre and take Max to learn something new. But disaster strikes, the Starlings leave without Max, and their parting becomes sinister. Max must learn to deal with their absence, follow the clues left to him to try to find them, while learning to be independent.
The Book of Lost Things feels somewhat similar to an Encyclopedia Brown book, in that Max becomes a sort of detective in order to survive. But it's also structured with short chapters that are called "acts" within the individual mysteries. And between that, you have the overarching mystery of Max's parents and Max himself trying to learn how to be. The structure is pretty great, and adds a lot to the book.
There is a cast of characters wide and hilarious. There's the brilliant, if a little too bossy Grammie, Max's grandmother, the pastry shop protege with a wonderful knack for baking and a broken heart, the local "richest woman on earth" who secretly has a decent heart, the frazzled, single-minded painter...the list goes on. While I enjoyed these characters, they did feel a touch one-dimensional to me - characters that served a purpose to get the hero on his way.
That said, it's hard to argue with the way that Voigt wrote this middle-grade historical, because this is a book about Max, and to be in the headspace of Max is quite a delight. Voigt's writing is precise, deftly and magically guiding you through Max's very realistic thoughts and feelings while adding excitement and fun to his adventures in learning to be independent.
Reading Mister Max now, almost two decades after I first picked up Voigt's Dicey books things really stood out to me as Voigt characteristics: 1) quirky, smart-ass grandmothers are totally her thing 2) she loves to create young people who are fiercely independent 3) she is fascinated by family - both blood relations and the family that you create around you.
While Mister Max is a mystery (with mysteries within mysteries), at it's heart, it's a book about the tension between independence and being part of a family. Even though Max desperately wants to be able to fix things and find his parents alone, as the story progresses, he slowly acquires more and more people who who like him and want to help him on his way. These people form a sort of family unit around him, teaching him that independence without people is just loneliness, and that even the most self-sufficient person needs a favour once in awhile.
Read the rest of this review at Mostly YA Lit
September 2, 2013
ARC via NetGalley
12-year-old Max has lost his parents to suspicious and unusual circumstances. It's a terrible plight for a boy of 12, but Max remains so consistently unappealing and his parents (in their brief appearance at the start of the novel) remain so self-absorbed and unlikeable that it's hard to care much about where Max's parents have disappeared to or Max's well-being in the interim. Max is primarily concerned with maintaining his independence following his abandonment, a need that Voigt repeatedly tells the reader is a part of Max's coping method. This is all well and good but the logic of it doesn't quite make sense (Max himself reflects that he is, at least until he is 13, still legally a child under all permutations of the law) and his paranoia about maintaining his independence makes him appear as much of an ungrateful and selfish user as his father is/was. His treatment of his grandmother is appalling (if Voight was aiming for a Dahl-like feel this is where she makes her major misstep) and his treatment of his friends and the handful of adults who go out of their way to assist him is similarly mercenary.
The various mysteries presented are generally simplistic and several of Max's detective successes are simply a result of luck. As other readers have mentioned, the premise that so many people are so easily hoodwinked by Max's claims to be other than who he is (older, ethnic, etc) seem highly unlikely. Max is, by his own admission, a less than skilled actor and while many characters reflect on his unusually forgettable features (save his oft-commented on eyes, which as far as I can tell are just grey-spectrum hazel), they always comment that he looks like any other boy. So how, exactly, is this kid passing himself off as an adult with such regularity? He's going to have a hell of a time when puberty kicks in and his voice begins to break.
As always, your mileage may vary but, as for me, I won't be bothering with the remainder of this series.
12-year-old Max has lost his parents to suspicious and unusual circumstances. It's a terrible plight for a boy of 12, but Max remains so consistently unappealing and his parents (in their brief appearance at the start of the novel) remain so self-absorbed and unlikeable that it's hard to care much about where Max's parents have disappeared to or Max's well-being in the interim. Max is primarily concerned with maintaining his independence following his abandonment, a need that Voigt repeatedly tells the reader is a part of Max's coping method. This is all well and good but the logic of it doesn't quite make sense (Max himself reflects that he is, at least until he is 13, still legally a child under all permutations of the law) and his paranoia about maintaining his independence makes him appear as much of an ungrateful and selfish user as his father is/was. His treatment of his grandmother is appalling (if Voight was aiming for a Dahl-like feel this is where she makes her major misstep) and his treatment of his friends and the handful of adults who go out of their way to assist him is similarly mercenary.
The various mysteries presented are generally simplistic and several of Max's detective successes are simply a result of luck. As other readers have mentioned, the premise that so many people are so easily hoodwinked by Max's claims to be other than who he is (older, ethnic, etc) seem highly unlikely. Max is, by his own admission, a less than skilled actor and while many characters reflect on his unusually forgettable features (save his oft-commented on eyes, which as far as I can tell are just grey-spectrum hazel), they always comment that he looks like any other boy. So how, exactly, is this kid passing himself off as an adult with such regularity? He's going to have a hell of a time when puberty kicks in and his voice begins to break.
As always, your mileage may vary but, as for me, I won't be bothering with the remainder of this series.
February 14, 2020
I give this 2.5 stars. I liked the book well enough, just thought it was slow, often very descriptive, and was more predictable than a Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys book. So perhaps give this to your seasoned reader and not a child you're hoping to encourage to read more - it might bog them down.
Cleanliness:
Children's Bad Words
Mild Obscenities & Substitutions - 7 Incidents: stupid, who the devil,
Name Calling - 11 Incidents: Eyes, ninny, idiot, old witch, Pee-pee, Simple Simon, Blockhead, Noodle, Thickwit
Religious Profanities - 2 Incidents: Thank heavens, goodness' sake
Religious & Supernatural - 2 Incidents: Mentions “huge golden statues of the Buddha.” References the Greek myths, one about children who tear their father into pieces.
Attitudes/Disobedience - 4 Incidents: A boy doesn't exactly like his parents or grandmother telling him what to do or worrying about him - he figures he is old enough to be independent. It happens fairly often throughout the book: Example: "And so he decided that just for this one night he would let Grammie tell him what to do. It would make her feel better, too, to have him there in the house with her. 'All right,' he said. 'Just for tonight.'" "Max stormed out of bed, had breakfast without even sitting down at the table, and cleaned up the kitchen. Grammie hadn't even cleared her plate off the table. IF she was going to be like that, Max would show her. He would move into his parents' house, his own house, and see how Grammie liked that." A boy tell his grandmother she's being bossy." "If Max had been a swearing person he would have sworn."
Romance Related - 1 Incident: The word "sexes" is used to mean gender.
Conversation Topics - 4 Incidents: Because this is a mystery, the main character lies a few times about his identity or where he has been (not to his grandmother though). Mentions wine and someone is a brewer. A boy dresses in a kitchen maid's clothes to try and gather clues. There is a lady who tells fortunes, has a glass ball and reads palms. She offers to give the children their fortune but they refuse. Instead, one of the characters pretends to get prophetic dreams and tells the fortune teller one about her to scare her away (the dream they tell her was just information they had gathered while investigating her).
Parent Takeaway
A boy has been wishing that his parents would let him be more independent. When they go missing, he realizes it might not be all that he hoped. In order to keep up his schooling and buy food, he finds odd jobs and works to track down the where-abouts of his parents.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! You’ll see my updates as I’m reading and know which books I’m liking and what I’m not finishing and why. You’ll also be able to utilize my library for looking up titles to see whether the book you’re thinking about reading next has any objectionable content or not. From swear words, to romance, to bad attitudes (in children’s books), I cover it all!
Cleanliness:
Children's Bad Words
Mild Obscenities & Substitutions - 7 Incidents: stupid, who the devil,
Name Calling - 11 Incidents: Eyes, ninny, idiot, old witch, Pee-pee, Simple Simon, Blockhead, Noodle, Thickwit
Religious Profanities - 2 Incidents: Thank heavens, goodness' sake
Religious & Supernatural - 2 Incidents: Mentions “huge golden statues of the Buddha.” References the Greek myths, one about children who tear their father into pieces.
Attitudes/Disobedience - 4 Incidents: A boy doesn't exactly like his parents or grandmother telling him what to do or worrying about him - he figures he is old enough to be independent. It happens fairly often throughout the book: Example: "And so he decided that just for this one night he would let Grammie tell him what to do. It would make her feel better, too, to have him there in the house with her. 'All right,' he said. 'Just for tonight.'" "Max stormed out of bed, had breakfast without even sitting down at the table, and cleaned up the kitchen. Grammie hadn't even cleared her plate off the table. IF she was going to be like that, Max would show her. He would move into his parents' house, his own house, and see how Grammie liked that." A boy tell his grandmother she's being bossy." "If Max had been a swearing person he would have sworn."
Romance Related - 1 Incident: The word "sexes" is used to mean gender.
Conversation Topics - 4 Incidents: Because this is a mystery, the main character lies a few times about his identity or where he has been (not to his grandmother though). Mentions wine and someone is a brewer. A boy dresses in a kitchen maid's clothes to try and gather clues. There is a lady who tells fortunes, has a glass ball and reads palms. She offers to give the children their fortune but they refuse. Instead, one of the characters pretends to get prophetic dreams and tells the fortune teller one about her to scare her away (the dream they tell her was just information they had gathered while investigating her).
Parent Takeaway
A boy has been wishing that his parents would let him be more independent. When they go missing, he realizes it might not be all that he hoped. In order to keep up his schooling and buy food, he finds odd jobs and works to track down the where-abouts of his parents.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! You’ll see my updates as I’m reading and know which books I’m liking and what I’m not finishing and why. You’ll also be able to utilize my library for looking up titles to see whether the book you’re thinking about reading next has any objectionable content or not. From swear words, to romance, to bad attitudes (in children’s books), I cover it all!
December 28, 2021
Ahoy there mateys! I picked up the audiobook of this on a whim because I hadn't read anything by the author in ages. This is a fun book that I would have adored when I was little. The main character, Max, solves problems using disguises. His parents are missing and the 12 year old starts growing up in a hurry. The plot was fun but a little too unbelievable for me older self but has excellent characters.
I won't read the rest of the series though. Arrr!
I won't read the rest of the series though. Arrr!
September 14, 2013
Maximilian Sterling is the son of two actors, which comes in handy when his parents disappear. He dons a variety of disguises to keep strangers out of his house and earn enough money to survive. After some unsuccessful ventures, he begins to gain a reputation as a detective, although Max doesn't feel like a detective.
I liked the way the various mysteries withing MISTER MAX wove together. Several of the solutions will be obvious to an older reader, but I would've loved seeing everything fall together as a child. I'm not too big on how the question of the whereabouts of Max's parents. There's a nice hook at the end for the next book, but it seemed odd that Max would pay so much attention to other things instead of searching for his parents.
I do like to say that detective series rely on character, and there's enough here to sustain a trilogy. Max has some wisdom beyond his years, which is good since he's called upon to act as an adult. Fellow twelve-year-old Pia is a good match for Max, asking all the right questions and refusing to sit on the sidelines. I also liked Max's grandmother, a librarian, who struggles to keep order and guide her grandson who thinks he's a grownup. She's not always right, but she's in a tough position.
The setting is nice. Max has an interest in painting skyscapes, which frequently takes the action outside. I liked the sense of the city and it's various districts and class divisions, but I had trouble narrowing down the time period. Sometime in the past, but post industrial, I think. I would've liked a year or something.
Young mystery lovers will find much to like about MISTER MAX. There's an engaging story, gorgeous illustrations, and a nice balance of male and female characters. Despite Cynthia Voigt's bona fides, I don't think this is one that has much appeal for older readers. That, however, does not mean it's not a perfectly pleasant read.
March 13, 2021
All the world certainly is a stage.
It's the early 1900's. William and Mary Starling own their own theatrical company. Maximilian is their twelve year old son. Inexplicably he's left behind on their journey to India. His father has said that they would not leave without him. What happened?
Max's father is a strange man. He uses words his mother declares are 'just teasing.' It seems I and possibly Max are unsure.
Left with his grandmother who encourages Max to make his own way Mac decides to take up detecting which he terms solutioneering. Finding solutions to problems, including the mystery of Max's parents location.
Cynthia Voight has always been one of my go to children's and YA reads.
A Random House Children's ARC via NetGalley
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)
It's the early 1900's. William and Mary Starling own their own theatrical company. Maximilian is their twelve year old son. Inexplicably he's left behind on their journey to India. His father has said that they would not leave without him. What happened?
Max's father is a strange man. He uses words his mother declares are 'just teasing.' It seems I and possibly Max are unsure.
Left with his grandmother who encourages Max to make his own way Mac decides to take up detecting which he terms solutioneering. Finding solutions to problems, including the mystery of Max's parents location.
Cynthia Voight has always been one of my go to children's and YA reads.
A Random House Children's ARC via NetGalley
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)
December 9, 2019
Okay this was actually adorable. It has a lot of elements of other big series like A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Box and the Dragonfly and even some Sherlock Holmes. Max is a really likeable character who just loves finding solutions to things. His grandma is an interesting character too. I know their disappearance I'd the mystery but I just found the little bit of time where we got Max's parents was so interesting. I wanted more of them! All of Max's surrounding cast were enjoyable. Def picking up the sequels soon.
July 12, 2024
4.5 Stars
This is the kind of kids book that requires a lot of suspension of disbelief for an adult... but you find yourself very willing to suspend your disbelief because the writing is so engaging. It's fun. It's cute. And it's a shame this book didn't gather more of a following than it did when it first came out.
This is the kind of kids book that requires a lot of suspension of disbelief for an adult... but you find yourself very willing to suspend your disbelief because the writing is so engaging. It's fun. It's cute. And it's a shame this book didn't gather more of a following than it did when it first came out.
May 12, 2021
My dad read this book aloud to my siblings and me, and it took us a VERY long time because we all had to be at the same place at the same time. I think we started it three or four months ago.
We all groaned when we got to the end of there was a cliffhanger. Turns out it's a series!
We all groaned when we got to the end of there was a cliffhanger. Turns out it's a series!
October 2, 2016
One of the most dull, overstuffed, over-wordy far-fetched middle-school books I have ever read to my kids. If it was just me reading it, I would have put it down 30 pages in but they wanted me to finish, to get resolution, (which they never truly did). We will not be finishing the series.
April 9, 2018
New book from our shelves by a popular author we have a lot of older books by so I decided to try this one—completely unaware of what was about to happen I was sucked into this story about a twelve year old boy..The story begins with a family of two actor parents receiving an invitation to start a theater group in India..as the two dramatics prepare to leave they almost forget their son Max but then a letter promising him a ticket arrives and their adventure is set. As the day comes for the trio to take off and sail away Max takes one last Art lesson before meeting his parents at noon—only at noon there is no boat and his parents are nowhere to be found.
Max is alone and left to live with his grandmother—a retired schoolteacher and librarian 😊 It is obvious this author loves librarians and makes the grandmother so delightful with her facts, and observations and just love—she says librarians are joiners who have lots of networks, love to research, and know everything.so true! As Max and his grandmother delve into the mystery of his missing parents and to be independent Max decides to move into his house all alone. Okay so he lives directly next door to his grandmother LOL but he still lives alone with his father’s costume wardrobe and his parents’ flair for dramatics he is able to reinvent himself, make money and still make it to grandmother’s house for dinner every night. As a twelve-year old boy who is tall for his age he is able to portray a gardener, a dogcatcher and a detective and becomes a landlord to his tutor who also joins in the search while convincingly working to make about fifty dollars a job with mini job assignments while looking for clues on his parents’ whereabouts. All the mysteries are resolved and even where his flitty parents are located..
This book is about one hundred pages or so too long and this is the first in a series..this one should have been shortened---I basically just gave a synopsis of every exciting incident and it just kept going and going I even lost little interest in the costumes, the mysteries and the overall story after like page 220…I can’t say this was a bad book it just went from good to mediocre with its dragging on and on..I can see maybe 6th or 7th graders sloughing through this one, need to read more from this library staple author.
Max is alone and left to live with his grandmother—a retired schoolteacher and librarian 😊 It is obvious this author loves librarians and makes the grandmother so delightful with her facts, and observations and just love—she says librarians are joiners who have lots of networks, love to research, and know everything.so true! As Max and his grandmother delve into the mystery of his missing parents and to be independent Max decides to move into his house all alone. Okay so he lives directly next door to his grandmother LOL but he still lives alone with his father’s costume wardrobe and his parents’ flair for dramatics he is able to reinvent himself, make money and still make it to grandmother’s house for dinner every night. As a twelve-year old boy who is tall for his age he is able to portray a gardener, a dogcatcher and a detective and becomes a landlord to his tutor who also joins in the search while convincingly working to make about fifty dollars a job with mini job assignments while looking for clues on his parents’ whereabouts. All the mysteries are resolved and even where his flitty parents are located..
This book is about one hundred pages or so too long and this is the first in a series..this one should have been shortened---I basically just gave a synopsis of every exciting incident and it just kept going and going I even lost little interest in the costumes, the mysteries and the overall story after like page 220…I can’t say this was a bad book it just went from good to mediocre with its dragging on and on..I can see maybe 6th or 7th graders sloughing through this one, need to read more from this library staple author.
June 27, 2024
Book: Mister Max: The Book of Lost Things by Cynthia Voigt
Genre: Young Adult - Mystery
Dates Read: 6/20-6/27/20204
Format: audiobook
Book Club &/or Challenge: The Book Hive’s 2024 Reading Buzz Challenge (Book in Series)
Summary: When Max’s parents board a ship without him to an unknown location, the 12-year old decides he’ll prove to his grandmother, who lives next door, that he is independent enough to make his way in the world without them, which means he’ll need an income. He’s good at deduction and so through a series of events becomes a successful “solutioneer” … a person who has a knack for finding solutions to others’ problems.
Themes/Topics: innovativeness, independence, problem-solving, abandonment, discrimination, intuition, community, familial love, trust, disguises
First Line: On a bright Sunday morning in the early years of the last century, a bellhop from the hotel Excelsior knocked at the front door at 5 Thieves Alley, the home of William and Mary Starling of the Starling Theatrical Company and their son, Maximilian (00:15)..
Favorite Quote(s):
*”If you don’t know anything, it’s often better to stay still, stay put, and find out what you can” (5:59:19).
* “Proud people made things hard on themselves” (7:48:22).
Likes: Thoroughly enjoyed Max’s youthful character, especially his innovativeness in following his intuition and his ability to blend into the circumstance via various disguises.
Distractions: I chose this book because while I was looking for a series, the title of this one caught my attention (titles with the word “book” usually do!). I didn’t immediately realize that Voigt wrote it with a young adult audience in mind, and therefore, I kept thinking that the pace of the plot needed to increase, that Max’s challenges were too simple, and that he was missing some of the clues right in front of him, but…. when viewed through a younger perspective, this all makes sense.
Overall Rating: 3-stars - mainly because I”m used to less of those distractions, but it was still an entertaining light read, which I needed after reading some other heavier historical fiction.
Genre: Young Adult - Mystery
Dates Read: 6/20-6/27/20204
Format: audiobook
Book Club &/or Challenge: The Book Hive’s 2024 Reading Buzz Challenge (Book in Series)
Summary: When Max’s parents board a ship without him to an unknown location, the 12-year old decides he’ll prove to his grandmother, who lives next door, that he is independent enough to make his way in the world without them, which means he’ll need an income. He’s good at deduction and so through a series of events becomes a successful “solutioneer” … a person who has a knack for finding solutions to others’ problems.
Themes/Topics: innovativeness, independence, problem-solving, abandonment, discrimination, intuition, community, familial love, trust, disguises
First Line: On a bright Sunday morning in the early years of the last century, a bellhop from the hotel Excelsior knocked at the front door at 5 Thieves Alley, the home of William and Mary Starling of the Starling Theatrical Company and their son, Maximilian (00:15)..
Favorite Quote(s):
*”If you don’t know anything, it’s often better to stay still, stay put, and find out what you can” (5:59:19).
* “Proud people made things hard on themselves” (7:48:22).
Likes: Thoroughly enjoyed Max’s youthful character, especially his innovativeness in following his intuition and his ability to blend into the circumstance via various disguises.
Distractions: I chose this book because while I was looking for a series, the title of this one caught my attention (titles with the word “book” usually do!). I didn’t immediately realize that Voigt wrote it with a young adult audience in mind, and therefore, I kept thinking that the pace of the plot needed to increase, that Max’s challenges were too simple, and that he was missing some of the clues right in front of him, but…. when viewed through a younger perspective, this all makes sense.
Overall Rating: 3-stars - mainly because I”m used to less of those distractions, but it was still an entertaining light read, which I needed after reading some other heavier historical fiction.
October 14, 2019
Added October 13, 2019. (first published August 24, 2013)
_The Book of Lost Things_ (Mister Max #1) by Cynthia Voigt
Narrated by: Paul Boehmer
Length: 11 hrs and 4 mins
https://www.audible.com/pd/Mister-Max...
https://salon.overdrive.com/media/121...
I'm enjoying this well-told story with an unusual plot which keeps you listening. Twelve year old Max's parents have mysteriously disappeared. He is alone except for his grandmother. What happened to Max's parents? What will Max do?
There are 25 chapters and I'm only on Chapter 7. I hope I can keep my interest up. Sometimes I lose interest when a book is too long.
I fell asleep and missed some chapters but I finally got to the end.
It was a good story.
_The Book of Lost Things_ (Mister Max #1) by Cynthia Voigt
Narrated by: Paul Boehmer
Length: 11 hrs and 4 mins
https://www.audible.com/pd/Mister-Max...
https://salon.overdrive.com/media/121...
I'm enjoying this well-told story with an unusual plot which keeps you listening. Twelve year old Max's parents have mysteriously disappeared. He is alone except for his grandmother. What happened to Max's parents? What will Max do?
There are 25 chapters and I'm only on Chapter 7. I hope I can keep my interest up. Sometimes I lose interest when a book is too long.
I fell asleep and missed some chapters but I finally got to the end.
It was a good story.
March 2, 2018
Once again I am a sucker for any book title with the word book in it.
An intriguing read for young adults 9-12. A satisfying hero, a fun heroine and a great supporting cast of characters with all the quirks and family grudges necessary to make a good story for kids. I was surprised at the ending, but nevertheless it was a good one.
Cynthia Voigt has pulled me in. I'm looking forward to "solutioning" with Mister Max in book #2.
An intriguing read for young adults 9-12. A satisfying hero, a fun heroine and a great supporting cast of characters with all the quirks and family grudges necessary to make a good story for kids. I was surprised at the ending, but nevertheless it was a good one.
Cynthia Voigt has pulled me in. I'm looking forward to "solutioning" with Mister Max in book #2.
December 28, 2022
Characters are larger-than-life but still believable and likeable, the plot and tone are perfect for pre-/early teens (but could be enjoyed by older and younger readers too), and it's quality writing.
November 21, 2019
Really liked this book. It was a little slow in the beginning but once you get past that I really liked the story and I'm looking forward to reading the next book.
December 6, 2019
Fun mystery, clever storytelling, good characters. Good 4-5th grades on up, but don't sell it short because you are older. I enjoyed it for myself. Good read aloud book too.
March 15, 2024
Delightful mysteries woven together into a coming of age adventure full of the complexities of life as a twelve year old. I can’t wait to read the rest of this trilogy. I highly recommend, especially for younger readers, I’d say it’s aimed at 4-6th grade? But obviously, enjoyable for all ages.
May 27, 2021
3 stars after re-reading this with my seven year old.
I'm not sure why I picked this particular book to read with my easily bored, non-fiction obsessed child, but we gritted our teeth and read this through to the end. Actually I lost interest in it just as he picked up interest - his initial wariness had to do with the fact that Max's parents had gone away leaving him to fend for himself, and the long-eared trio hanging about the vicinity of the Starling home. Once Mister Max picked up his cases, my son was a lot more involved.
For me, having completely forgotten that I'd actually read it already, I didn't mind all, but I also wanted it over with, because there was a lot of repetition involved. Max painted the sky way too often for my patience, and yes, I get that it's his way of focusing but please let's not describe it so often maybe? His dilemma about the dog took way too many pages, but his dilemma about Nance was easily resolved. I can sort of understand - Nance was in a much worse situation than Sunny escaped from, and she didn't even really know it. But my point is that as the story went on, it's like the author wanted to cut pages short.
I'm glad Nance was included though, we had a chat about circumstances - my child and I. There were couple of words used to describe her that I didn't like, but since this book is supposedly in some vague past, I'm okay with it.
In all, it was a good book, if a bit long. We'll need the second.
***
I'm writing this review a week after I read the book, and I can't remember just why I gave it the high rating I did. It's not bad, no. It's even fun and easy to read. But, it has obvious leaps of logic, and it doesn't exactly have a great hero.
Max is a 12 year old son of two actors who sound remarkably up themselves. He's abandoned when the parents take up an offer for a voyage to India without checking the genuineness of said offer. Max has a grandmother with limited resources, and his own ingenuity. He has to make money to survive because parents, though successful stage actors, haven't bothered to leave him with any money to sustain himself. He takes up acting as a detective, and actually solves a number of cases that come to him.
Max is ok. He's a 12 year old who has an unlimited number of costumes at his disposal, and this enables him to pass off as an older person, sometimes even middle-aged. He's resourceful, but he's also abominable in his treatment of his friend, Pia. She's actually a better detective than him. I find him sympathetic only in contrast with his parents, especially that good for nothing father of his. I wonder if they are supposed to be quirky-sympathetic? If so, Voight failed. I hated what I was given of the megalomaniacs. I did like the other characters though, Max's grandmother, and his tenant and math tutor Ari. It's well written, and paced well.
I still can't remember my motivation for rating it high, but for all that, it's a good, rollicking story. 4 stars.
I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley.
I'm not sure why I picked this particular book to read with my easily bored, non-fiction obsessed child, but we gritted our teeth and read this through to the end. Actually I lost interest in it just as he picked up interest - his initial wariness had to do with the fact that Max's parents had gone away leaving him to fend for himself, and the long-eared trio hanging about the vicinity of the Starling home. Once Mister Max picked up his cases, my son was a lot more involved.
For me, having completely forgotten that I'd actually read it already, I didn't mind all, but I also wanted it over with, because there was a lot of repetition involved. Max painted the sky way too often for my patience, and yes, I get that it's his way of focusing but please let's not describe it so often maybe? His dilemma about the dog took way too many pages, but his dilemma about Nance was easily resolved. I can sort of understand - Nance was in a much worse situation than Sunny escaped from, and she didn't even really know it. But my point is that as the story went on, it's like the author wanted to cut pages short.
I'm glad Nance was included though, we had a chat about circumstances - my child and I. There were couple of words used to describe her that I didn't like, but since this book is supposedly in some vague past, I'm okay with it.
In all, it was a good book, if a bit long. We'll need the second.
***
I'm writing this review a week after I read the book, and I can't remember just why I gave it the high rating I did. It's not bad, no. It's even fun and easy to read. But, it has obvious leaps of logic, and it doesn't exactly have a great hero.
Max is a 12 year old son of two actors who sound remarkably up themselves. He's abandoned when the parents take up an offer for a voyage to India without checking the genuineness of said offer. Max has a grandmother with limited resources, and his own ingenuity. He has to make money to survive because parents, though successful stage actors, haven't bothered to leave him with any money to sustain himself. He takes up acting as a detective, and actually solves a number of cases that come to him.
Max is ok. He's a 12 year old who has an unlimited number of costumes at his disposal, and this enables him to pass off as an older person, sometimes even middle-aged. He's resourceful, but he's also abominable in his treatment of his friend, Pia. She's actually a better detective than him. I find him sympathetic only in contrast with his parents, especially that good for nothing father of his. I wonder if they are supposed to be quirky-sympathetic? If so, Voight failed. I hated what I was given of the megalomaniacs. I did like the other characters though, Max's grandmother, and his tenant and math tutor Ari. It's well written, and paced well.
I still can't remember my motivation for rating it high, but for all that, it's a good, rollicking story. 4 stars.
I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley.
December 19, 2016
Max’s parents are actors with a flair for the dramatic, and his father has often insisted that a twelve-year-old boy is more than capable of taking care of himself. Still when both his parents go missing under mysterious circumstances, Max isn’t quite prepared to be left on his own with just his grandmother as an ally. It doesn’t take long for Max to realize how difficult it is to keep enough money in his pockets and enough food on his table. While looking for work, he accidentally gains a reputation as a young man who is able to find lost things. Realizing that people will pay him to locate lost items and solve difficult problems, Max begins to advertise himself as a “solutioneer” under the name of Mister Max. While solving problems for others, he also tries to figure out the best way to bring his parents back home.
This historical fiction mystery novel is a huge departure from Voigt’s beloved Tillerman cycle, but it works very well and proves the author’s immense talent. The entire concept of the story is something I haven’t really seen before, and I really enjoyed immersing myself in this new world and getting to know Max, both as himself, and in character as Mister Max. Each of the supporting characters, from the schoolgirl who wants to be Max’s assistant, to the university student Max hires to tutor him, to Max’s librarian grandmother, are interesting people with deep backstories and well-realized roles in the story. I found myself becoming as invested in their problems as in Max’s, and I eagerly read through each chapter, wanting to know how everything would turn out.
Since this is the first book in a trilogy, I was wary from the beginning, because I was sure the book would end on an unresolved note. I was pleasantly surprised, therefore, with the way Voigt wraps up this first installment in a way that keeps the reader interested in the overall story, but that doesn’t make it completely painful to wait for the next book. This book will not ultimately stand on its own, but it does have its own conclusion, where all mysteries except the major one about Max’s parents, are resolved.
Voigt has always been a talented writer, and I have enjoyed the relationships among her characters in her realistic fiction novels. There are some similarities between Max and Dicey Tillerman, considering both kids are left to fend for themselves by missing parents, but Max’s story is more colorful and in some ways more fanciful than anything else Voigt has written. The Book of Lost Things is one of the best middle grade novels I have read this year, and I can’t wait to see where Max’s story will take us in the remaining volumes. Recommend this book to readers in grades 5 to 8 who like adventure, mystery, and history.
This historical fiction mystery novel is a huge departure from Voigt’s beloved Tillerman cycle, but it works very well and proves the author’s immense talent. The entire concept of the story is something I haven’t really seen before, and I really enjoyed immersing myself in this new world and getting to know Max, both as himself, and in character as Mister Max. Each of the supporting characters, from the schoolgirl who wants to be Max’s assistant, to the university student Max hires to tutor him, to Max’s librarian grandmother, are interesting people with deep backstories and well-realized roles in the story. I found myself becoming as invested in their problems as in Max’s, and I eagerly read through each chapter, wanting to know how everything would turn out.
Since this is the first book in a trilogy, I was wary from the beginning, because I was sure the book would end on an unresolved note. I was pleasantly surprised, therefore, with the way Voigt wraps up this first installment in a way that keeps the reader interested in the overall story, but that doesn’t make it completely painful to wait for the next book. This book will not ultimately stand on its own, but it does have its own conclusion, where all mysteries except the major one about Max’s parents, are resolved.
Voigt has always been a talented writer, and I have enjoyed the relationships among her characters in her realistic fiction novels. There are some similarities between Max and Dicey Tillerman, considering both kids are left to fend for themselves by missing parents, but Max’s story is more colorful and in some ways more fanciful than anything else Voigt has written. The Book of Lost Things is one of the best middle grade novels I have read this year, and I can’t wait to see where Max’s story will take us in the remaining volumes. Recommend this book to readers in grades 5 to 8 who like adventure, mystery, and history.
August 25, 2013
Initial Thoughts: When I read Middle Grade fiction, I'm constantly searching for stories which can be enjoyed by the young and old alike. I like a complex plot, rich writing and character depth. In many ways Mister Max didn't disappoint. Cynthia Voigt is no stranger to good writing, with her latest release, Mister Max the Book of Lost Things she continues to pen beautifully detailed prose. Max is an endearing character. He's resourceful, admirable and very thoughtful. When faced with adversity, he seems to always come out on top. The story begins with Max's parents deserting him to journey to India, leaving Max to fend for himself, unintentionally. Luckily for him, his Grammy lives next store, so he's not totally abandoned or unsupervised. The main plot revolves around Max learning to gain his independence by figuring out how to make it on his own. In doing so, Max drops out of school and decides to go in search for a job. Herein lies my main issue with the story, I'm not sure I've bought in to this situation, mainly because I felt twelve years old was just a little too young for this kind of responsibility to be dumped on them. The remainder of the story focuses on how Max accomplishes establishing his independence with very little time spent solving the mystery of his parent's sudden disappearance. Of course I was really hoping for a lot more sleuthing and mystery surrounding this event. Actually I would have been elated if this happened to be the main focus of the story - its not. Even though Max has numerous mini adventures during his search for independence, meeting plenty of unique people along the way, for some reason I found myself not entirely being entertained. The book has over 400 pages and it felt long and slightly boring to me. My biggest question about this book is, since it was written for kids, was there really enough action and substance to keep them engaged? I guess if I had to sum up what the main point was its that Max ends up being somewhat like a detective and solves people problems. This is how he earns money, since he pretty much struck out at getting employment. At times, despite my respect for Max's decision making skills, the story felt somewhat preachy to me. This book is only book one of a trilogy. It ended at a good resting point. Even though I don't have an overabundance of excitement for this particular story, I think the next book may be heading towards more adventure and action which I think it needs to keep me and youngsters engaged.
August 24, 2013
I don't read a lot of middle grade fiction, and can probably count on one hand the number of titles that I've read and reviewed on this blog; however, when I saw an e-mail from Netgalley about this title, I just KNEW that I had to read it. I absolutely adored Cynthia Voigt's Homecoming series when I was younger and I remember reading Dicey's adventures several times over.
Max's theatrical parents receive a mysterious invitation to India and then disappear on the date of their departure. Max is left behind with his grandma and must not only fend for himself, but also has to contend with solving the mystery of what happened to his parents and dodging some mysterious people with long ears that seem to know that his parents have left. Desperate to earn some money so that he can afford to stay on his own, Max becomes Mister Max, a finder of lost things (hence the title). This is the first book in a trilogy that is sure to be a delight to a whole new generation of Voigt fans.
Despite the fact that I don't read much middle grade, I did enjoy Max's adventures. The style of the book has an older feel to it, almost like it was written a hundred years ago, which likely helps to make it accessible to older readers. Max is a likeable character, as are the rest of the colourful people that come in and out of the storyline. My only criticism of the story is that Max often puts on one of his parents' theatrical costumes as part of his investigations and then people believe that he is the person or the age that he's pretending to be. And he's TWELVE. It seems a bit unlikely that a twelve year old can be continually seen as a gentleman, just because of a costume. Or maybe that's just me. Regardless of this minor point of contention, the story is well-told and flows well. I'm eager to see what the next installment of Max's adventures will bring!
Note: I received an e-galley of this book from Netgalley. The fact that I received this book for review did not influence my review of this book in any way.
Max's theatrical parents receive a mysterious invitation to India and then disappear on the date of their departure. Max is left behind with his grandma and must not only fend for himself, but also has to contend with solving the mystery of what happened to his parents and dodging some mysterious people with long ears that seem to know that his parents have left. Desperate to earn some money so that he can afford to stay on his own, Max becomes Mister Max, a finder of lost things (hence the title). This is the first book in a trilogy that is sure to be a delight to a whole new generation of Voigt fans.
Despite the fact that I don't read much middle grade, I did enjoy Max's adventures. The style of the book has an older feel to it, almost like it was written a hundred years ago, which likely helps to make it accessible to older readers. Max is a likeable character, as are the rest of the colourful people that come in and out of the storyline. My only criticism of the story is that Max often puts on one of his parents' theatrical costumes as part of his investigations and then people believe that he is the person or the age that he's pretending to be. And he's TWELVE. It seems a bit unlikely that a twelve year old can be continually seen as a gentleman, just because of a costume. Or maybe that's just me. Regardless of this minor point of contention, the story is well-told and flows well. I'm eager to see what the next installment of Max's adventures will bring!
Note: I received an e-galley of this book from Netgalley. The fact that I received this book for review did not influence my review of this book in any way.
November 3, 2013
From my blog:
Some years ago, I picked up a book by Cynthia Voigt. I think it was something one of my students recommended to me. It was called Homecoming and I didn't know when I started reading it that it was the first in a seven-book series. I started reading and couldn't get enough of those characters and their stories. I read right through the series and wished it hadn't ended. When I noticed a book by Ms. Voigt on my options for reviewing for the Sacramento/San Francisco Book Review, I grabbed it. It is the first in a series, and I don't know how many books will be in this series, but I suspect I will read every one. Here is the review I wrote for the Book Review of Mister Max: The Book of Lost Things.
Max is used to drama. His parents are both actors who have their own theatre company, but Max is unprepared for all the drama he’s about to face. His parents are summoned by a Maharajah to teach theatre halfway around the world. Max insists he wants to go with. They arrange a ticket for him, but the day they are to sail, Max is late to the dock, his parents already gone. Although only twelve, Max feels he can take care of himself and stay in his parents’ home. His grandmother lives just across the fence. But Max needs to earn money. His grandmother doesn’t make enough to keep him without help. Max looks for work, but finds nothing until one day he finds a toddler in the park. When he returns the child to his mother, he is rewarded. This leads to other jobs solving disappearances. Max has a knack for solving problems for others, but seems unable to find his parents or solve the mystery of a group of long-eared people who are trying to get into his house.
“He saw the thing happen in chunks, as if it was happening at two different times. But it wasn’t. It happened all at the same time. The front door of the house burst open and a man emerged.”
Cynthia Voigt has another great series on her hands that the middle-grade crowd will devour. It’s a
Cynthia Voigt
great, fun adventure.
Some years ago, I picked up a book by Cynthia Voigt. I think it was something one of my students recommended to me. It was called Homecoming and I didn't know when I started reading it that it was the first in a seven-book series. I started reading and couldn't get enough of those characters and their stories. I read right through the series and wished it hadn't ended. When I noticed a book by Ms. Voigt on my options for reviewing for the Sacramento/San Francisco Book Review, I grabbed it. It is the first in a series, and I don't know how many books will be in this series, but I suspect I will read every one. Here is the review I wrote for the Book Review of Mister Max: The Book of Lost Things.
Max is used to drama. His parents are both actors who have their own theatre company, but Max is unprepared for all the drama he’s about to face. His parents are summoned by a Maharajah to teach theatre halfway around the world. Max insists he wants to go with. They arrange a ticket for him, but the day they are to sail, Max is late to the dock, his parents already gone. Although only twelve, Max feels he can take care of himself and stay in his parents’ home. His grandmother lives just across the fence. But Max needs to earn money. His grandmother doesn’t make enough to keep him without help. Max looks for work, but finds nothing until one day he finds a toddler in the park. When he returns the child to his mother, he is rewarded. This leads to other jobs solving disappearances. Max has a knack for solving problems for others, but seems unable to find his parents or solve the mystery of a group of long-eared people who are trying to get into his house.
“He saw the thing happen in chunks, as if it was happening at two different times. But it wasn’t. It happened all at the same time. The front door of the house burst open and a man emerged.”
Cynthia Voigt has another great series on her hands that the middle-grade crowd will devour. It’s a
Cynthia Voigt
great, fun adventure.
December 11, 2013
Ah, Mister Max. What an intriguing young fellow he was. I have to tell you that, although most will list this as Middle Grade, I think it bridges the gap. It's true that our hero is a mere twelve years old. However he's wise well beyond his years and, I won't lie, his personality is infectious. Max Starling is one of those characters who is going to cause a lot of readers to smile, no matter what their age.
I'm sure you're wondering why, if I loved Max so very much, I rated this book as I did. Let me explain. The characters in this book are superb. Every single one, from Max's grandmother right on down to Pia, Max's would be apprentice, is well fleshed out. Each character has their own set of quirks. Each has their own distinct personality that makes them instantly likable, or unlikable, as the story calls for. I can't deny that I was impressed by Cynthia Voigt's characters. Max and his comrades were great fun to follow.
Sadly, it was the story line itself that fell short for me. Max's back story is fascinating enough. Raised by theatrical parents, left alone due to mysterious circumstances, and trying to manage all by himself at only twelve years old. I was excited by the prospect of what he might get up to. Still, as enjoyable as some of the situations he found himself in were, it all read very slowly. It takes a long time for anything exciting to happen in Max's story. When it did, I read eagerly. Then I'd be left waiting for the next bit of excitement. I can't say for certain, but if I was left wanting I'm sure that a younger reader would be as well.
The ending also threw me for a loop. There isn't so much a cliffhanger as there is an abrupt end to it all. I was happy to glimpse at least some of what was to come, but I really wish more had been tied up. Despite everything though, I know I'll come back for more. Max was able to peak my interest, and I want to see what happens to him, and his family, in the next book.
I'm sure you're wondering why, if I loved Max so very much, I rated this book as I did. Let me explain. The characters in this book are superb. Every single one, from Max's grandmother right on down to Pia, Max's would be apprentice, is well fleshed out. Each character has their own set of quirks. Each has their own distinct personality that makes them instantly likable, or unlikable, as the story calls for. I can't deny that I was impressed by Cynthia Voigt's characters. Max and his comrades were great fun to follow.
Sadly, it was the story line itself that fell short for me. Max's back story is fascinating enough. Raised by theatrical parents, left alone due to mysterious circumstances, and trying to manage all by himself at only twelve years old. I was excited by the prospect of what he might get up to. Still, as enjoyable as some of the situations he found himself in were, it all read very slowly. It takes a long time for anything exciting to happen in Max's story. When it did, I read eagerly. Then I'd be left waiting for the next bit of excitement. I can't say for certain, but if I was left wanting I'm sure that a younger reader would be as well.
The ending also threw me for a loop. There isn't so much a cliffhanger as there is an abrupt end to it all. I was happy to glimpse at least some of what was to come, but I really wish more had been tied up. Despite everything though, I know I'll come back for more. Max was able to peak my interest, and I want to see what happens to him, and his family, in the next book.
August 30, 2013
Max is the child of two actors. He has grown up around drama of all kinds and has watched many of his parents' performances. When his parents receive an offer to travel and develop a theatrical troupe for a mysterious maharajah, Max wonders if he will be left behind to stay with his Grammie. At 12, his father thinks of him as being old enough to be independent. His parents plan to take Max along, but when he arrives at the docks, his parents are gone. Upon investigation he learns that the ship they were supposed to sail on was never in the port.
Max has to find a way to survive and find out what happened to his parents. Did they mean to leave him behind? Are they in some kind of trouble? Max also has to find a way to support himself. He manages to fall into some lucky circumstances when he returns a lost child to his frantic mother. She rewards him and recommends him as a finder to others who have lost things.
The story clearly takes place in the past but the exact location or time are not given. Max says he lives in a small town in a small country. The town has an Old Town and a New Town and it has at least one titled person - the Baroness Barthold.
The cast of characters spanned all social strata from a wealthy businessman and his intrepid daughter, to a lost heir now working as a tutor, to a disgraced housemaid who is a marvelous pastry chef, to a simple girl from a workhouse, and to long-eared villains who want something from Max's house. Max interacts with all of them and solves problems for them (or manipulates them into solving their problems themselves).
The story was entertaining and Max was an engaging main character. I look forward to the next book in this series to find out more about Max and the problem his parents are having.
Max has to find a way to survive and find out what happened to his parents. Did they mean to leave him behind? Are they in some kind of trouble? Max also has to find a way to support himself. He manages to fall into some lucky circumstances when he returns a lost child to his frantic mother. She rewards him and recommends him as a finder to others who have lost things.
The story clearly takes place in the past but the exact location or time are not given. Max says he lives in a small town in a small country. The town has an Old Town and a New Town and it has at least one titled person - the Baroness Barthold.
The cast of characters spanned all social strata from a wealthy businessman and his intrepid daughter, to a lost heir now working as a tutor, to a disgraced housemaid who is a marvelous pastry chef, to a simple girl from a workhouse, and to long-eared villains who want something from Max's house. Max interacts with all of them and solves problems for them (or manipulates them into solving their problems themselves).
The story was entertaining and Max was an engaging main character. I look forward to the next book in this series to find out more about Max and the problem his parents are having.
August 6, 2019
Grade: middle school, main character Max is 12 years old and attempts to live "independently" (with the help of his (Grammie who lives next door) when his parents leave him behind to pursue an exciting acting opportunity abroad.
www.bookwormreviewblog.blogspot.com
The Book of Lost Things by Cynthia Voigt
Max is only 12 years old when his parents leave him behind while they pursue a potentially exciting acting opportunity abroad. His father dramatically emphasizes that Max is old enough to be 'independent" and has no qualms about leaving him alone. Fortunately, Max has a Grammie who lives next door to help him begin to unravel a mystery when he is unable to locate his parents. Its amazing how Max rises to the occasion of being independent! He cleverly uses his father's theatre costumes to assume the roles needed to complete his job as "detective." To his chagrin, he has become as skilled at acting as his theatrical parents!
View all my reviews
I received this book from NetGalley to read and review.
ACR NetGalley pub 2013
www.bookwormreviewblog.blogspot.com
The Book of Lost Things by Cynthia VoigtMax is only 12 years old when his parents leave him behind while they pursue a potentially exciting acting opportunity abroad. His father dramatically emphasizes that Max is old enough to be 'independent" and has no qualms about leaving him alone. Fortunately, Max has a Grammie who lives next door to help him begin to unravel a mystery when he is unable to locate his parents. Its amazing how Max rises to the occasion of being independent! He cleverly uses his father's theatre costumes to assume the roles needed to complete his job as "detective." To his chagrin, he has become as skilled at acting as his theatrical parents!
View all my reviews
I received this book from NetGalley to read and review.
ACR NetGalley pub 2013
November 23, 2013
Max and his parents are part of the Starling Theatrical Company. Max's father receives a letter. It is from the Maharajah in India. He wants the Starling Theatrical Company to help put together a theatrical group for him. He has sent ship tickets. Max makes a plan to meet his parents before the ship sets sail. When Max arrives, he learns that there is no Maharajah and his parents have disappeared, It is up to Max to find them.
I picked up this book with the intent of giving it to my nephews to read afterwards. First off I have to comment on the packaging with the book arrived. I don't normally comment on this but this time I have to. It came in its own box and then inside the book was wrapped in brown paper with twine and a postcard listing all of the three books and their release dates. I felt like I was in for a grand adventure and could not wait to read this book.
While I did enjoy the book, I did feel like it was long. Almost too long. The reason is that I was expecting mystery and action and the adventure. I was missing all three of these. It seemed that Max was not that worried about his parents and their disappearance. He was too busy trying to act older and work a job. Clues to Max's parents whereabouts were revealed in the last third of the story. Of course the ending is suppose to leave the reader anxious for the next book. I am not sure if I am one of those readers. However my nephews will probably like Max.
I picked up this book with the intent of giving it to my nephews to read afterwards. First off I have to comment on the packaging with the book arrived. I don't normally comment on this but this time I have to. It came in its own box and then inside the book was wrapped in brown paper with twine and a postcard listing all of the three books and their release dates. I felt like I was in for a grand adventure and could not wait to read this book.
While I did enjoy the book, I did feel like it was long. Almost too long. The reason is that I was expecting mystery and action and the adventure. I was missing all three of these. It seemed that Max was not that worried about his parents and their disappearance. He was too busy trying to act older and work a job. Clues to Max's parents whereabouts were revealed in the last third of the story. Of course the ending is suppose to leave the reader anxious for the next book. I am not sure if I am one of those readers. However my nephews will probably like Max.
August 5, 2013
Max’s parents are actors. When the Maharajah of Kashmir invites them to India to create a theater company, they feel honored. The Maharajah hasn’t invited Max, but his parents intend to take him to India with them. On the day of their planned departure, Max is ready to meet his parents at the waterfront, but they’re nowhere to be found. Also, there was no boat by the name of Flower of Kashmir docked there. His parents have disappeared.
With his parents gone, Max has his grandmother, but she insists that he gets a job. It’s not easy to find employment until Max discovers he has a talent for finding lost things. After reuniting a lost little boy with his mother, other townspeople want to hire him to find people, animals, and objects. He’s successful with all these jobs, yet his parents are still missing. Clues abound, but this is Max’s toughest “lost thing.”
The novel takes place in an ambiguous setting—“the early years of the last century”—and I liked the old-fashioned feel of the book. It was enjoyable reading about Max finding things, using his acting ability to disguise himself, and building a reputation as a detective. My only concern was the heavy description and wordiness considering the intended age group. This is the beginning of a series and I can see myself reading the follow-up books. I received the ARC from NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher.
With his parents gone, Max has his grandmother, but she insists that he gets a job. It’s not easy to find employment until Max discovers he has a talent for finding lost things. After reuniting a lost little boy with his mother, other townspeople want to hire him to find people, animals, and objects. He’s successful with all these jobs, yet his parents are still missing. Clues abound, but this is Max’s toughest “lost thing.”
The novel takes place in an ambiguous setting—“the early years of the last century”—and I liked the old-fashioned feel of the book. It was enjoyable reading about Max finding things, using his acting ability to disguise himself, and building a reputation as a detective. My only concern was the heavy description and wordiness considering the intended age group. This is the beginning of a series and I can see myself reading the follow-up books. I received the ARC from NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher.
September 20, 2013
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.
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.
August 10, 2013
Mister Max The Book of Lost Things by Cynthia Voigt
A glance behind the theatre curtain into the entertainer' s lives.
This middle grade book is a charming story following 12 year old Max as he embarks on adulthood responsibilities. Raised by theatre production parents, he is quite inventive at problem solving. It is a delightful beginning of a series. Creativity abounds through out the story and has at its core that 12 year olds can think for themselves when trouble ensues.
Entertaining for both boys and girls, this story has a bit of history as it is set in the late 1800's. It has adventure and sleuthing, but above all it has the theme of forgiving those we love that hurt us unintentionally. It is interesting how Max puts on character disguises, almost as a metaphor for how children of that age are trying out new traits to find themselves. Max does find himself, but the main problem hangs in the balance until the sequel.
Over all a truly great fun read!
To see more from author Cynthia Voigt visit her website at
http://www.cynthiavoigt.com/index.php
See the original review at http://literarilyillumined.wordpress....
A glance behind the theatre curtain into the entertainer' s lives.
This middle grade book is a charming story following 12 year old Max as he embarks on adulthood responsibilities. Raised by theatre production parents, he is quite inventive at problem solving. It is a delightful beginning of a series. Creativity abounds through out the story and has at its core that 12 year olds can think for themselves when trouble ensues.
Entertaining for both boys and girls, this story has a bit of history as it is set in the late 1800's. It has adventure and sleuthing, but above all it has the theme of forgiving those we love that hurt us unintentionally. It is interesting how Max puts on character disguises, almost as a metaphor for how children of that age are trying out new traits to find themselves. Max does find himself, but the main problem hangs in the balance until the sequel.
Over all a truly great fun read!
To see more from author Cynthia Voigt visit her website at
http://www.cynthiavoigt.com/index.php
See the original review at http://literarilyillumined.wordpress....
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