Super Max and the Mystery of Thornwood's Revenge

June 5, 2017
Maxine “Max” Brennan is upset when a hacker impersonates her grandfather Toppy, the police chief of Blue Creek, Tenn., and spreads malicious lies via social media. Invoking Thornwood’s Revenge, a local legend tied to a long-dead town patriarch and a crumbling mansion, the hacker aims to take down Toppy and the mayor, wreaking havoc along the way. As the hacker’s attacks escalate, Max uses her budding investigative skills and pure force of will to find the culprit. The return of her estranged mother, who distanced herself after a car accident left Max in a wheelchair, highlights a softer, less-sure side of the scientifically minded and driven protagonist. Vaught (Things Too Huge to Fix by Saying Sorry) creates a close, strong relationship between granddaughter and grandfather; Toppy seeks to protect Max, but he also acknowledges her need to push boundaries and the fact that her wheelchair is an extension of her body and hers to control. Impulsive, quick to anger, loyal, and self-aware, Max is a memorable character who refuses to give in to circumstances or assumptions. Ages 8–12. Agent: Erin Murphy, Erin Murphy Literary.

June 15, 2017
Vaught (Things Too Huge to Fix by Saying Sorry, 2016, etc.) examines the limits of expectations and electrical currents. Under the care of Toppy, her cantankerous grandfather, white, decidedly unsentimental Maxine Brennan is working off a grounding by critiquing sentimental movies and modifying the electronics on her motorized wheelchair. When a hacker threatens Toppy and the town of Blue Creek, Tennessee, with the legendary "Thornwood's Revenge," 12-year-old Max channels her favorite comic-book superheroes and vows to save the day. High-tech jargon and spooky-old-house trappings collide as Max explores the home and history of the late Hargrove Thornwood, the legendary town villain. Meanwhile, Max must control her temper and face her estranged mother. The characters' small-town familiarity and police chief Toppy's ignorance of technology allow Max to handle aspects of the criminal investigation that would likely be forbidden in real life. However, such leeway also allows Max to learn the limits of her chair and herself. Max's emotional growth creates more impact than the mystery's resolution; the culprit is barely developed. The rift between Max and her mother resolves far less neatly; the author's frank inclusion of the environmental and financial barriers between them highlights an often overlooked angle of disability, lending reality to the occasionally implausible proceedings. Stubborn and clever without being superhuman, Max is a refreshing heroine who rises above a so-so mystery. (Mystery. 9-12)

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August 1, 2017

Gr 5-8-Max loves superheroes, electronics, and drag racing in her wheelchair. When slanderous messages about her grandfather are posted on a Facebook page, Max investigates. She also find herself deep in the history of Thornwood's Revenge, a legend in her hometown of Blue Creek, TN. The old Thornwood Manor is supposedly haunted by owner Hargrove Thornwood. As the online messages become more threatening, it seems as if there could be a connection to Thornwood and his fabled revenge on the town. The mystery is well paced with a good balance of action and character development. Though the genre of middle grade mysteries is crowded, this stands out for its authentic and empowering depiction of a young wheelchair user. Vaught captures the voice of someone who has spent a good deal of time in a wheelchair and gets the details right. Max is relatable and likeable, and the combination of a spooky old house and a modern cyber mystery will keep readers turning the pages. VERDICT An excellent addition to middle grade shelves, with a differently-abled main character that readers will root for.-Patrick Tierney, Dr. Martin Luther King Elementary School, Providence

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