About the Holiday
The beginning of a new school year is a terrific time to celebrate Read a New Book Month! Whether your child’s reading tastes have broadened, their reading level has changed, or they’ve discovered new and fascinating topics to explore over the summer months, there are new books just waiting for them! Whether the books are recently published—like today’s book—or just new to your child, there are countless fictional stories and nonfiction books ready to inspire, thrill, and entertain your young reader. This month visit your local bookstore and library and stock up on books for your kids and everyone in the family!
Thank you to Scholastic for sending me this book for review!
Tiger Terror (Max Beast #2)
By Maddy Mara
Ever since Max’s parents left everything behind to embrace van life, Max has already gained a new perspective—literally! On his family’s last stop to explore a sunken yacht, Max tangled with another kid named Hector. He ended up with Hector’s magic amulet that gave him the power to turn into a great white shark and stop a group of criminals. Now, while taking a hike on a mountain path that passes a native animal sanctuary as well as billionaire Benson Leech’s ranch—where it’s reported he keeps illegal animals—Max spies Hector among the group. He knows that he needs to protect the amulet from Hector’s nefarious plans and heads off on his own.
The path Max takes leads him directly to a cave where he’s jumped by a tiger. As he’s trying to protect himself, Max feels the amulet “sinking into his skin” while the “amulet’s infinity symbol glowed out of his chest.” In moments, Max had transformed into a tiger! He was still becoming comfortable in his new stripy skin and wondering how he could protect his parents and the other hikers from the rogue tiger when a pack of wolves surrounded him. After a nip in the leg, Max chases the wolves away then finds the dead elk they had hunted.
When Max decides to take the elk to the tiger as a peace offering, he discovers that the tiger has two cubs to feed. Hungry himself, Max bounds away, soon discovering Benson Leech’s ranch and overhearing his plans to sell the tiger Lena’s, two cubs—even if it means shooting Lena to recapture them. Max is just formulating a plan to tell Lena when Hector appears, having followed him all along.
Only interested in making money, Hector betrays Max and Lena, and the four tigers are caged, awaiting the buyer who’s expected in only 30 minutes. Will Max be able to free them and escape to safety? Will Lena understand and trust him? And what about Hector—what choice will Max make when his adversary needs help? The surprise twists and heart-pounding action will keep readers flipping the pages until the compelling ending.
Thrills, peril, and life-altering decisions lurk around every corner in Maddy Mara’s second Max Beast book. Tiger Terror is an exhilarating page-turner that grabs both eager and reluctant readers and holds them enthralled with the combination of a likable protagonist, a compelling adventure, and relatable humor. Max is a quick-thinking, conscientious character that young readers will identify with and cheer on through every obstacle and encounter with Hector. The story is also punctuated with riveting black-and-white illustrations by Khadijah Khatib that place readers in the midst of the action at key moments.
An electrifying follow up to Sharknado Warning (Max Beast #1), Tiger Terror promises to be a favorite addition to home and library collections. Watch for Raptor Alert (Max Beast #3) coming in February.
Ages 7 – 10
Scholastic, 2026 | ISBN 979-8225002787
About the Authors
Maddy Mara is the pen name of Australian creative duo Hilary Rogers and Meredith Badger. Hilary is a writer and former publisher; Meredith is a writer and teaches English as a second language. Together they have written or created many bestselling series for kids, including Dragon Girls, Dragon Games, and Forever Fairies. Dragon Girls has over 1.5 million copies in print and is available in multiple countries and languages. They live on the lands of the Wurundjeri and Bunurong people in Melbourne, Australia. Visit them at maddymara.com.
Read a New Book Month Activity
Books to Love, Books to Read Book Bag
True book lovers can’t go anywhere without a book (or two or three) to read along the way. With this easy craft you can turn a cloth bag into a kid-size book bag perfect for carrying those new books you get this month!
Supplies
- Printable Templates: Books to Read Template | Books to Love Template
- Small cloth bag, available from craft or sewing stores—Recyclable Idea: I used the bag that sheet sets come in.
- Cloth trim or strong ribbon, available from craft or sewing stores—Recyclable Idea: I used the cloth handles from upcycled grocery hopping bags.
- Scraps of different colored and patterned cloth. Or use quilting squares, available at craft and sewing stores
- Pen or pencil for tracing letters onto cloth
- Scissors
- Fabric glue
- Thread (optional)
- Needle (optional)
Directions
- Print the sayings and cut out the letters
- Trace letters onto different kinds of cloth
- Cut out cloth letters
- Iron cloth bag if necessary
- Attach words “Books to Read” to one side of bag with fabric glue
- Attach words “Books to Love” to other side of bag with fabric glue
- Cut cloth trim or ribbon to desired length to create handles
- Glue (or sew) handles onto the inside edge of bag
You can purchase Tiger Terror (Max Beast #2) from these booksellers
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop
Picture Book Review
