Max Anderson Books Day Two

Two more wonderful books by Max Anderson

When the Lights Go Out

Publisher:  comfort Publishing

Pages:  172

Genre:  Mystery, Middle Grade

Source:  I purchased a copy

Peyton Aldrich is proud of his father.  His father is an Army Ranger.  He wants to grow up to be just like his dad.  When his family moves to a new base Peyton makes two new friends named Dave and Gill.  Peyton definitely has a lot of influence.  He convinces his new friends that they need to train like the Army Rangers.  They soon learn how difficult this is.  Peyton pushes them to their limit on the workout course.  Peyton decides that working out is not enough for them.  They need to find a mission to complete just like the real Army Rangers do.  What he and his friends don’t count on is finding a mission that can cost his father his job or put the lives of many Americans in danger.  He and his friends have uncovered a terrorist plot and their pretend game becomes a real life and death situation.  This is a book that takes place right after the events of 9/11.  You don’t have to wait until another anniversary of that date rolls around.  This is a book that will grab you and hold you until you read the last word.

The Scarecrow

Publisher: CreateSpace

Pages:  188

Source:  Review copy from the author

Genre:  Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction

This was a story that I could relate to.  As a teacher so many of my students face hardships in life that I’ve never had to face.  They see their families torn apart by divorce, drugs, prison and death.  In this book Billy and Becky have the misfortune of living with a mother who drinks too much.  On one occasion their mother accidentally sets the apartment on fire.  Children’s services steps in and removes them from their mother.  Billy sees this as a blessing until he realizes he and his sister will be separated.  Billy is sent to his aunt and uncle’s farm.  He withdraws into himself.  Before they were taken from his mom he had been having dreams about a scarecrow.  When he sees the scarecrow on his uncle’s farm he starts having conversations with it.  His uncle becomes worried and sets out to teach him that there is someone who will be a true friend and will never leave you.

I have to be careful how I teach this lesson because I work in a public school.  Putting books like this one on my shelves does the job for me.  Max Elliot Anderson is one of the top authors in my book.

In Accordance with the FCC:  I received a review copy from the author in exchange for my honest review.