I really liked this mystery/adventure. It will have broad appeal among our graphic novel readers, and specifically I think fans of the Rust series might enjoy it, as well as fans of Mighty Jack. ( )

Muddy Max: The Mystery of Marsh Creek by Elizabeth Rusch is a graphic novel about a boy who just wants a chance to get dirty. His parents, though, have a very firm no mud rule. Unfortunately for all of them, they live in a town with frequent rain and near persistent mud.

Tired of being teased by his friends for having to stay completely mud free, Max takes the offer of a bike ride from a friend. He ends up completely covered in mud. It's like the mud just jumps right onto him. But nothing bad seems to happen, save for a small rash.

Convinced now that there's something up with his parents' fear of mud, Max begins two investigations: one into his parents' past, and the other into the mud of the nearby marsh. In the process he discovers some long buried secrets of his family, some abilities he didn't know he had, and a way to bring his family closer together.

Muddy Max is a healthy blend of genres: mystery, superhero, and, horror. It's currently a standalone story, but there's enough wiggle room at the end to spawn a series. I would certainly read more of Muddy Max's adventures if I were given the chance. ( )

The first in a series about a boy who becomes stronger and even invisible when he is covered in mud. His parents never told him about this side effect on him and Max discovers it with the help of his friend.
Follow Muddy Max and his friends as they dig through the dirt to solve the mystery of Marsh Creek. ( )

√ Good, Dirty Fun!

This is a wonderful, delightful book for kids about having a lot of fun with MUD. The story is funny, and I really loved the color artwork. We know we are in for a strange day when a "mud creature" taps on our window and beckons Max out. (At least, I think it's a mud creature.) Max's parents have a right to be concerned, and Max thinks they deploy a "Mud-o-Meter" to warn them when Max is close to mud. They warn Max about "not one speck of mud," and admonish him to even "avoid muddy lawns."

Well, in Part 1, "The Problem with Mud," you can guess what happens next, as Max and his friend do some investigating. But hey, just have your friend hose you down with the garden house, and your parents will be nary the wiser! New mud adventures are in story in Part 2, "The Marvels of Mud," and Part 3, "Stuck in the Mud." Fun graphics all around; it just seems like mud seems to be attracted to Max--even all over his head. When Max contracts a strange measles-like rash, he heads to the library for some internet research. That's where he and his buddy discover all the living organisms in the mud. My favorite was the note about "Animal Carcasses" and "Dung" in the mud. At that point, Max realizes what he's been doing, "Aagh... I had DUNG in my mouth?"

Well, you get the picture. Lots of fun messy adventures for Max and his friend. After Part 3 ends, with lots of mud on everyone, the fun really beings, starting with the section, "What's in the Mud?" It turns out, that the mud REALLY DOES have all those "interesting" things in, including earthworm poop! Wow, just what I was hoping for! There's also a variety of different insects, plus the added bonus of SLIME MOLDS--in a variety of flavors! Yea!

Seriously, these latter sections really are excellent, even if they do have slime molds. Besides the contents of the mud, we see,
Soil Close Up
Made Some Mud
Breathing and Creatures
About Antoni Gaudi
Make Your Own Mud House
Ancient and Modern Mud Houses
Mud Bricks
Get the Mud Out!
Age Your Face (your mom will love this one)

Reading Suggestion: On my Kindle, I lose the color, which would be a crying shame with these great graphics, so I recommend reading on a color tablet, or of course, a hard copy.

√ A lot of fun! The author, Elizabeth Rusch, and illustrator, Mike Lawrence, have really done a superb job in MUDDY MAX. This is one FUN book! I'm going to start building those mud bricks as soon as I got off work. Highly Recommend!
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