Mister Max: The Book of Lost Things

Title: Mister Max:  The Book of Lost Things

Author: Cynthia Voigt

Published: 2013

Pages: 367

Opening Lines: "William Starling carried the packet back into the dining room, where his wife and son were seated.  In those days, most famlies did their most ambitious cooking for the midday Sunday dinner, but the Starlings were theatrical, and you cannot give a good Sunday matinee on a full stomach."

Description: While Max, his grandmother, and his parents are breakfasting one Sunday morning a strange invitation arrives.  Riding on a big ship to a faraway land in India is very enticing.  However, Max ends up getting left behind with his grandmother, and he finds some interesting ways to keep himself busy.  Even back in 1908, not many people were willing to hire a twelve year old boy.  Will Max be able to find his parents?  What other lost things will he find along the way?

Favorite Lines: There are many people Max meets in this amazing adventure of his, and even in his cleverly thought up disguises during his investigative work, they all seem to have unique ways of describing his eyes...

"But neither of them could remember what their visitor had looked like.  He hadn't left any clear impression, except for his red beret.  'And his eyes, of course,' the Harbormaster said.  The clerk agreed.  'Never seen eyes that color, have I?  You neither, Sir, I'll bet.  Not gray, not really, and you couldn't say brown.  Like-like the undersides of mushrooms.'"

"It was the odd eyes - the color of brandy spilled on the stone cellar floor."

"I like your eyes," she told him.  "Friendly, like the fireplace before I scrub it clean."

All of Mister Max's disguises and adventures make for an enchanting story.  Make sure you check it out!

xoxo,
Kelly