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Max and the Midknights #1
Max and the Midknights
Max wants to be a knight! Too bad that dream is about as likely as finding a friendly dragon. But when Max's uncle Budrick is kidnapped by the cruel King Gastley, Max has to act...and fast! Joined by a band of brave adventurers--the Midknights--Max sets out on a thrilling quest: to save Uncle Budrick and restore the realm of Byjovia to its former high spirits!
279 pages, Hardcover
First published January 8, 2019
720 people are currently reading
1034 people want to read
About the author
Lincoln Peirce
257 books1,090 followersLincoln Peirce is a cartoon artist from Portland, Maine. He lives with his wife and two children, and occasionally gives lectures to students about cartoon creating. Peirce writes the comic strip "Big Nate". Peirce's comic strip, Big Nate, is featured as an island on the famous children's website, Poptropica. Big Nate appears as the first cartoon on The Maine Sunday Telegram in the comics section.
He studied art at Colby College in Maine were he began cartooning. He also studied at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture before teaching art and coaching basketball at a New York highschool for 3 years. He currently plays hockey with "an old men's league" and describes it as his best sport as a child. In an interview with the Washington Post, Peirce stated that his last name is pronounced "purse" and is not a misspelling of "pierce."
Lincoln Peirce was a member of the "Surviving as a Print Cartoonist" Panel at the Maine Comics Art Festival with fellow cartoonists Corey Pandolph (Barkeater Lake, Toby: Robot Satan, The Elderberries), Norm Feuri (Retail, Gill) and with Mike Lynch moderating. On the panel Lincoln revealed he is currently working with some animation and licensing projects including the addition of a Big Nate island to the online game Poptropica.
He studied art at Colby College in Maine were he began cartooning. He also studied at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture before teaching art and coaching basketball at a New York highschool for 3 years. He currently plays hockey with "an old men's league" and describes it as his best sport as a child. In an interview with the Washington Post, Peirce stated that his last name is pronounced "purse" and is not a misspelling of "pierce."
Lincoln Peirce was a member of the "Surviving as a Print Cartoonist" Panel at the Maine Comics Art Festival with fellow cartoonists Corey Pandolph (Barkeater Lake, Toby: Robot Satan, The Elderberries), Norm Feuri (Retail, Gill) and with Mike Lynch moderating. On the panel Lincoln revealed he is currently working with some animation and licensing projects including the addition of a Big Nate island to the online game Poptropica.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 353 reviews
March 21, 2023
Lincoln Peirce is quietly forming a little empire, starting with his Big Nate comic strip and branching out in all directions.
Max is apprentice to a troubadour despite wanting to be a knight. When they get to ByJovia, they find a city that used to be good, now ruled by an evil king.
There's a quest, and hero's journey, of course.
Funny, with something for adults as well as children.
Max is apprentice to a troubadour despite wanting to be a knight. When they get to ByJovia, they find a city that used to be good, now ruled by an evil king.
There's a quest, and hero's journey, of course.
Funny, with something for adults as well as children.
Read
April 11, 2020Review to come. Meanwhile...
I wasn't sure when I first started, but this turned out quite enjoyable and engaging. It wasn't too heavy-handed on trying to be funny, like some supposedly humorous middle grade books are, and it had elements of various well-known fantasy stories, for kids and grown-ups alike.
It's not an absolute favourite, but it's pretty damn good for the age group, and good for dyslexic or reluctant readers, what with the comic strips and illustrations throughout. Definitely want to keep reading on in this series.
I wasn't sure when I first started, but this turned out quite enjoyable and engaging. It wasn't too heavy-handed on trying to be funny, like some supposedly humorous middle grade books are, and it had elements of various well-known fantasy stories, for kids and grown-ups alike.
It's not an absolute favourite, but it's pretty damn good for the age group, and good for dyslexic or reluctant readers, what with the comic strips and illustrations throughout. Definitely want to keep reading on in this series.
April 16, 2019
Set in the Middle Ages, Max and his Uncle Budrick are wandering minstrels, barely surviving. It's a time when children follow their elders in their trade, but Max wants to be a knight. After being robbed, they make it to the town of Byjovia, where Budrick grew up, but things have changed. The kind King Conrad has been replaced by his nasty brother Ghastley, and the populace has followed suit. When Ghastley tries to arrest vagrant kids, Max steps in, resulting in Budrick being taken to the castle as a jester. Max then creates the Midknights and seeks to rescue his father, doing battle along the way with threatening forces. Good for younger audiences, with a message of much can be accomplished for those who are committed: there is a good surprise too. Lots of illustrations, but not really a graphic novel.
August 12, 2021
A book that makes learning about life during the middle ages fun! Young Max wants to become a knight. With help from her 3 new friends who nickname themselves the middle knights* and shorten it to Midknights, anything's possible. Young readers looking for something written in a style simalar to Diary of a Wimpy Kid will enjoy this.
*not actual knights, but more than make-believe knights
*not actual knights, but more than make-believe knights
April 15, 2022
9 out of 10
Max and the Midknights is set during medieval times and is a very humorous book.
Lincoln Peirce is the creator of Big Nate, which I dislike, but I was really surprised by this book.
This book uses the Big Nate art style and uses a combination of pictures and words to tell a really intense, elaborate, and entertaining story.
I love all the witty characters and the silly light-hearted nature of this book. This is definitely one of the best graphic novels I've read.
I highly recommend this
Max and the Midknights is set during medieval times and is a very humorous book.
Lincoln Peirce is the creator of Big Nate, which I dislike, but I was really surprised by this book.
This book uses the Big Nate art style and uses a combination of pictures and words to tell a really intense, elaborate, and entertaining story.
I love all the witty characters and the silly light-hearted nature of this book. This is definitely one of the best graphic novels I've read.
I highly recommend this
June 13, 2022
Deși nu am dat peste vorbe de duh sau fragmente care pot fi extrase și folosite ca replici în viață, lucru pe care eu îl caut în cărțile pentru orice vârstă, mi s-a părut scrisă bine, bine. Umor, chiar și puțin sarcasm nevinovat, personaje care își fac simțită prezența și transmit mesaje utile, momente care te fac să zâmbești când vezi interacțiunea dintre acestea și multe, multe pățanii haioase ori periculoase, dar fără scene explicite de violență.
Pe carte scrie că e pentru 9+ ani (mă încadrez, ce să zic!), dar eu aș spune că merge și la vârste mai mici! Nu e chiar alegerea potrivită pentru un adult care vrea să se relaxeze puțin sau să se simtă iar copil, fiind foarte puerilă, dar sunt convinsă că, dacă o citiți copiilor, o să chicotiți de câteva ori și nu o să vă plictisiți. Un vrăjitor zăpăcit, dragoni, un căluț care apare la momentul potrivit, vrăji diabolice,
o grămadă de peripeții, un băiat ținut ostatic și lecții despre prietenie, solidaritate și curaj (plus cam multă nesăbuință și impulsivitate). Chiar simpatică lectura! Recenzia aici: https://bit.ly/3OahbLH.
Pe carte scrie că e pentru 9+ ani (mă încadrez, ce să zic!), dar eu aș spune că merge și la vârste mai mici! Nu e chiar alegerea potrivită pentru un adult care vrea să se relaxeze puțin sau să se simtă iar copil, fiind foarte puerilă, dar sunt convinsă că, dacă o citiți copiilor, o să chicotiți de câteva ori și nu o să vă plictisiți. Un vrăjitor zăpăcit, dragoni, un căluț care apare la momentul potrivit, vrăji diabolice,
o grămadă de peripeții, un băiat ținut ostatic și lecții despre prietenie, solidaritate și curaj (plus cam multă nesăbuință și impulsivitate). Chiar simpatică lectura! Recenzia aici: https://bit.ly/3OahbLH.
December 31, 2018
I was lucky enough to get my hands on an ARC of this book and can't say enough about how fun this story is! My son (who is 6) absolutely loved it (especially the 'twist' revolving around Max's character early in the narrative) and there were enough comic asides (particularly from the uncle-turned-goose) to keep him amused throughout the chapters. We also loved the artwork—it was whimsical and charming and perfectly fit the fun tone of the book!
May 30, 2022
Max wants to be a knight! Too bad that dream is about as likely as finding a friendly dragon. But when Max's uncle Budrick is kidnapped by the cruel King Gastley, Max has to act...and fast! Joined by a band of brave adventurers--the Midknights--Max sets out on a thrilling quest: to save Uncle Budrick and restore the realm of Byjovia to its former high spirits
February 9, 2019
Max & the Midknights is a cute middle-grade novel that is part comic, part prose, and a ton of fun.
Max is an apprentice to their uncle, a traveling bard, but their heart yearns to be a knight. This is a story focused on breaking down barriers that were long built before the protagonists arrived, and about having the courage to stand up for what you think is right. On top of that, it’s also pretty hilarious at times, and the artwork is really engaging. The story is pretty quickly paced and makes it really easy to sink a lot of time into it all at once, and really throws a few curveballs in here and there to keep it interesting. Max is such a little force to be reckoned with but is also humble, pragmatic and kind. I really love the friendship built with the other Midknights, especially since they really help each other find their own way and encourage them to play to their strengths.
I really love the mixed medium that these types of books offer readers, especially since it makes larger chapter books more accessible and fun to those who otherwise might be hesitant to grab something this size. I know a few kids who read books like Big Nate and Dork Diaries and feel a confidence boost in their abilities because of the size of them, and they eventually felt comfortable digging into more text-heavy novels. I think Max and Midknights is perfect for that transitionary stage, but also for pretty much anyone ranging from young readers to adults.
I’m definitely recommending this one to those who have found a love of the comic/prose books out there, and to those who want a quick little heartfelt book that will make you smile.
I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Max is an apprentice to their uncle, a traveling bard, but their heart yearns to be a knight. This is a story focused on breaking down barriers that were long built before the protagonists arrived, and about having the courage to stand up for what you think is right. On top of that, it’s also pretty hilarious at times, and the artwork is really engaging. The story is pretty quickly paced and makes it really easy to sink a lot of time into it all at once, and really throws a few curveballs in here and there to keep it interesting. Max is such a little force to be reckoned with but is also humble, pragmatic and kind. I really love the friendship built with the other Midknights, especially since they really help each other find their own way and encourage them to play to their strengths.
I really love the mixed medium that these types of books offer readers, especially since it makes larger chapter books more accessible and fun to those who otherwise might be hesitant to grab something this size. I know a few kids who read books like Big Nate and Dork Diaries and feel a confidence boost in their abilities because of the size of them, and they eventually felt comfortable digging into more text-heavy novels. I think Max and Midknights is perfect for that transitionary stage, but also for pretty much anyone ranging from young readers to adults.
I’m definitely recommending this one to those who have found a love of the comic/prose books out there, and to those who want a quick little heartfelt book that will make you smile.
I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
March 27, 2021
A fun and entertaining adventure with some unexpected twists. Love the feminist agenda.
July 13, 2019
Interesting 🧐❤️
May 27, 2021
A delightful and fun book set in the Middle Ages with great characters.
I read this one in Dutch and that means that I will be, with the exception of Max (or Sam as she is called in my Dutch edition) and her uncle Budrick (Berend in Dutch), use the Dutch names. Max/Sam and her uncle are easily found in the blurb and the title, but the rest of the characters, nope. I could of course write the review in Dutch, but my mind automatically started writing a review in English, so I will go with that. Haha. Please keep that in mind before you comment I am using the wrong names.
It starts with Big Nate handing over a report to his teacher, I really loved that, that while this is another work by Lincoln Peirce that they are connected in a way. Then the story starts! And what a story it was. We meet Max and her uncle, see them getting robbed, see them travel to a city that didn’t bring all the best memories back to Budrick, and from there things really get fun and exciting!
They arrive at a wonderful city, or well, it was supposed to be wonderful but an evil guy is now ruling it. When Budrick gets kidnapped it is up to Max and her new friends to get rescuing and I loved seeing them make plans, figure out everyone’s positions, and more. I laughed a lot, as not everything goes right, as I was already hoping for. I mean, it just gets so boring if things go right all the time.
I had a big laugh at the fact that Max is a girl and then especially the reactions of people to that fact. I have to say she had me fooled as well! I hadn’t really read the blurb so it was a total surprise to me. The whole thing comes back a few times in the book, and I have to say after a while I got a bit tired of it. We get it. You are all surprised.
I loved the name of the city, it is called Idyllië (Idyllic in English) and well, with the right king it is indeed a pretty nice place to live!
I really loved the side characters. The three other kids who formed the Midknights (or, in Dutch: Shaduwridders (shadowknights)), Ellie, Alwin, and Simon. Ellie was definitely my favourite out of these three, I loved what she finds and how it makes her happy. No, I won’t tell you what, but I was delightfully surprised and I am sure she will be awesome at it, she has the talent for it. Alwin was a fun one and I love that he wants to be a writer. Then there is Simon, who wants to be a knight, just like Max. He was forgettable, sorry Simon.
I loved that the wizard was called Murmelijn, which just fitted perfect with his character, and I loved how much he did for everyone.
The evil villains also have brilliant names, Fendra and Brutus. Those are just perfect! They are very evil and will do anything to keep ruling Idyllië. Anything. For real. We find out later what they all did to take over the city and boy oh boy.
There are tons of twists and turns, and no I won’t spoil them, you will just have to read this delightful book yourself. I really loved the adventure, the journey, and how brave our group of kids was. There were tons of silly and funny moments that had me laughing. I loved seeing how they made friends, discovered the truth, and more. I never once was bored while reading this one, in fact, I was just sad when it was over. I just hope the Online Library gets the next one soon, or that the libraries open up again. Not sure which one is faster, haha.
Just like in Big Nate, this one also features a healthy dose of comics to get the story along/to tell the story. I really loved it!
The ending made me smile and it was a really good one! I am happy for all the characters!
All in all, highly recommend if you are into adventurous stories with magic and humour!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I read this one in Dutch and that means that I will be, with the exception of Max (or Sam as she is called in my Dutch edition) and her uncle Budrick (Berend in Dutch), use the Dutch names. Max/Sam and her uncle are easily found in the blurb and the title, but the rest of the characters, nope. I could of course write the review in Dutch, but my mind automatically started writing a review in English, so I will go with that. Haha. Please keep that in mind before you comment I am using the wrong names.
It starts with Big Nate handing over a report to his teacher, I really loved that, that while this is another work by Lincoln Peirce that they are connected in a way. Then the story starts! And what a story it was. We meet Max and her uncle, see them getting robbed, see them travel to a city that didn’t bring all the best memories back to Budrick, and from there things really get fun and exciting!
They arrive at a wonderful city, or well, it was supposed to be wonderful but an evil guy is now ruling it. When Budrick gets kidnapped it is up to Max and her new friends to get rescuing and I loved seeing them make plans, figure out everyone’s positions, and more. I laughed a lot, as not everything goes right, as I was already hoping for. I mean, it just gets so boring if things go right all the time.
I had a big laugh at the fact that Max is a girl and then especially the reactions of people to that fact. I have to say she had me fooled as well! I hadn’t really read the blurb so it was a total surprise to me. The whole thing comes back a few times in the book, and I have to say after a while I got a bit tired of it. We get it. You are all surprised.
I loved the name of the city, it is called Idyllië (Idyllic in English) and well, with the right king it is indeed a pretty nice place to live!
I really loved the side characters. The three other kids who formed the Midknights (or, in Dutch: Shaduwridders (shadowknights)), Ellie, Alwin, and Simon. Ellie was definitely my favourite out of these three, I loved what she finds and how it makes her happy. No, I won’t tell you what, but I was delightfully surprised and I am sure she will be awesome at it, she has the talent for it. Alwin was a fun one and I love that he wants to be a writer. Then there is Simon, who wants to be a knight, just like Max. He was forgettable, sorry Simon.
I loved that the wizard was called Murmelijn, which just fitted perfect with his character, and I loved how much he did for everyone.
The evil villains also have brilliant names, Fendra and Brutus. Those are just perfect! They are very evil and will do anything to keep ruling Idyllië. Anything. For real. We find out later what they all did to take over the city and boy oh boy.
There are tons of twists and turns, and no I won’t spoil them, you will just have to read this delightful book yourself. I really loved the adventure, the journey, and how brave our group of kids was. There were tons of silly and funny moments that had me laughing. I loved seeing how they made friends, discovered the truth, and more. I never once was bored while reading this one, in fact, I was just sad when it was over. I just hope the Online Library gets the next one soon, or that the libraries open up again. Not sure which one is faster, haha.
Just like in Big Nate, this one also features a healthy dose of comics to get the story along/to tell the story. I really loved it!
The ending made me smile and it was a really good one! I am happy for all the characters!
All in all, highly recommend if you are into adventurous stories with magic and humour!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
April 19, 2019
Max and the Midknights has an interesting format and is pretty fun, though the story logic is weak at times and the anachronistic setting tries to take itself too seriously to be funny.
Another thing was a little weird, too, and I'm putting it as a spoiler because it's supposed to be a surprise, even though most reviewers seem not to be covering it up:
Another thing was a little weird, too, and I'm putting it as a spoiler because it's supposed to be a surprise, even though most reviewers seem not to be covering it up:
October 21, 2018
LOL. This book isn't really aimed at someone my age. (Nor should I be using words like LOL.) But when I saw an advanced reader copy in a little free library, I was intrigued by the format. It is about half-way between a novel with illustrations and a graphic novel. I've never seen that done before, and I love novelty.
Every page contains both regular text as well as comic panels. Regular comics with giant "walls of text" are normally off-putting. But this hybrid format worked really well in this story.
Basic story: 4 kids go on an adventure to rescue Max's father from the nasty usurper king. The kids have to do it because the adults have been enchanted into actually liking the nasty leader, and his nastiness has even rubbed off on them. (Luckily it's just a made-up story that could never happen IRL!)
I've never read any of the author's "Big Nate" stories, but if they are as much fun as this one, I may have to change that!
The book is not scheduled for release until Jan 8, 2019 (three months from now.) The ARC copy has uncompleted art for the last three chapters, which was fun to see.
Trigger warning: a few big words. But there is a kid who looks like Ralph Wiggum, but who is actually smart because he reads books, to explain them. Big words will be good for you when you take your standardized tests. And aren't you curious what an "ostler" is anyway?
Every page contains both regular text as well as comic panels. Regular comics with giant "walls of text" are normally off-putting. But this hybrid format worked really well in this story.
Basic story: 4 kids go on an adventure to rescue Max's father from the nasty usurper king. The kids have to do it because the adults have been enchanted into actually liking the nasty leader, and his nastiness has even rubbed off on them. (Luckily it's just a made-up story that could never happen IRL!)
I've never read any of the author's "Big Nate" stories, but if they are as much fun as this one, I may have to change that!
The book is not scheduled for release until Jan 8, 2019 (three months from now.) The ARC copy has uncompleted art for the last three chapters, which was fun to see.
Trigger warning: a few big words. But there is a kid who looks like Ralph Wiggum, but who is actually smart because he reads books, to explain them. Big words will be good for you when you take your standardized tests. And aren't you curious what an "ostler" is anyway?
December 23, 2019
So, I'm giving this two stars not because it is a bad book. it just isn't a good book for me. I can see lots of children' that would enjoy it. And I can definitely pass it along to some eager readers.
May 14, 2022
Just finished this book with my 7 year old son-- a middle-school-level reader, but not quite ready for the content of most middle school books. This was THE PERFECT book for him. Adventure, friendship, and great humor sprinkled throughout. We've been looking for a new series for him, and I'm so glad we found Max and the Midknights.
June 16, 2019
Hilarious at first, then it got long. The target audience of elementary school readers will love this book!
November 8, 2021
A brand new saga from the author of Big Nate, sign me in!
Amazing work, we are off to a great start.
Amazing work, we are off to a great start.
April 20, 2024
bro this is literally my childhood absolutely PEAK fiction right here. you will never EVER catch Max and her friends flopping, fraud king gastley is cooking devious plots 😈, and theres adventure and dragons. WHAT MORE COULD YOU WANT 🗣️😵🔥💯🔊 the pacing and suspense is so good, its funny, the art is expressive, the characters are loveable. all around its excellent.
May 14, 2022
I read this for work research and I have to admit it was great. I enjoyed the punny humour and strong characters. The story was fun enough that I would read more in this series!
October 14, 2021
I gave this book 4 stars because I started this book a while ago but I wasn't liking it but recently I picked it up again and it was pretty good. The plot was a little crazy but the ending all tied together.
January 9, 2019
I really love Max and the Midknights! Part traditional prose, part graphic novel, and 100% laugh-out-loud fun, this wildly captivating and engaging book will have readers excitedly turning pages and snorting with every page. Lincoln Peirce crafts an epic tale full of adventure, clever twists, whimsical humor, and surprising heart. I cannot wait to Join Mak and the Midknights on their next adventure!
January 22, 2019
I thought this would be one of those middle grade titles that I read just enough of to be able to book talk... but I really liked this! The story was funny and interesting and irreverent and moved along at the perfect pace.
Read
May 29, 2021חמוד ומצחיק
October 31, 2020
I picked this off the shelf in Blackwells thinking my seven year old might enjoy it. Funnily enough it didn't immediately appeal to him but it did to me. Similar in form to Captain Underpants and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, it felt like Peirce was offering something a little more refined but with the same branch of tongue-in-cheek humour.
I am so glad I picked it up. I grinned and groaned at the humour throughout and enjoyed the enjoyable if not highly predictable story. Max, a young apprentice troubadour who absolutely does not want to be a young apprentice troubadour, and uncle Budrick (who absolutely does) find themselves at the city of Byjovia (I know, right!?). Once a well-ruled city, it has now fallen under the spell of an evil king, a sidekick witch and their vast army of bullies. Can Max take up the mantle of a hero and save the city before all is lost?
Presented in part comic strip and part short narrative, there is something sharp and well-crafted about Peirce's illustrations here. They're not chunky and rounded like Pilkey's nor faix-simple like Kinney's. Instead they often have depth and shadow and are well executed - like something you'd find in the Phoenix magazine.
Yet what I *especially* loved about this mock Middle-Ages romp was how Peirce uses the narrative as a way of challenging gendered norms and showing them for how stupid they really are. Max is, in fact, a girl who is consistently mistaken for a boy who wishes nothing more than to be a knight. She has strength of character, endless courage and fights for what's right. So why can't she be one?
Alongside her small band of friends (and a talking goose), the group set out to overthrow an evil king but end up, quite subtly, inviting a different challenge to their readership and I think they will see it as a welcome one.
I am so glad I picked it up. I grinned and groaned at the humour throughout and enjoyed the enjoyable if not highly predictable story. Max, a young apprentice troubadour who absolutely does not want to be a young apprentice troubadour, and uncle Budrick (who absolutely does) find themselves at the city of Byjovia (I know, right!?). Once a well-ruled city, it has now fallen under the spell of an evil king, a sidekick witch and their vast army of bullies. Can Max take up the mantle of a hero and save the city before all is lost?
Presented in part comic strip and part short narrative, there is something sharp and well-crafted about Peirce's illustrations here. They're not chunky and rounded like Pilkey's nor faix-simple like Kinney's. Instead they often have depth and shadow and are well executed - like something you'd find in the Phoenix magazine.
Yet what I *especially* loved about this mock Middle-Ages romp was how Peirce uses the narrative as a way of challenging gendered norms and showing them for how stupid they really are. Max is, in fact, a girl who is consistently mistaken for a boy who wishes nothing more than to be a knight. She has strength of character, endless courage and fights for what's right. So why can't she be one?
Alongside her small band of friends (and a talking goose), the group set out to overthrow an evil king but end up, quite subtly, inviting a different challenge to their readership and I think they will see it as a welcome one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2023
My fourth grader brought this home and asked me to read it. At first I was like, I’m in the middle of about five other books right now, I so don’t have time to read a kids’ book! But he asked so sweetly, and he even had already put two sticky note bookmarks in it - one with his name on it, one with mine. How could I say no after that? So I read it. I’m so glad I did!
This story was so cute, and not completely predictable like so many books written for this age group. I like the mixed format of comic style with prose in between frames.
My son tells me this is a series, and he will bring me home the next one. I’m looking forward to it!
This story was so cute, and not completely predictable like so many books written for this age group. I like the mixed format of comic style with prose in between frames.
My son tells me this is a series, and he will bring me home the next one. I’m looking forward to it!
January 27, 2021
I'm definitely not the right age group for this graphic novel, but I still enjoyed it. There were lots of laugh-out-loud moments and I liked the illustration style. There was also a twist I wasn't expecting just a few chapters. It wasn't something I was dying to pick up every day but again, I'm not the target audience, being a 30-something adult, yet I can see how middle-grade kids would eat this up. A fun, light read, and the twist I mentioned previously does give a little bit of weight to it. 3.5 stars.
September 17, 2022
Half comic book, half prose - encouraging reluctant readers to pick up bigger books and transition to chapter books. Kids will pick up a few facts about the Middle Ages, but really this is intended to be more humorous than educational. The author even states that it originated as a spoof of sword and sorcery tales, and later rewrote it to be about Max, an apprentice troubadour who really wants to be a knight. In fact, all of the kids that make up the Midknights, have dreams of being something other than what is their expected lot in life. I loved the way they all support each other in their adventures. There's a fun twist early on in the book, but I won't spoil it. As an adult reading this, it was just what I needed to dip into at the end of a long day - I purposely didn't read it all in one sitting, enjoying one "chapter" at a time.
Description: Max wants to be a knight! Too bad that dream is about as likely as finding a friendly dragon. But when Max's uncle Budrick is kidnapped by the cruel King Gastley, Max has to act...and fast! Joined by a band of brave adventurers--the Midknights--Max sets out on a thrilling quest: to save Uncle Budrick and restore the realm of Byjovia to its former high spirits! Magic and (mis)adventures abound in this hilarious illustrated novel from the New York Times bestselling creator of the Big Nate series, Lincoln Peirce.
Description: Max wants to be a knight! Too bad that dream is about as likely as finding a friendly dragon. But when Max's uncle Budrick is kidnapped by the cruel King Gastley, Max has to act...and fast! Joined by a band of brave adventurers--the Midknights--Max sets out on a thrilling quest: to save Uncle Budrick and restore the realm of Byjovia to its former high spirits! Magic and (mis)adventures abound in this hilarious illustrated novel from the New York Times bestselling creator of the Big Nate series, Lincoln Peirce.
February 21, 2020
Me gusta bastante que en estos libros de aventuras infantiles esté normalizada la voz de los niños, que ellos puedan decidir y opinar con libertad teniendoles completamente en cuenta y no como pasa en la realidad que normalmente no se les presta la atención debida.
No es lo que esperaba pero al ser un libro orientado al publico infantil me entretuvo bastante, al ser tan ligero de leer logro hacerme sentir que me daba un respiro de todo.
No es lo que esperaba pero al ser un libro orientado al publico infantil me entretuvo bastante, al ser tan ligero de leer logro hacerme sentir que me daba un respiro de todo.
January 15, 2019
Inventive hybrid by the author of Big Nate. Will appeal to grades 3+ to 6. Features Max, who is "surprisingly" a girl.
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