Max and the Millions

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I would have been happy to read more about their personal stories before moving on to the miniature adventures. This book shifts between many perspectives; from Max, to Max’s new friend Sasha, to Sasha’s sister, to Ben the King of the Blues.

It also does a nice job of outlining some basic deaf awareness skills and some of the difficulties that deaf children face.

Well written, great story line with adventure, plot twists and mysterious happenings and its a story that could be appreciated by any age group which to me is a hard thing to find and a sign of a great story.

Ross Montgomery started writing stories as a teenager, when he really should have been doing homework, and continued doing so at university.The best moments in this book are the moments looking at and exploring the world created by Mr Darrow and its culture and history, but these are short lived in favour of moving on to the next plot point. On the other hand, this book has wonderful exciting, funny and emotive language which would really lend itself to great iotation when reading aloud- perhaps pupils in the class could take turns to read pages. Despite this, I enjoyed how Max's hearing aids were an important part of the story and the focus on him making friends and developing confidence in himself and his ability to communicate.

Luke, the son, soon realizes, however, that slacking was going to get both him and all his people killed.

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. With sugar-crazed five-year-old-girl army, noble steed fleas, carrot thefts, sparkle-unicorn onesies, and a headmaster I would love to have pushed into a dustbin, Max's adventure is all kinds of hilarious. Max is such a great character and the portrayal of his deafness feels very authentic (Montgomery consulted with staff and children from various schools and organisations, as well as his own early experience of hearing impairment).