  | Maxine Author: Graham, Bob | |
| Price: $22.58 | ||
Summary:
Max's baby sister arrives with two little strands of red hair at exactly the stroke of midnight. Max is there for her first steps, her first words, and her first book. Then, just as everyone expects her to, she flies! But not all superheroes wear masks and capes, and Maxine is determined to be herself, dream big, and fly high on her own terms.
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: LG Reading Level: 3.10 Points: .5 Quiz: 515385 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (-) (10/15/21)
School Library Journal (10/01/21)
Booklist (12/01/21)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (00/11/21)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 10/01/2021 PreS-Gr 3—Graham returns to the world of Max and the Thunderbolt family, a family of superheroes about to welcome a new baby into their crew. Instead of focusing on the theme of bringing home a new baby, this book fast-forwards to focus on little Maxine's acceptance of and confidence in herself. Maxine develops her mask in the womb, but feels unsure about the rest of her superhero getup when she starts school— four years early—and sees how the other kids are dressed. With some pleading and a prophetic statement, "Things will always be changing, Mommy," Maxine is able to convince her mother to take her shopping for jeans and a t-shirt to be more like the other kids. As a final rejection of her superhero image, Maxine removes her mask and gives it to a costumed kid at the school fair. In a world where most children long to be superheroes with powers beyond imagining, it's hard to understand why Maxine would want the opposite, and this pleasingly subverts the usual message of the superhero trope. Maxine's night time musings about her identity may be years beyond what readers would expect her to experience, but admittedly, she does age incredibly fast due to her parentage. Graham's humorous artwork shines in this book. VERDICT Readers may wonder what a scene of flying means for maskless Maxine's future identity, but no answers are offered. Readers will hope for a third installment, and soon.—Shannon O'Connor, Unami M.S., Chalfont, PA - Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 12/01/2021 The newest member of a superhero family (grandparents, parents, and big brother, Max), Maxine Lightning-Thunderbolt is born with a mask already in place. Even as a toddler, she can fly. After starting school, she asks her mom for a T-shirt and jeans to replace her family’s traditional blue-and-red suit with a cape. Cooperative though a bit tearful, Madam Thunderbolt gives away her daughter’s superhero suit and takes her shopping. At the school fair, talking with a timid child dressed as “the Boy Marvel” in the costume parade, Maxine removes her mask and gives it to him. She’s content to be simply Maxine. Can she still fly? With Max’s help, she soars. A sequel to Max (2000), this picture book has attractive superhero cover art, while the interior ink-and-watercolor illustrations will engage viewers in Maxine’s story. In a text that’s attuned to the unspoken emotions of young children, Graham suggests that the one thing cooler than being a superhero is having the freedom to discover who you really are. An enjoyable choice for reading aloud. - Copyright 2021 Booklist.
