I loved the characters, both good and bad. Max is a loveable character who you routing for the whole way. Mr Pitt on the other hand is a character that you love to hate. He is delightfully horrid and is willing to do anything to get what he wants. It is deliciously satisfying what happens to him in the end.

Max and the Millions | Faber

What kid hasn’t pretended there are microscopic people living microscopic lives right under our noses? The winners of The Farshore Reading for Pleasure Teacher Awards 2023, highlighting the work schools are doing to encourage a love of reading, have... Luke made his way miserably to the stables and found his prized flea, Excelsior. She was the finest steeds on the Floor: sleek, polished and intelligent. All this is to say that we start off with a perfectly realistic representation of a deaf and mainstreamed child. Once the magic comes into play, the deafness remains realistic, but the hearing aids take on magical qualities through the ministrations of Mr. Darrow, who is some kind of technological genius.

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Ten-year-old Max feels like an outsider at St Goliath’s. He is deaf, and while this doesn’t need to be a problem, the unlikable head ensures that it is, singling him out with a special seat in assembly and showing him off like an exhibit to visitors. He’s also clearly neglected to ensure Max’s peers understand how to foster normal, meaningful relationships with someone who happens to be deaf. There’s a rich vein of Pythonesque humour on display here but also a keen satirical edge… A marvellously funny and original novel.” Additionally, the creative writing ideas this book could spur would be highly inclusive- for example, those pupils excited by the violent threats and tabulations between the three camps could take this element of the story further and story map/ write an alternative section focusing on these miniature groups. The more sensitive of pupils in the class could take on Max’s story for friendship and his difficulties communicating, perhaps how Sasha and his friendship develops in the next academic term. He is singled out by Mr. Pitt, who interacts with him patronizingly and shows him off to visitors like he's a circus attraction. Mr. Pitt raises his voice and overenunciates at Max, and does things like having a chair set up at the front of assembly with a sign in large red letters, "special seat." Every deaf child knows a well-meaning but clueless adult like Mr. Pitt. Summary: A totally off-the-wall story that combines a fast moving plot with some great characterisation and truly wonderful scenes. An absolute must-read for children aged between 8 and 12.

Max and the Millions by Montgomery, Ross Download Max and the Millions by Montgomery, Ross

My favourite character was Mr darrow because he takes most of his interest on a walk through a land full of sculptures. From Costa-shortlisted superstar, a highly anticipated standalone adventure about what happens when you find a tiny, living, breathing civilization on the floor of your school dorm room.Max is used to spending time alone - it's difficult to make friends in a big, chaotic school when you're deaf. He prefers to give his attention to the little things in life . . . like making awesome, detailed replica models. Then Mr Darrow, the school caretaker and fellow modeller, goes missing. Max must follow his parting instruction: 'Go to my room. You'll know what to do.'There on the floor he finds a pile of sand . . . and in the sand is Mr Darrow's latest creation . . . a tiny boy, no bigger than a raisin, Luke, Prince of the Blues. And behind the tiny boy . . . millions of others - a thriving, bustling, sprawling civilization!'A fast-paced and enjoyable adventure that encourages readers to appreciate the small things in life.' Kirkus'A delightful whiff of Monty Python . . . Ross Montgomery's writing is often pure Douglas Adams.' SFX'Totally off-the-wall story. The world building is superb.' The Bookbag'A funny, well plotted tale.' Sunday Express'Marvellously funny and original . . . it's the tiny details that make the story work.' Financial Times'An inventive and funny adventure.' Inis Children Books Ireland Then Mr Darrow, the school caretaker and fellow modeller, goes missing. Max must follow his parting instruction: 'Go to my room. You'll know what to do.' Moreover, Mr. Darrow later manufactures a new pair of hearing aids for Max from scratch, ones that perform better than any aids on the market that are created, fitted, and adjusted by professionals. Given how well done the deafness is, the unrealistic savant MacGyvering HAs (reminiscent of Tony Stark’s “magic” HAs for Clint Barton) is disappointing. Like Kate DiCamillo, Montgomery’s use of miracles enables the deaf character to experience an inexplicable ease of communication access.

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When Mr Darrow disappears and has still not reappeared at the end of the summer holidays, Max begins to worry. Escaping the Sparkle Unicorn Club for little girls which has been hosted by the school over the summer, Max goes to Mr Darrow's room and discovers a tiny civilisation has come to life and grown all over Mr Darrow's room. But the miniature world is on the brink of war and Max must team up with his roommate Sasha and tiny King Luke to save the miniature world from the school's horrible headmaster.

Max and the Millions – Book Club Buddies Max and the Millions – Book Club Buddies

Think ‘Honey I Shrunk the Kids’ in Book form. This was a new book for me and as the text for Y4 on T1 I’ve battled to read it over the holidays, ready to get some planning done. In the vein of The Borrowers and The Indian in the Cupboard, this is an imaginative, irresistible, and incredible exploration into what happens when one boy discovers a kingdom of tiny people.Sure signs that the creative wells are running dry at last, the Captain’s ninth, overstuffed outing both recycles a villain (see Book 4) and offers trendy anti-bullying wish fulfillment. A fast-paced and enjoyable adventure that encourages readers to appreciate the small things in life. Adventure Stories (Children's/Ya) Fantasy & Magical Realism (Children's/Ya) JUVENILE FICTION--Action & Adventure--General JUVENILE FICTION--Fantasy & Magic JUVENILE FICTION--General Children's stories Fiction Juvenile works JUVENILE FICTION -- General JUVENILE FICTION -- Fantasy & Magic JUVENILE FICTION -- Action & Adventure -- General When a school caretaker mysteriously disappears, leaving behind a small pile of sand, a student is drawn into an extraordinary adventure. At time this books violent language startled me; it’s been a while since I’ve read the line ‘how many blood sacrifices would you like?’. But it never becomes distasteful. I had to remind myself that I am a very different reader from an eight year old. It is always handled with a pinch of humour. It may feel like too much for an overprotective adult reader, but not for a child.