Max the Hero

Deborah Dowson is a children’s librarian in Pickering, Ontario.

Max the Hero is the English translation of Sylvain Trudel’s first
novel, Le garзon qui rкvait d’кtre un héros, the touching story of
a sensitive young boy whose family is going through difficult times.
Although his parents try to pretend that nothing is wrong, they are sad
and angry, and it is evident that the family is running out of food.
When Max discovers that his father is out of work, he experiences
feelings of humiliation and helplessness. If only he had the powers of
his favorite superhero—then he could protect his family from the
monster of poverty!

This story’s Christmastime setting lends further poignancy to its
already touching theme. The vocabulary is simple, and the illustrations
are warm and rich. The first few chapters would have benefited from
stronger editing. Nevertheless, the novel succeeds as a moving reminder
that poverty can happen to anyone. Recommended.