Dear Max

Max

by Sally Grindley

Dear D.J. Lucas,
My uncle bought me one of your books for Christmas. It's called Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Boy? I want to be a writer. I want to write a story now. Please will you help me?
Love from Max

And so begins Max's funny correspondence with his favorite author, the world-famous D.J. Lucas. What follows is a touching tale about imagination, friendship, storytelling, and sharing secrets.

Genres: Middle Grade, Childrens, Humor, Fiction, Writing, Realistic Fiction, Friendship

144 pages, Hardcover

First published August 5, 2004

About the author

I came into children's books originally as Editorial Director of a nationwide children's book club, though I had written and directed a children's play while a student at Sussex University, which was performed at the Edinburgh Fringe. I wrote my first two children's picture books in 1984 and was lucky enough that Anthony Browne wanted to illustrate the second - Knock Knock Who's There? It was published in 1985, is still going strong today and is one of my most successful.

Shhh! was published in 1991 and has known great success in France/Belgium in particular (close on 300,000 copies sold). It's success in the UK - it won the Children's Book Award - was hampered by the liquidation of its original publisher.

I became a full-time author in 1995 and now have some 150+ titles published, the most recent being L'Histoire du Soir in France, Belgium and Italy.

Feather Wars, published in 2003, was my first sortie into young fiction and was followed by the very successful Spilled Water, which has been published in some ten different languages and is very popular in schools as a class reader. It won the Nestle Smarties Gold Award (and I wound up being a 'Pointless' answer on the back of it!) Broken Glass came next and was a Sunday Times Book of the Week.

I'm currently working on picture books again and have plans to illustrate one of my own in the not too distant future - watch this space!

Reviews

[Mohamed Osman · Rating 3 out of 5]

"استخدم خيالك الواسع لتجعل الأشياء تبدو أفضل"

كم أحب أدب الأطفال، وأسعد كثيرا عندما يمنحني القدر هدية مثل هذا الكتاب الذي يصبح بمثابة طوق نجاة ينتشلني من مشاكل الحياة اليومية ويحلق بي بعيدا في دنيا آخرى تمتلأ بخيالات الأطفال البريئة

مشكلتي مع هذا الكتاب تكمن في أنني انتهيت منه سريعا، فلم تمر ساعة ما بين شرائي وانتهائي منه

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although my kids and I read many, many kid books each week, I usually don't rate them on Goodreads. Dear Max was so clever, my son and I loved it! We quickly checked the sequel out from the library - and then after that, realized there is a third installment, for which we are waiting for our library to obtain. The artwork is adorable and the story has quite a few layers and provoked good conversations with my 8-year-old son. The book is written in alternating letters to and from Max and an author named DJ, so my son read DJ's letters and I read Max's, making for a nice bedtime story each evening.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third grade selection for lunchtime book club, for which I'll be leading the discussion. It's an epistolary novel between a boy and his favorite author. I kept expecting the author to surprise the boy with a visit, but maybe that'll happen in one of the other books in the series (there are three total). We aren't told many details, but the inquisitive journalist part of me wants to know what kind of surgery and illness Max had, especially one that prevented him from eating the foods he liked. With his illness, father's death, and bullying, there are some serious topics addressed, so it'll be interesting how the book club reacts. DJ's book leads to problematic questions that will be passed over by kids, but not adults! I do envy Max his author-fan relationship!

[Ranim Ayman · Rating 4 out of 5]

اعتقد ان ماكس هو الطفل اللي احلم يكون ابني مفيش اجمل من اطفال بخيال واسع بيكتب قصص وبيرسم رسومات مضحكة : ) انا بمبسط لماكس اوي كل مرة د ج بترد عليه ومش بتخذله وبحب انهم بيبعتوا بطاقات بريدية لبعض انا عمر ما حد بعتلي بطاقة بريدية لما اسافر هبقي ابعت للناس بطاقات بريدية .. بتسائل هو انا ليه عمري ما كتبت قصص للاطفال هيبقي شيء مبهج : )))))))

[erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

a fun juvenile fiction book, written in letter form between Max (he's the "Dear Max") and a children's book author (DJ)!
I really enjoyed this one, and I especially liked that the author DJ in the letters supported Max's creativity and imagination, and that Max felt braver because of that!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

starts writing to D.J. after he reads one of her books and falls in love with it. When D.J. answers his letter, Max writes back to her, and soon a friendly pen-pal relationship forms.

Max writes to D.J. about the troubles he’s having in school, issues with his doctor, and ideas for a story he’s writing, while D.J. writes about her struggles with writing a new book and about other events that happen in her own life (like jumping out of a plane!). Max is always sure to add drawings to his letters that reflect what he writes about, which make reading them even more fun!

This is a charming book that reads quickly. Max is a delightful character with whom the reader will identify because the troubles he faces are those that nearly all children face. D.J. is also a very nice character who gently offers Max advice and supports him as he writes his own story. The exchange continues in the second book Bravo, Max! Suggest these titles to children not quite old enough for the Wimpy Kid series.

[ala' · Rating 3 out of 5]

كتاب خفيف :)

لن يحس القارىء بأي ملل ..

قابل لاعادة قرائته وهذا هو المهم في هذه الكتب ..

[Willow Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really cute book! It was a really quick read, and took me less than an hour to finish, but I think it'd be perfect for kids in elementary school. I found it in the back of my shelf yesterday, and I have no idea where I got it or how it got there, but nevertheless, I decided to read it since it was there. And I was very pleasantly surprised! Although it would be perfect for a small child, it did have some deeper underlying themes regarding bullying, loss, and friendship that, I think, make it a good book for parents to read with their kids.

One point I'm still slightly confused on is whether this book was based on a true story with the letters being actual ones between the author and a child. I first got this suspicion when I realized towards the end of the book that the author's name was Sally Grindley, but aka D.J. Lucas. I tried looking this information up but couldn't seem to find anything, so I suppose that it's left up to the reader's imagination.

[Sean Harding · Rating 4 out of 5]

Max writes to an author, she writes back and is that it, by no means Max sets up an ongoing correspondence with the. author and this is a light breezy read, which is in part amusing and part moving.
It sometimes brushes over the serious matters a little lightly and then it just finishes without a real ending, is there more?
Tell me there is another one!

Edit - two more - I'll look out for the other two Max books Goodreads appears to have them in the wrong order in their listing which is not a surprise - bring back Most Read Authors Goodreads you recalcitrants!

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read with my son. He loved it!

[John Nondorf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story with good writing tips for kids.

[Teres M · Rating 5 out of 5]

بسيط، سهل ومريح
هو كتاب للاطفال ولكنني لم أمانع قراءته فبداخل كل منا طفل صغير يأبي أن يكبر

[DG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the concept and idea. A great book for young readers.

[Miz Lizzie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Following in the footsteps of Beverly Cleary’s award-winning classic Dear Mr. Henshaw, this epistolary novel by British author Sally Grindley falls short of the mark though it is an easy read that will appeal especially to boys, with a nice mix of humor and reality. The writing advice imparted is great until you get to the ending when all the previous advice becomes suspect. I found it very disturbing that the ending implies that the author Max has been writing uses their correspondence (mostly written by Max) as the manuscript for his next published book. This is supposed to be a great and exciting surprise for Max at the end of the novel but it leaves open questions of intellectual property, permission, and copyright. Could be used as a jumping off point for classroom discussions on these points, but on its own the book allows the humor and lightness of the story to take precedence over the writing advice being imparted, so I would recommend cautiously. It would be interesting to know if young readers get the subtle point that Max is the one who is actually following the writer’s advice and producing creative writing of his own, while the writer is stealing Max’s correspondence and publishing it as his own. Though perhaps the writer is only being inspired by Max’s correspondence – if so, the point is not made clear enough for my satisfaction.

[Camp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading review
Dear Max

Dear Max is the best book i have ever read, it’s a funny and enjoyable book to read. It was written by DJ Lucas AKA Sally Grindley, was published in 2004 and it has 141 pages.

The main characters are Max and DJ Lucas, Max is a nine year old boy with a big imagination and DJ Lucas is a famous author who gives lots of helpful advice to Max.

Max reads one of DJ Lucas’ book and he loves it he then writes to her and they have many conversations. Max writes about problems in school, going to the doctor and ideas for his story. DJ Lucas writes about her wonderful and exciting adventures and her books. Max adds drawings to his letters so when DJ Lucas is reading them it is lots of fun.

Everything about this book was amazing, there were no disappointing parts. I recommend this book for people aged 8-12 that like funny stories.I rate this book 5 stars!


Reading review by Asha Ruda

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Dear Max and thought it was a great read and a story that kids can learn a lot from. I think for kids, it would be a great learning experience for them to read this book, because they can learn how to write letters and become successful writers while using their imaginations. I think a great class activity would be having the students write a letter to someone they admire and why that person is so special to them, and then possibly have them send it to the person. It could work for grades 1st and on I would think. Its a great way for kids to let their minds run free in writing.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of like a Diary of a Wimpy Kid...but better! In this story, Max is a 9-year-old boy (he turns 10 in the book) who is a sort of pen pal with his favorite author, D.J. Lucas. I found it to be quite charming. We learn so much about Max's life from his letters to D.J., and D.J. encourages Max to write his stories and letters. The entire book is told through letters, which I find delightful. There's even a part in there about letters being more special than email. Maybe kids who read this book will be inspired to write actual letters to friends, family, or even a special author!

There's also a sequel, called Bravo, Max!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Max a nine year old biy starts to write the author of a book he has just written called "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Boy?" Max loves this book and wants to let the author, D.J. Lucas know how much he has enjoyed it. Max wants to become a writter as well and wants to talk to D.J. about being an author. The two start a year long correspondance discussing writing, characters, life and people.

This is a very sweet book, sad at times and funny at times as well. I thought that the way it was written was very creative and entertaining especially with Max's drawings of his characters. Great junior book.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am leading a Lunchtime Book Club for 3rd graders and this was the assigned book. It's an epistolary (should I teach that word to the third graders? :) novel between Max, a 9-year-old boy and his new favorite author, DJ Lucas. The letters evolve into a two-way friendship, where DJ reveals the trials and tribulations of being a writer, and Max deals with the loss of his father, a serious illness, and problems with bullies at school.

The story is engaging, the lessons aren't preachy, and the line illustrations by Max add humor to this enjoyable read.

[Tai C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Max is a awsome book because it talks about a boy named Max who wants to write a book.The genre of the book is realistic fiction.The book is about a boy who wants to be a writer just like his friend.Another thing is that his friend dosen't know what to write about.A few more facts is that max's friend is movieing to Eurepe.My schema to the book is when I sent a letter to my friend.I wonder why Max likes writing.I want to remember in the book is that when Max sent a letter to his friend.I would recommand this book to Elizabeth because it is a awsome book.

[Goshen PL Childrens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Original nomination suggestion: "It is a good book"

Ms. Laura: This book reminded me of a happier version of Dear Mr. Henshaw. The reading audience is for a younger crowd. The story is in letter format between a 9 year old Max and his favorite author, D.J. Lucas. Throughout the book you see how writing to each other changes and encourages both characters to be comfortable with themselves. This was fun little read with goofy illustrations from Max. Good for readers 2nd grade and up.

[CatholicBibliophagist · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nine year old Max writes a fan letter to his favorite author and confides that he wants to be a writer when he grows up. During their year long correspondence, we learn quite a lot about Max's life and the challenges he faces as the smallest boy in class and also about what it's like to be a writer and how to put together a story. I probably would have loved reading it when I was nine years old.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-written story done in letter format between two pen-pals. Max writes a letter to his favorite author and they develop a friendship by corresponding with each other. She helps to mentor Max by giving him advice as he tries to write his own story! Very engaging!

[Kevin Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute approach to a book. The voice of the little boy was very evident in this book. I liked the hidden lesson about bullying, the support of imagination, and the references to the writing process for authors. Provides a good tool to use in the classroom.

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was proud i read a book my sister hadn't, then i found out she read this one while i was actually reading it, and she finished it before me. Took me something like two weeks, and it goes and takes her 2 hours.

[Safura0307 · Rating 5 out of 5]

when a imaginative and troubled 9 year old writes to his favorite author DJ Lucas they from a fond relationship where they help each other but in very different ways

a touching and very easy read. one of my fave short stories, i often hope its real!!!

[Anne Hong · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book!
Kids and adults both should read it and meet the bravest and brightest boy, Max!!!
I always want to be an adult like D.J. Lucas
who is a good listener to kids.

Standing up on a chair and speaking for the best pal...
It is courage!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd recommend this book especially for reluctant readers. The follow of the letters being sent. Ack and forth give the book a pace you can't get in a book with chapters.
I read this with my 12yr old son who has dyslexia and he read it relatively indecently.

[Tiff · Rating 5 out of 5]

see my review for 'Bravo, Max!'

[Bridget · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book of letters between 10 year old Max and his favorite author. A fast chapter book, but a little predictable.