Maxi's Secrets

August 15, 2016
"Really, really short" for his age, Timminy knows that he'll be the perfect target for bullies at his new school. The only upside to his family's recent move is Maxi, a Great Pyrenees puppy. She immediately wins the fifth-grader's heart, and nothingânot her strong will, smelly accidents, or deafnessâlessens his devotion to her. Maxi's endearing personality and outgoing nature help Timminy develop relationships with two neighbors: gruff and imposing Rory, who surprises Timminy with unexpected kindness and complexity; and visually impaired Abby, who has little patience for Timminy's self-pity and challenges his defeatist attitude. The story opens with Timminy telling readers that Maxi dies, but this information fades to the background as they watch Timminy come into his own and Maxi become a hero in ways both big and small. In her first middle grade novel, picture book author Plourde (Merry Moosey Christmas) clearly shows Maxi's remarkable influence on the lives of Timminy, his family, and his friends. This story is a tender reminder that perceived shortcomings don't define us and that the power of friendship can't be underestimated. Ages 10âup. Agent: Susan Cohen, Writers House.

June 1, 2016
"My dog, Maxi, dies," warns Timminy at the start of this friendship tale set in small-town Maine. After preparing readers for the inevitable, the white boy comforts them (and himself) with memories of how Maxi--a huge, deaf Great Pyrenees--helped him to make friends and cope with a bully after starting middle school in a new town as a "shrimpy kid." Walking with Maxi, he meets Abby: the "blindest" and "blackest" kid in school, who has no patience for his troubles. The old trope of sassy disabled and/or black characters dispensing tough love is mitigated here by explanations of blindness and "blind talk": funny, surprising, and gross ways to describe particular qualities of what Abby can't see. Maxi--"a marshmallow in the middle of a big bowl of broccoli"--ultimately reveals similar qualities in her humans, finally coaxing sympathy from Abby and exposing a bully Timminy calls "the Beast of the East" as a nice guy, while Timminy learns to laugh at himself. Maxi's death may prompt a few sniffles, but Timminy's coping strategies could help readers dealing with the loss of a pet. A short subplot mentions MIRA, a real organization that provides guide dogs to kids. Each chapter is summarized by a "secret": an aphorism that applies to life in general. Though purposive, this earnest boy-and-his-dog tale makes a strong case for Secret No. 11: "There's nothing so bad in the world that dog kisses won't make it better." (Fiction. 9-12)

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June 1, 2016

Gr 4-6-Extra short fifth grader Timminy doesn't beat around the bush when he notifies readers upfront that the canine heroine of the story will meet a similar fate as beloved dogs like Old Yeller and Sounder. Maxi, a Great Pyrenees puppy, is the bribe Timminy's parents dangled when they moved the family from Portland, ME, to middle of nowhere, Skenago. Timminy is terrified of starting middle school, fearing he will be the target of bullies, and having his dad as the vice principal surely can't help matters any. Timminy's fears are validated, as he soon faces relentless bullying and is frequently trapped in the lockers. He looks forward each day to returning home to Maxi, who the family soon discovers is deaf. Timminy's neighbor, fellow middle schooler Abby, is blind, and the two quickly form a friendship. Timminy is amazed that Abby doesn't let her blindness slow her down, and he eventually develops a shift in his own thinking about his shortcomings. Each chapter ends with one of Maxi's "secrets," such as "A new friend is like a present-you're not sure what's inside, but you can't wait to find out." The secrets are little gems, providing food for thought. Timminy's ability to make fun of himself backfires when he and Abby have a misunderstanding, which leads to a falling-out. When Abby gets lost in the woods during a horrible snowstorm, it's up to the small boy and his dog to find her. The characters are fully developed, and the delicate subjects of bullying and disabilities are dealt with deftly and with humor. The story would make a great read-aloud, as Plourde has created humorous and believable characters that readers will be cheering for. Knowing Maxi's fate from the outset makes for a heartbreaking, yet satisfying, ending. VERDICT A novel that will have wide appeal to dog lovers and those looking for a feel-good tale of overcoming adversity.-Michele Shaw, Quail Run Elementary School, San Ramon, CA

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2016
Grades 4-7 Timminy isn't thrilled about moving to a new town just before starting middle school, but his nerves are alleviated somewhat when his family gets Maxi, a dog they soon discover is deaf. Timminy and Maxi become inseparable despite Timminy's diminutive stature and Maxi's Great Pyrenees enormity. But readers be warned: Let's get this part over with, Timminy says on the first page. My dog, Maxi, dies. This foresight does nothing to alleviate the pangs readers will feel as the tale unfolds and Timminy learns to let Maxi go. Plourde's skillful blend of humor, pathos, and wisdom creates a story that begs to be shared with middle-grade students, who will fall in love with a deaf dog, her steadfast owner, and the rest of the characters who populate the novel. More than just another dead dog book, this is a story of love and friendship that deserves to join the ranks of other unforgettable canines and their owners.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)