Fall Reading 2013 Mister Max: The Book of Lost Things

Max is twelve and "ready to be independent," according to his father. That independence comes about unexpectedly when his parents set sail for a new theater job and Max is accidentally left behind. He's not too worried at first. His grandmother lives next door and he is very capable. But there are so many things to worry about as time goes on - making sure the authorities don't find out he's living alone, the strange woman who tries to move into his house, the strange man who breaks into his house and ransacks the dining room, the lost child he finds in the park ... Those are just a few of the problems he tackles.

I enjoyed the way Max uses costumes and characters from his parents' plays to handle different situations. When he's looking for a lost dog, he dresses in pieces that resemble a dog catcher's uniform. When he's talking to the Baroness, he puts on a suit and stuffs a pillow under his shirt to look like a middle-aged detective. He may not want to be a stage actor like his parents, but he is good at assuming small roles for his own purposes. And he is very good at solving other people's dilemmas, even while he is trying to figure out his own.

I would recommend this to mystery readers who enjoy stories like The Mysterious Benedict Society, The Name of This Book Is Secret, or Chasing Vermeer.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley. It will be released in stores on September 10, 2013.

You may find out more about the author on her website.

*NOTE - We just added this book to the Fairview library. (August 1, 2015).