Jordan and Max, Showtime

Jordan and Max #1

by Suzanne Sutherland, Michelle Simpson (Illustrations)

Jordan had a tough time with the other kids at his old school. So, on his first day at Massey Elementary, he has a to be absolutely invisible. His new classmates don't need to know that his grandmother is his best friend or that they put on shows together dressing up in elaborate costumes each night in their apartment. When he's forced to pair up with Max, a loud-mouthed loner with a love for Hawaiian shirts, Jordan's cover of invisibility threatens to be blown completely. But with the help of his partner's unique artistic vision, Jordan begins to see that his sparkling secret deserves to be revealed. This partially illustrated early chapter book is a gentle exploration of friendship, gender performance and identity.

96 pages, Paperback

Published September 14, 2021

About the author

Suzanne Sutherland (she/her) is the author of a number of books for young people, including the Jordan and Max series. Jordan and Max, Field Trip! was named a Children's Book Council Librarian Favorite and a CCBC Best Book for Kids & Teens. She lives in Toronto with her family.

Reviews

[Ham · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the plot was nothing to rave about, the story was quietly moving. As a man who loved tutus as a child and now has a son with the same proclivities, I think this is an important book. We need more literature that erases the stigma of gender non-conforming kids/adults.

[Jennybeast · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the one hand, huge points for inclusivity and realism -- Jordan's inner life feels very authentic and relatable, and his interactions with Max avoid the over-the-top drama so common in books for young readers. I even kind of like that the end of the book is a bit of a let-down -- they are kids, they aren't actually awesome at performing in public, their classmates aren't sure what to make of it -- but it also feels abrupt. The ending, which is basically saying it doesn't matter what happens next because Jordan and Max have each other, is unsatisfying. It's kind of stressful, actually, as a former kid who experienced many of the myriad ways that classmates can harm you for being different, the uncertainty about what the next day at school holds for them leaves me feeling distinctly uneasy, especially given the neutral-to-hostile reaction from their teacher. On the other hand, I read for character and I had a hard time getting invested in these characters -- I'm not entirely sure why.

[Kay S. · Rating 2 out of 5]

As much as I'm in favour of early chap books exploring inclusivity in subtle (and not so subtle) ways.... I don't think this book does a good job of it. I appreciate the message of finding power and confidence in being different but I don't think it was as in your face as early chap books need to be. I would've liked to see some character development and a definite win for the kiddos rather than the actually disappointing ending.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the messages of acceptance, forgiveness, and how saying “I’m sorry” goes a long way.