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Mika and Max
A story about a girl who meets a boy who changes everything When 13-year-old Mika is forced to attend a music festival with her family, she resigns herself to hippies, heat, and embarrassment. But nothing could prepare her for Max, who's almost 10 and has autism. When the two of them join forces, a series of unexpected and life changing events unfolds. ''''Mika and Max are two of my favourite new characters in fiction, and their friendship is vivid and real. Told with an exquisitely light touch and a profound sensitivity, this is a lovely, riveting, important story - often heartwarming, sometimes heart-stopping - about family, friendship, growing up, taking risks and finding ourselves through connections.'''' - Jaclyn Moriarty
146 pages, Paperback
Published June 16, 2022
44 people want to read
About the author
Laura Bloom
18 books33 followersIt’s the people traditionally left out of the frame who interest Laura the most, as well as what happens after what would be the climax in many stories. A couple reuniting after the war, in IN THE MOOD; a woman who has changed her name and started a new life, only to find her old life catching up with her, in THE CLEANSKIN; what happens when you break up with the perfect person, in CHOOSING ZOE.
Laura’s novels have been shortlisted for the NSW Literary Awards, the ABC Fiction Prize and the Young Australian Readers’ Awards and published in France, the US and the UK.
Laura grew up in Sydney and graduated with a BA, Communications from the University of Technology, Sydney. She has worked in the areas of youth policy, social justice and health promotion, and has travelled widely, including living for spells in Germany, India, the UK, and as a toddler in New Guinea, which is where she began her love affair with the sub-tropics.
She now lives in a small town near Byron Bay on the East Coast of Australia with her chosen family, including her godson and her son who has autism. For such a word-based person it’s been an extraordinary journey to learn to love and communicate beyond words.
Laura’s novels have been shortlisted for the NSW Literary Awards, the ABC Fiction Prize and the Young Australian Readers’ Awards and published in France, the US and the UK.
Laura grew up in Sydney and graduated with a BA, Communications from the University of Technology, Sydney. She has worked in the areas of youth policy, social justice and health promotion, and has travelled widely, including living for spells in Germany, India, the UK, and as a toddler in New Guinea, which is where she began her love affair with the sub-tropics.
She now lives in a small town near Byron Bay on the East Coast of Australia with her chosen family, including her godson and her son who has autism. For such a word-based person it’s been an extraordinary journey to learn to love and communicate beyond words.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 16, 2019
Short, sharp and wholly powerful. "Mika and Max" tells the story of teenage girl, Mika, feeling lonely during a time that her parents thought they'd all be celebrating, enjoying the sights and sounds of a music festival. In fact, Mika feels isolated from her friends at school, often feeling left out from hearing on social media that they were having a blast of a time without her. It's never fun feeling left out or that one is being excluded from anything, so I instantly felt really hurt on Mika's behalf and I was excited for her to get to know Max, the young son of family friends. Max has Autism and doesn't speak at all, I felt like this was really captured very powerfully! I really enjoyed his scenes with Mika too, his little gestures that I personally think told her that everything would be okay and that Max enjoyed her friendship, even though he couldn't perhaps tell her that in the clearest way! In the short time that the two titular characters got to know one another as well, I felt like both grew close to one another too, with Max helping Mika learn a few things about herself as well, which was really satisfying to read about!!
I definitely recommend this book, it’s so powerful and just such a quick read (I wish it were longer!) and it’ll definitely leave its mark on the reader! Friendship can be found in the most unexpected situations and I’d like to think Mika and Max’s newfound friendship is something that has altered both of them for the better and that it’s a friendship that’ll last a lifetime!
Thank you Walker Books Australia for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review.
I definitely recommend this book, it’s so powerful and just such a quick read (I wish it were longer!) and it’ll definitely leave its mark on the reader! Friendship can be found in the most unexpected situations and I’d like to think Mika and Max’s newfound friendship is something that has altered both of them for the better and that it’s a friendship that’ll last a lifetime!
Thank you Walker Books Australia for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review.
September 12, 2019
Mika is 13 and is still trying to find out who she is. Max is almost 10 and has autism. They meet when Mika is forced to come with her family to a musical festival, and they make a special bond. Mika doesn't know why she likes Max but she just does. Together they go on an adventure, and though it all Mika finds out what she wants to do and who she is. Overall it's a quick read but a good read. I would rate it 4 and 1/2 stars.
December 8, 2019
A super quick and sweet read.
August 19, 2019
Mika and Max by Laura Bloom is a precious little wonder of a book. It manages to tackle large themes while being a down to earth, character driven novel with a pacey plot. Written with empathy and brevity, the book delicately leads the reader through a tale of finding revelatory friendships that can change your world view.
Set at the Mullimbimby music festival, it begins as a fish out of water tale with a begrudging 13 year old Mika dragged away from her friends to a weekend of hippies and heat. The unfamiliar place only seems to exacerbate how uncomfortable she is feeling in her won skin. When Mika meets 10 year old Max, who has autism and is non-verbal, she discovers a connection that helps her to see the world differently and to discover a side to herself she didn’t know. Mika is on the cusp of growing up and in the space where puberty is still foreign and not integrated into how she sees herself. A true ‘tween’. There is a disconnect for her between her outside and inside in how she is seen and how she relates. And in this cusp and flux, the person she most connects to is Max, an younger autistic boy who sees the world in his own way. His independent point of view and unique outlook gives her the chance to open and examine her own point of view.
What this book does extremely well is family dynamics. The way Mika, her parents and siblings are unintentionally at cross purposes, the way Max’s parents deal with his sensory navigation of situations and the stress inherent in his lack of understanding danger, all balances precariously when the families are thrown together. It is through spending time with Max and the events that unfold that Mika has the opportunity to discover an unlikely friendship, display courage, grow to accept herself and voice who she wants to be.
Set in a tight time frame with a strong sense of place and written with gentle warmth, Mika And Max is a short but lasting tale of the power of connection to help us find our way.
Set at the Mullimbimby music festival, it begins as a fish out of water tale with a begrudging 13 year old Mika dragged away from her friends to a weekend of hippies and heat. The unfamiliar place only seems to exacerbate how uncomfortable she is feeling in her won skin. When Mika meets 10 year old Max, who has autism and is non-verbal, she discovers a connection that helps her to see the world differently and to discover a side to herself she didn’t know. Mika is on the cusp of growing up and in the space where puberty is still foreign and not integrated into how she sees herself. A true ‘tween’. There is a disconnect for her between her outside and inside in how she is seen and how she relates. And in this cusp and flux, the person she most connects to is Max, an younger autistic boy who sees the world in his own way. His independent point of view and unique outlook gives her the chance to open and examine her own point of view.
What this book does extremely well is family dynamics. The way Mika, her parents and siblings are unintentionally at cross purposes, the way Max’s parents deal with his sensory navigation of situations and the stress inherent in his lack of understanding danger, all balances precariously when the families are thrown together. It is through spending time with Max and the events that unfold that Mika has the opportunity to discover an unlikely friendship, display courage, grow to accept herself and voice who she wants to be.
Set in a tight time frame with a strong sense of place and written with gentle warmth, Mika And Max is a short but lasting tale of the power of connection to help us find our way.
March 23, 2020
Mika and Max was a good, quick read about a girl called Mika who when told about a music festival she has to go to, resorts to hippies and concerts. But when she meets Max, she realises something! (I didn't know what to put there so lucky you, I left you on a cliffhanger!)
May 30, 2019
Moving and affecting.
October 5, 2019
The relationship between Mika and Max is a charming and credible vehicle for illustrating their unique qualities and idiosyncrasies. They come across as loveable, quirky characters and their tale has the potential to de-stigmatise their problems of teen anxiety and autism.
With courageous honesty, Laura Bloom presents a picture of the significant challenges and demands of raising a child who is non-verbal and on the autism spectrum. At the same time, the deep love and concern his parents feel for him is woven into every word, every scene. The blonde halo, the intense blue eyes; the knowing smile...there is clearly a lot going on for Max, which can be underestimated if we take his behaviour at face value.
As the grandmother of a boy just like Max, what Laura Bloom describes in this beautifully written book is achingly familiar to me. It brought tears to my eyes and melted my heart.
It is my hope that 'Mika and Max' is widely introduced onto school reading lists. I believe it has the potential to increase understanding and empathy, and dissolve prejudice, judgment and fear towards children living with a disability.
With courageous honesty, Laura Bloom presents a picture of the significant challenges and demands of raising a child who is non-verbal and on the autism spectrum. At the same time, the deep love and concern his parents feel for him is woven into every word, every scene. The blonde halo, the intense blue eyes; the knowing smile...there is clearly a lot going on for Max, which can be underestimated if we take his behaviour at face value.
As the grandmother of a boy just like Max, what Laura Bloom describes in this beautifully written book is achingly familiar to me. It brought tears to my eyes and melted my heart.
It is my hope that 'Mika and Max' is widely introduced onto school reading lists. I believe it has the potential to increase understanding and empathy, and dissolve prejudice, judgment and fear towards children living with a disability.
July 30, 2019
Mika and Max is a brilliant, funny and very moving book about navigating adolescence. What does it mean to belong and feel safe, but also feel true to oneself? This is a loving, warm and very wise portrait of two young people who discover friendship, connection and inspire each other. It’s a book that touches on so many themes that matter to young teens and tweens: anxiety, social pressure, autism, disability, difference, acceptance and learning to express our gifts out there in the world, while also wondering how we will be perceived for doing so…. It’s also incredibly funny and a great story set during the Mullumbimby Music Festival with super relatable characters. I love this book – I couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait to read it with my eleven year-old son.
August 22, 2019
"Mike and Max" covers a lot - one of the main characters, Mika, is of an age where she feels a lot of pressure, both family and social pressures. The other main character, Max, is slightly younger and autistic and the two strike up a friendship. This was a quick book to read as I found myself wanting to keep reading to find out what happens.
December 13, 2019
A sweet story about the awkwardness of the pre teen years and the wonder of finding an unexpected friendship. I wasn’t quite sure how the reference to nude pictures on text messages added to the storyline and, as a primary school teacher librarian, this reference is something that we must take into consideration when deciding where to place the book in our collection.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2020
Tweenage / Coming of Age novel. Awkward teen befriends younger family friend with Autism.
We are all on the spectrum ..... I really thought the main character, Mika, had as many autistic characteristics as Max - the 10 year old.
Reading this as an adult was a bit squirmy. So much awkwardness and bad decision making.
Good setting though ..... Mullumbimby’s hippie culture and music festival.
We are all on the spectrum ..... I really thought the main character, Mika, had as many autistic characteristics as Max - the 10 year old.
Reading this as an adult was a bit squirmy. So much awkwardness and bad decision making.
Good setting though ..... Mullumbimby’s hippie culture and music festival.
September 30, 2019
This book certainly packs a lot into the pages it has. I saw my own daughter in Mika and appreciated the journey that the author took her on. A wonderful story on many levels.
July 24, 2020
Enjoyed this book. Year 6/7. Body image discussion.
April 24, 2021
boring... although i do acknowledge this isn't for readers my age
good story i guess
good story i guess
April 20, 2025
Representation: side character with autism
Trigger warnings: Sexting, near-death experience at a river
6/10, looking back at this I still think this wasn't a good middle grade book at all and even then when I first read this I didn't like it since it had so many flaws, most notably is that it's less than 200 pages and the topic of autism isn't as well executed and explained; where do I even begin. It starts off with the main character Mika and her brother Max who has severe autism hence the title and already I had a problem with this since autism is essentially just an afterthought and not in the spotlight as much. Anyways her life appears normal at first however I think her parents forced her to go with them to some sort of festival and she doesn't want to go there when she's already isolated from her friends and peers. I thought this book would get better from this point considering that the writing and characters were pretty flat but from there it just worsens towards the last half of the book, not to mention someone sexted Mika once but at least the ending was good. Mika decides to run off from her parents only to get into a random town through a stranger's car, waded into the river and almost died if it weren't for her brother and the police, without them they both would've died and this really got on my nerves. Fortunately they were found eventually and reunited with their family ending the book. If you like books similar to this try A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll rather than this.
Trigger warnings: Sexting, near-death experience at a river
6/10, looking back at this I still think this wasn't a good middle grade book at all and even then when I first read this I didn't like it since it had so many flaws, most notably is that it's less than 200 pages and the topic of autism isn't as well executed and explained; where do I even begin. It starts off with the main character Mika and her brother Max who has severe autism hence the title and already I had a problem with this since autism is essentially just an afterthought and not in the spotlight as much. Anyways her life appears normal at first however I think her parents forced her to go with them to some sort of festival and she doesn't want to go there when she's already isolated from her friends and peers. I thought this book would get better from this point considering that the writing and characters were pretty flat but from there it just worsens towards the last half of the book, not to mention someone sexted Mika once but at least the ending was good. Mika decides to run off from her parents only to get into a random town through a stranger's car, waded into the river and almost died if it weren't for her brother and the police, without them they both would've died and this really got on my nerves. Fortunately they were found eventually and reunited with their family ending the book. If you like books similar to this try A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll rather than this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2023
A friendship blossoms between lonely anxiety ridden teen Mika and good looking only child Max (10y) when their families meet for a music festival. What’s unusual? Max has nonverbal autism and he is beautifully and authentically described. They are both strong willed and when they get stuck on a bus away from their overprotective adults, they decide its time for adventure. Some parts I found odd, like Mika’s piano teacher dropping her, why she worried about sharks but not crocs in a river and why her girlfriends sent a txt asking for nude pics. It really seemed out of place. Otherwise a concise enjoyable read about growing up and friendship.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews