Books For Keeps
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Articles
  • Past Issues
  • Latest Issue
  • Authors and Artists
  • Latest News
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
September 1, 2019/in Fiction 10-14 Middle/Secondary /by Ellie
BfK Rating:
BfK 238 September 2019
Reviewer: Stuart Dyer
ISBN: 978-0241351390
Price: £7.99
Publisher: Puffin
Genre: Fiction
Age Range: 10-14 Middle/Secondary
Length: 256pp
Buy the Book

Max Kowalski Didn't Mean It

Author: Susie Day

Max Kowalski’s story describes perfectly the experience of a young person who simply cannot catch a break. Despite always meaning well and having good intentions, his actions never seem to result in anything other than disaster. But Susie Day’s most recent family adventure is not a comedy of errors. It is an emotionally charged story about growing up and taking on family responsibility and many readers, old and young, will be spellbound by it. 
After the death of his mother, Max knows that he has to step up and help his dad look after his three younger sisters. His dad, Big Pete, is the family hero, arriving late in the evening with pizza for tea and mysteriously acquiring wads of cash for occasional spending sprees at the seaside. His loving but unconventional approach to parenting illustrates the difficulty with which he is adapting to single parenthood, and it’s no surprise when he disappears for a few days, leaving behind a suitcase full of dodgy cash and a few whispered instructions to Max to be the man of the house. Max and his sisters are initially excited about this novel adventure, but then Dad doesn’t come back. 
At school, Max’s choices often land him in lots of trouble. He finds it hard to avoid conflict and never finds time for his homework. With Dad gone, Max is the decision maker for the whole family, and his bad luck continues. His attempts to hold the fort, keeping his sisters fed and happy, while keeping his dad’s secrets safe, somehow result in him leading the three young girls to Wales, where an abandoned house, a freezing winter and a mystery dragon turn the story from a tense drama to a high-pace adventure. 
Each of the children in the family are strong characters in their own right and, though the story’s focus is clearly on Max, throughout, it is clear that his sisters are dealing with loss in their own individual ways, too, be it by accumulating as much stationary as possible, or by writing romantic fiction! Day understands the complex forms that grief takes, and even Big Pete’s neglect and abandonment are somewhat understandable, given the powerful emotions of loss that are so carefully and accurately drawn. 
In the end, it is the kindness and understanding of others – friends and strangers – that offer Max a way through his labyrinth of problems. When he finally begins talking to people and sharing his feelings, things start to slowly get better. 
Max Kowalski Didn’t Mean It is a stirring story about the impact of grief and loss, delivered through a narrative that has tension, excitement and humour. It is a great book to share and discuss with a family member, but its deeply personal themes also make it perfect for independent reading.

Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/bfklogo.png 0 0 Ellie http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/bfklogo.png Ellie2019-09-01 21:52:162021-03-16 21:54:33Max Kowalski Didn’t Mean It

Search for a specific review

Author Search

Search







Generic filters




Filter by Member Types


Book Author

Download BfK Issue Bfk 272 May 2025
Skip to an Issue:

About Us

Launched in 1980, we’ve reviewed hundreds of new children’s books each year and published articles on every aspect of writing for children.

Read More

Follow Us

Latest News

Margaret McDonald and her editors Alice Swan and Ama Badu win the 2025 Branford Boase Award

July 9, 2025

‘The magic of poetry by heart’ Champions of the 2025 National Poetry Speaking Competition Announced

July 8, 2025
IBC

New National Year of Reading launching January 2026

July 8, 2025

Contact Us

Books for Keeps,
30 Winton Avenue,
London,
N11 2AT

Telephone: 0780 789 3369

ISSN: 0143-909X (this is our International Standard Serial Number).

© Copyright 2025 - Books For Keeps | Proudly Built by Lemongrass Media - Web Design Buckinghamshire
The Bad Luck Lighthouse The Fowl Twins
Scroll to top