{"id":36802,"date":"2022-08-01T21:14:23","date_gmt":"2022-08-02T01:14:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=36802"},"modified":"2022-08-01T21:15:06","modified_gmt":"2022-08-02T01:15:06","slug":"review-of-maximillian-fly-by-angie-sage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=36802","title":{"rendered":"Review of Maximillian Fly, by Angie Sage"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Maximillian Fly<\/em><\/p>\n

by Angie Sage<\/p>\n

Katherine Tegen Books (HarperCollins), 2019. 370 pages.
\nStarred Review
\nReview written October 15, 2019, from a library book<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a dystopian children\u2019s novel where the main character is a human who has the body of a giant cockroach.<\/p>\n

I like the way Maximillian introduces himself:<\/p>\n

I am Fly. Maximillian Fly. I am a good creature. I am not bad, as some will tell you.<\/p>\n

But I see you do not believe me. You do not like my carapace and my broad, flat head, and I can tell that even my beautiful indigo iridescent wings do not persuade you of my goodness. I know that humans like you call me Roach \u2013 even though I am human too. Indeed I was once a squashy Wingless baby, just as you were. But I know very well that if I were small enough you would stamp on me without a moment\u2019s thought. Ha! But luckily for me I am much bigger than you and, I have been told, rather terrifying. So we will have no more thoughts of the trampling and crushing of carapaces. They set my mandibles on edge.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As the story begins, Maximillian sees two children from the notorious SilverShip, \u201cwhich every year takes a group of young ones away from Hope, never to return,\u201d running away from three Enforcers. The smallest of the children has a hurt foot, and Maximillian does not think they will escape. So he decides to help \u2013 to prove he is a good creature.<\/p>\n

But helping Kaitlin Drew and her brother Jonno starts a long chain of events that puts Maximillian in trouble, too. We learn about unpleasant aspects of the city of Hope, where they are \u201cprotected\u201d by a giant electric orb from the \u201cContagion\u201d on the \u201cOutside.\u201d Periodically, children get sent away on a SilverShip. They\u2019re told it\u2019s to a wonderful island paradise, on the Outside but safe from the Contagion. However, the children who leave never return.<\/p>\n

Trying to save some children puts Maximillian on the wrong side of the Enforcers. Next thing he know, his home is being fumigated. On top of that, one of the children has something very important, which the Chief Guardian doesn\u2019t want to lose.<\/p>\n

Now, there are some major coincidences in this book, and some of the details of the world-building seemed like a stretch for me.<\/p>\n

But who knew that I could ever come to care about a giant cockroach and fondly hope for his best interests? Even if that were the only fun thing about it (it\u2019s not), this book would be worth the read.<\/p>\n

A fast-moving story about a Good Creature trying to help.<\/p>\n

angiesage.com<\/a>
\nharpercollinschildrens.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

This review is only on the blog.<\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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