I was happy to see that Cynthia Voigt has written a new book. The first title in the series is “Mister Max: The Book of Lost Things.” Having really enjoyed the Tillerman Cycle, I hope that her newest effort will be as well received.
Adam Gopnik of “The New Yorker” wrote an insightful review in the NYT’s September 15, Book Review section. There is something very familiar in this book Gopnik writes, but this isn’t a bad thing. “In Voigt’s hands…none of these elements can fairly be called overfamiliar, much less cliched, since the tale is rooted in the specificities of a fully felt and realized world.” Hopefully, that point won’t be lost of a young readership.
Max lives in a late Victorian British seaside town. His parents are in the theater and hopelessly irresponsible. They are invited to perform before an Indian maharajah. When Max goes to the port to join them on their journey, he discovers that they have disappeared. Only a cryptic note has been left for him. Using his quiet ingenuity, he eventually solves the mystery.
Gopnik sees in this tale the appealing qualities of “those of us who love the classic possibilities and styles of children’s literature. Big here is the big question. Will an eleven-year-old read it? “Is this a “grown-up’s idea of a children’s book?”
From the description of the plot and characters, “The Book of Lost Things” appears to be a book for children that mostly grown-ups would read and enjoy. There are so many books that fall in this category. Clever prose, non-contemporary settings and historical references often appeal to adults but don’t connect with younger audiences. Maybe this newest Voigt will be the exception.