In this early chapter book sequel to Jordan and Max, Showtime, friends Jordan and Max are looking forward to their class field trip to a museum in the big city. Max is happy to be away from the watchful eyes of his older sisters, and doesn’t like than another classmate’s dad has been assigned as a chaperone. Jordan is hoping to follow the urging of his grandmother (whom he lives with) to “learn something unusual.”
At the museum, Jordan is distracted by an exhibit on the history of fashion and Max by one on bats, and they become separated from their group. Max is excited about the idea of an independent adventure. Jordan … not so much. Max’s enthusiasm is infectious, though, and they soon are dining from food trucks and dancing with street musicians. They even stop in a clothing store, where Jordan tries on a dress that looks like one from the museum exhibit. They also encounter a homeless woman, who is commendably shown as neither an object of pity nor scorn.
Finally, after Max helps Jordan breathe through an anxiety attack, they encounter a community Solstice parade of creativity and fun, where “Jordan had never felt this free, had never felt this radically untethered.” They are serendipitously reunited with their parent-chaperone (who happens to mention that he has a husband), and reunited with their families.
The themes of friendship and inclusion are lightly handled but elevate the story over many other less substantial early chapter books. I can’t wait to see what Jordan and Max get up to next!
Jordan and his grandmother are White; Max reads as a medium-skinned person of color.
