FICTION

The Book of Kings

illus. by Iacopo Bruno. 352p. (Mister Max: Bk. 3). ebook available. Knopf. Sept. 2015. lib. ed. $19.99. ISBN 9780375971259; Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780307976871.
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Gr 5–8—Readers of the first two books about Mister Max will undoubtedly gravitate to this conclusion of the trilogy. Max is finally off, with several of the friends he's made in the previous books, to rescue his parents who either are the monarchs of a fictional South American country or are being held prisoner there. Disguises are in order and false identities must be assumed for Max's party of rescuers to be admitted to the kingdom in the mountains. Once there, they must determine which of the dignitaries and military personnel are trustworthy and insist on an audience with the strangely reclusive king and queen. This series resists categorization. Its little mysteries aren't terribly mysterious, its suspense is not particularly heart-stopping, and its humor is gentle rather than uproarious.
VERDICT Fans of the first two books will be eager to see how the "solutioneer" saves the day.—Miriam Lang Budin, Chappaqua Library, NY
, Jul 01, 2015

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