Most TV tie-in books are lazy cash grabs that read like bad fanfiction. Runaway Max is the exception. It’s a legitimately well-written YA novel that tackles the heavy reality of domestic instability and the desperation of wanting to belong somewhere.
If your kid is a Stranger Things completionist, this is a no-brainer. It fills in the gaps of the California years and makes the events of Season 2 hit way harder. It’s less about monsters in the Upside Down and more about the monsters in the living room, which makes it a surprisingly grounded and impactful read.
