Runaway Max – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Runaway Max

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2019

78%

WISE Score

The gritty, skateboard-heavy backstory of Max Mayfield, proving she was a total badass long before she ever heard of a Demogorgon.

Runaway Max

book

2019

78%

WISE Score

The gritty, skateboard-heavy backstory of Max Mayfield, proving she was a total badass long before she ever heard of a Demogorgon.

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Screenwise Verdict

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.

Age Fit

Best for 11 to 14-year-olds. If they're old enough to handle the horror and mature themes of the Stranger Things show, they're more than ready for the emotional weight of this book.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

It deals with heavy themes like domestic abuse and a broken home. It's emotionally honest rather than 'sunny,' but it models resilience and the search for a real family.

Imaginative

While it's a tie-in novel using an existing sandbox, it does a great job of building out the 1980s San Diego setting and Max’s internal world.

Safe

It's a book, so there are no jump scares or visual gore. The primary 'danger' is the realistic depiction of a toxic, abusive stepfather, which is handled with YA appropriate weight.

Enriching

It offers significant character depth, exploring how trauma shapes personality. It's a great empathy builder for kids who might see themselves or their peers in Max's guardedness.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Deepens the character of Max, turning her from the 'new girl' in Season 2 into a fully realized protagonist with her own history.
Legit YA pedigree thanks to author Brenna Yovanoff, who brings actual literary weight instead of the usual ghostwritten tie-in fluff.
Explains the Billy dynamic in a way the show only had time to hint at, making their relationship much more understandable (if still terrifying).
Perfect bridge for the kid who loves the show but hasn't picked up a physical book for fun in six months.

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What to Watch For

The depiction of Neil Hargrove (Billy's dad) is genuinely upsetting; he is a violent, controlling abuser, and the book doesn't sugarcoat the fear Max feels at home.
Max's internal monologue is cynical and guarded, which fits her character but might feel a bit bleak for younger readers who aren't used to 'edgy' YA.

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think Max hides her feelings behind being 'tough' and playing video games?"
"Does knowing what Billy went through at home change how you feel about him in the show?"
"If you had to move across the country and leave your whole life behind, what's the one thing you'd miss most?"
"How does Max's idea of 'family' change from the beginning of the book to the end?"

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