Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

In this exciting first book in the Max Tilt series, two teens race across the world to solve a treasure hunt created by legendary author Jules Verne. With 13-year-old Max Tilt-s parents away, his 18-year-old cousin, Alexandra, is left in charge. While exploring the attic, they discover a chest once owned by Verne, from whom the cousins are descended. Inside, they find the first set of clues leading to a long-lost manuscript, which purports that Verne-s stories were based in reality. But they also attract the attention of ruthless businessman Spencer Niemand, who wants whatever treasure Verne left behind. Forced to work with Niemand, Max and Alex join him aboard his own fantastical submarine for a globe-spanning, death-defying adventure. Clever puzzles will grab readers- attention, and biracial Max (who is Dominican on his father-s side) isn-t your average hero: he-s on the autism spectrum and has synesthesia, which manifests as emotions having scents, such as smelling fish when he-s scared. The fast pace and nifty concepts carry Lerangis-s story, and the ending neatly sets up future installments. Ages 8-12. (Oct.)

Kirkus Reviews

Two young descendants of Jules Verne must stay one step ahead of a villain attempting to steal their ancestor's treasure. When his parents must go to the Mayo Clinic for medical tests on his mom, 13-year-old, "on the spectrum" Max Tilt is left in the care of his cousin Alex, who is taking a break from college to write a novel. But Max's parents leave behind a mountain of unpaid bills, including an eviction notice. The cousins decide to sell off some of the junk in the attic to raise money, but one piece, Verne's wooden chest, attracts the attention of Fix, a nefarious criminal determined to follow Verne's clues and secure the prize. And while the cousins look nothing alike (Max's father is Dominican while his mother is white, and Alex's mother is African-American while his father is white), they think alike, agreeing to enter into a dangerous partnership with Fix. They may have brains and creativity, but he has gadgets, manpower, and money. Max's inability to comprehend sarcasm and mild synesthesia (fear makes him smell fish) combine with Alex's rebelliousness and creativity to make them a unique and compelling duo. The fast-moving plot is filled with puzzles, riddles, and trivia. Max's tendency to take everything literally creates plenty of humorous misunderstandings; while the tightly focused third-person narration makes Max a three-dimensional character, this quirk may unfortunately have readers laughing at him rather than with him. A new series for sci-fi enthusiasts and adventure seekers. (Adventure. 9-12)

ALA Booklist (Fri Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

When Max's mom gets sick, his parents leave him in the charge of his older cousin, Alex. The two quickly realize that their situation is pretty dire and they need to get some money fast. The pair stumbles across an old chest hiding an unfinished, unpublished manuscript from Max's great-great-great-grandfather Jules Verne. Verne describes the same path he took in his famous novel Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea and promises a great treasure awaits. Max and Alex decide to undertake this incredible journey and come across giant squid, an underwater city, and a descendant of Captain Nemo, trying to take the treasure for himself. Max is an engaging hero who is on the spectrum, and he has the unique ability to sense different emotions based on the smells they trigger. With an action-filled plot that moves at a breakneck pace and each chapter ending on a cliff-hanger, this series starter may have young readers reaching for the Verne classic that inspired this adventure, while waiting for more from Max and Alex.

School Library Journal (Tue Feb 28 00:00:00 CST 2023)

Gr 4-6With his mother in the hospital, his father unemployed, the mortgage overdue, and utilities shut off, 13-year-old Max Tilt needs help, but he never expects that his salvation might come from his great-great-great-grandfather Jules Verne. Searching for garage sale items, he and his cousin Alex Verne find a strange chest in the attic; the clues inside it lead them to the unpublished chapters of Verne's memoir, The Lost Treasures, and to the path that Verne followed in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. But Alex and Max are not alone in their quest for the lost treasureevil tycoon Spencer Niemand has made it his life's goal to claim it and build an underwater civilization, his own refuge for a dying planet. Together this unlikely team venture to a lost underwater city, cross treacherous frozen mountains, battle giant squid, navigate vicious whirlpools, and brave deadly cold on a quest that may follow the passage of the real, not fictional, Nautilus. Lerangis brings Jules Verne to life for a new generation, and instantly pulls readers in with enticing clues, fast-paced action, and intriguing characters. Max is a likeable hero; he is clever, brave, and ready to risk it all for his family. He has been labeled as "on the spectrum;" his emotions trigger associative smells, he loves facts, and sometimes has trouble relating to people. VERDICT Readers will be hooked by the high-octane adventure and charmed by the well-developed characters. Fans of Percy Jackson and Harry Potter will eagerly await Max Tilt's next adventure.MaryAnn Karre, Vestal, NY