Max Quick

Gr 4—7—Max Quick, a 12-year-old orphan with no memory of his past, is on the run from the Starland Home for Boys when time suddenly stops. Everything and everyone around him is frozen, but he is seemingly immune. He finds Casey, who is also unaffected, and together they witness a UFO-type object flying east. Max is convinced they may be the only ones who can discover what caused the Time-stop, and they set out to reverse it. Also able to move in "the Pocket" is Ian, who has theorized about the phenomenon and who joins Max and Casey on their journey. As they travel, they learn more about Max's past and it becomes clear that he may be the key to saving the world. This fast-paced adventure, though light on character development, will keep readers turning the pages. Occasionally dialogue is weak or overly expositional, but the story itself is engaging. What Max and his friends learn about those who caused the Time-stop raises philosophical and ethical questions about free will and even genetic engineering, though the latter isn't fully explored. The incorporation of figures from Sumerian mythology adds an interesting element that may appeal to fans of Rick Riordan's "Percy Jackson" series (Hyperion).—Amanda Raklovits, Champaign Public Library, IL