Mister Max: The Book of Lost Things

Mister Max 1

By: Cynthia Voigt

Narrated by: Paul Boehmer

Newbery medalist Cynthia Voigt presents a rollicking mystery in three acts!

A PARADE BEST KIDS BOOK OF ALL TIME

Max's parents are missing. They are actors, and thus unpredictable, but sailing away, leaving Max with only a cryptic note, is unusual even for them. Did they intend to leave him behind? Have they been kidnapped?

Until he can figure it out, Max feels it's safer to keep a low profile. Hiding out is no problem for a child of the theater. Max has played many roles, he can be whoever he needs to be to blend in. But finding a job is tricky, no matter what costume he dons.

Ironically, it turns out Max has a talent for finding things. He finds a runaway child, a stray dog, a missing heirloom, a lost love. . . . So is he a finder? A detective? No, it's more. Max finds a way to solve people's problems—he engineers better outcomes for them. He becomes Mister Max, Solutioneer.

Now if only he could find a solution to his own problems . . .

Critic reviews

New York Times Book Review, September 15, 2013:
"The charm, the quirkiness, the quiet originality of The Book of Lost Things are immensely appealing to those of us who love the classic possibilities and styles of children's literature."

Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews, April 10, 2013:“An endearing, memorable protagonist and a clever plot make this a winner.”

Review, Publishers Weekly, July 8, 2013:
"Voigt's accomplished writing draws readers into every aspect of [Max's] world."

Review, School Library Journal, July 2013:
"Max displays good sense, a sensitive nature, and winning ingenuity... [a] comedic page-turner."

The Christian Science Monitor:
"A perfect read-aloud, the story will appeal to fans of fantasy, adventure, mystery, and humor."

An enjoyable listen

I listened with my children, the 9 and 11 year olds were very into it, the 5 year old was too young for it. At first I wasn’t sure if I could get past the narrator’s voice, but as I listened it was actually fine and I think it suited the book well. We all enjoyed the story and they have requested to listen to the next book in the series.