Allen & Unwin Max and the Millions book English Paperback 272 pages

From Costa-shortlisted superstar, a highly anticipated standalone adventure about what happens when you find a tiny, living, breathing civilization on the floor of your school dorm room.

Max is used to spending time alone - it's difficult to make friends in a big, chaotic school when you're hard of hearing. He prefers to give his attention to the little things in life... like making awesome, detailed replica models.Then Mr Darrow, the school caretaker and fellow modeller, goes missing. Max must follow his parting instruction: 'Go to my room. You'll know what to do.'There on the floor he finds a pile of sand ... and in the sand is Mr Darrow's latest creation... a tiny boy, no bigger than a raisin, Luke, Prince of the Blues. And behind the tiny boy... millions of others - a thriving, bustling, sprawling civilization!

Ross Montgomery is a former primary school teacher and now full time writer. Author of Alex, the Dog and the Unopenable Door, The Tornado Chasers and Perijee & Me, Ross has been shortlisted for the Costa Book Award and nominated for the Branford Boase Award. His picture book The Building Boy with David Litchfield was published to critical acclaim and sold around the world. Max and the Millions is his fourth middle-grade novel. Ross lives in Brixton, London.