The Day I Was Erased

March 15, 2020
An English preteen's impulsive wish that he'd never been born is granted. For Maxwell, 12, home is anything but tranquil: His parents fight constantly; his nerdy sister, Bex, 15, ignores him. His beloved dog, Monster, provokes complaints from neighbors. Maxwell relieves stress by disparaging his (only) school friend, Charlie Kapoor. (While most characters default to white, Charlie's name and home cuisine imply South Asian ancestry.) Maxwell's prizewinning portrait of an elderly, forgetful neighbor, Reg, earned Maxwell prestige, benefiting his school financially. During an announcement regarding the school's centennial celebration, with the inclusion of the filming of a popular TV show segment that's meant to be an exciting surprise, Maxwell deliberately gives the secret away. After bullying and injuring Charlie in PE, Maxwell's banned from the celebration but disrupts the event with catastrophic results. He flees to Reg, vents his misery, and, via a mysterious artifact, erases himself from his life. He finds himself in a Maxwell-free world where his parents have divorced, his dad is miserable, and Bex shoplifts. Worse, Monster doesn't even exist. The premise closely tracks Frank Capra's 1946 film, It's a Wonderful Life. Like George Bailey, Maxwell's shown the difference his past good deeds made to others through learning their fates in a world where he's never existed. But slapdash execution, inconsistent plotting, and Maxwell himself hinder reader buy-in. His prior good deeds mainly reflect being in the right place at the right time; the Maxwell readers will remember is a selfish, manipulative bully. Unconvincing. (Fantasy. 8-12)

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June 1, 2020

Gr 3-6-This middle grade spin on It's a Wonderful Life follows the story of 12-year-old troublemaker Maxwell Beckett. Maxwell loves his dog, Monster, more than anything, and he (usually) gets along with his goody-two-shoes sister, Bex. He has a best friend, Charlie (to whom he isn't very nice), and a close relationship with an elderly neighbor, Reg, who has dementia. But Maxwell's parents fight all the time, especially about him, because Maxwell is always getting into trouble. When he ruins a special event for the whole school, Maxwell decides that the world would be better off without him, and he wishes that he had never been born. Maxwell's wish comes true, and he finds himself in a world where he never existed. His parents are divorced, his sister is the family troublemaker, his school is run-down, his homeroom teacher is heartbroken, and his dog is dead. Maxwell sees how important he actually is and how unappreciative he has been of his loved ones. Together with Bex, Charlie, and Reg, he works to find a way to unerase himself. Dementia, divorce, bullying, and grief are touched on in poignant and age-appropriate ways. In the end, Maxwell owns his behavior and apologizes to the people he has hurt, providing an excellent example for young readers. As a bonus, interesting historical tidbits in the story have the potential to spark curiosity and further research. VERDICT While the plot is predictable, this humorous, character-driven story is filled with depth. Recommended.-Liz Overberg, Zionsville Community H.S., IN

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