I am really torn about this book. It was good but I found myself not liking the characters  but enjoying the atmosphere and setting. I found Max annoying with his constant flip flopping back and forth but after a few moments of thought, I realized I shouldn't be expecting a lot of logic from a 12 year old. The friends he makes are fun side characters and exactly the type of support he needed. I think the adults in the story are what bothered me the most. Those 10 years lost in a time slip really destroyed any type of good parenting Ramhart had. I don't think I would leave a child with him. When later in the story, Max mentions being grateful for what Ramhart taught him, I was confused because it didn't seem like he taught him much before shit hit the fan. As for our main characters father, his actions and words at the end were nice but late. They were absolutely something he should have said to his son in the beginning, instead of leaving his son to stew in his fear and feeling of inadequacy. Despite all that, I still have been trying to find out if there is going to be a sequel anytime soon.