This one starts off with a Big Bang as Max the beloved dog is chasing a cat and finds himself the victim of car tires. BUT, never fear Max is just dead and not gone. Oh yeah he doesn’t have legs and is kinda like a genie or maybe even Jimminy Cricket. (Yes, I realize Jimminy has legs.)
But alas, this is not a tale of woe. Even though Max is no longer with us in the flesh, his buoyant, joyous self still has a great presence.

Derrick Hollis is a white , basically shy, glasses wearing seventh grader. He loves Art and spending time with his dog, Max. As an introvert Derrick tries to avoid problems at school and his implied alcoholic mother by losing himself in his drawings with Max by his side. After Max is killed by a car, Derrick is understandably heartbroken, but wait here is when supernatural fun begins.

With Max by his side or maybe now he’s more like beside his ear, and unbeknownst to everyone else, Derrick finds the courage to stand up against bullies, show his art, and ask his crush to the dance.

There’s much slapstick humor depicted in text and drawings. This series opener is told in short, fast-paced chapters composed of very busy, full-color panels interspersed with Derrick’s own comics.

Younger readers may not get all the humor but most will find this book hilarious and yearn for more. ( )