Publisher's Synopsis
Book Description: Back to school is exciting anytime, but somehow being in 5th grade has the twins believing they are some of the big kids now. Maya is becoming self-conscious and Max is also to a lesser extent. Mostly, he just wants the 5th grade boys to beat the 6th graders in soccer.A boy and his adopted sister with special needs are new to the 5th grade class. How will the students who have been together for years react to them? What will be the lessons learned for Maya and Max?Series Description: The Maya and Max series looks at life from the perspective of 10-year old twins Maya and Maxwell Miller. They are the only children of Marsha and Monty Miller. Maya was born first, two minutes ahead of Max. She never will let him forget it. Maya enjoys her self-proclaimed position of first child. She is in charge (Max would say, "bossy") and confident. Max is the funny one. They are both smart, resourceful, and inquisitive. The combination of such qualities make them a challenge to their parents and sometimes gets them into trouble.Maya and Max's best friends are next door neighbors Tyler and Samantha Peterson. Tyler is 11 and Sammie is 9. Tyler and the twins are in the 5th grade class at school. Sammie is in 4th grade, but she won't be left behind in any of the kids' adventures. Even though Tyler is the oldest, it is only by a few months. Maya is unquestionably the leader of the group. She has a soft spot in her heart for Sammie, who is not only the youngest but is also small for her age.Maya and Max are tweens - children quickly becoming youth. As tweens, they encounter life issues with friends and family and the world around them. They have been nurtured in the Christian faith, and attend a private Christian school. Neither of these shelters them from the realities of life. This series will find the twins meeting new kids much different than them, dealing with misunderstandings with friends, bullies at school, and challenges in growing up. This series is about life issues, the joys and sorrows common to most of us. How will these two likable, ordinary kids handle the situations and people they encounter? Will their faith influence their reactions?Each book in this series is comprised of five chapters. Books are readable by later elementary students as well as enjoyable as a read-a-loud for younger elementary students. Some junior high students will also relate to the themes and lessons in these books. Included in the back of each book are questions for reflection and discussion based on the themes presented. This encourages personal reflection and/or group discussion in a family or classroom setting making this a versatile read-a-loud or book club series.