Max and the Millions

Product Information

As this brief summary indicates, this is a totally off-the-wall story and is characteristic of the vivid imagination that we've come to associate with Ross Montgomery. The world building is superb, particularly when we first meet the miniature civilisation shimmering beneath the bulb light. Adults may notice a few inconsistencies. For example, at one point Luke is described as a tiny boy, no bigger than a raison and yet he can ride around on a flee. Similarly, I couldn't help wonder how the Floor Tribes acquired such a comprehensive knowledge of traditional English terminology. How do the Red Tribe know they live under the bed and how do the Green Tribe know what a bin or a banana is? This is, however, a petty point that is probably necessary for understanding the story and I'm confident child readers won't notice or care. Instead, they are likely to be swept away by the story.

Marvellously funny and original . . . it’s the tiny details that make the story work.’ Financial Times In my opinions, this book would be highly effective as a discussion starter in PSHE, when looking at relationships and differences between each and every pupil. There on the floor he finds a pile of sand . . . and in the sand is Mr Darrow's latest creation . . . a tiny boy, no bigger than a raisin, Luke, Prince of the Blues. And behind the tiny boy . . . millions of others - a thriving, bustling, sprawling civilization! The plot is delightfully daft and complemented by many subtle social comments about inequality, the abuse of power and the futility of war.Alongside the adventure, and with a light hand, Montgomery successfully touches on challenges such as coping with buzzing hearing aids, lazy assumptions about deafness, and people’s inept attempts to communicate better by shouting.

Bestselling author Alexandra Christo, author of TikTok sensation To Kill a Kingdom, introduces her new book, The Night Hunt (Hot Key Books), a dark... Additionally, the creative writing ideas this book could spur would be highly inclusive- for example, those pupils excited by the violent threats and tabulations between the three camps could take this element of the story further and story map/ write an alternative section focusing on these miniature groups. The more sensitive of pupils in the class could take on Max’s story for friendship and his difficulties communicating, perhaps how Sasha and his friendship develops in the next academic term. Seeing how the ‘floor people’ inhabit the room and survive in it is highly creative, from the models and bins being used as homes and flies being used as war machines. The mythology that is developed in this world, such as the book of the floor, to the janitors clothes being seen like holy temple is also very engaging and adds depth to this world. This book shifts between many perspectives; from Max, to Max’s new friend Sasha, to Sasha’s sister, to Ben the King of the Blues. It is handled seemlessly, with different fonts and characterisation throughout which makes this book easy to follow.

Age range(s)

Who hasn't wished they had a world of tiny people in their bedroom? I know I used to imagine my toys came to life, that my Duplo characters moved around at night, wished I could talk to the Tooth Fairy - the size difference, the power difference fascinated me. A delightful whiff of Monty Python . . . Ross Montgomery's writing is often pure Douglas Adams.' SFX