Stranger Things - Who Is Runaway Max?
Part of the appeal for Stranger Things season 2 for me was the introduction of Max “Mad Max” Mayfield (Sadie Sink) a tough redhead tomboy from California that loves to skateboard and rules at arcade games. On the show you see Max try and blend in with a new group of friends, longing for a circle to belong to. Being the new girl in a series that already built solid character backstories - we didn’t get to learn much about her. She eventually falls for Lucas Sinclair (Caleb McLaughlin) - an adorable love story for the two characters.
While watching the show I grew more interested in Max’s character. “Why did she move to Hawkins from California?” “Why did she seem so angry all the time?”
I was gifted the book Runaway Max written by Brenna Yovanoff in hopes of answering my questions. It gives fans a closer look at Max, her home life, and her disturbing relationship with asshole step-brother Billy (Dacre Montgomery). The book gives you all the missing details about what Max’s life is like and takes you behind the scenes of her thoughts while interacting with Mike (Finn Wolfhard).
The pages start off with Max in San Diego, hating her new life with her horrible new step-father and step-brother Billy. She wants to escape and visit her father who currently lives in LA, so she decides to run away.
Throughout the book you get detailed glimpses of her old life, her hatred for Hawkins, and her desperate desire to be included. Billy, who you already know is a borderline sociopathic douchebag from seeing him on the show, is SO much worse in the book. We learn that he is insanely physically and emotionally abusive more-so than he is on screen!
I haven't hated a character this much since ol’ Professor Umbrige in Harry potter *gag*. I don’t want to give Max’s entire life story away. But if you love Stranger Things as much as I do, consider picking up this book and let me know what you think! I’ll sink my teeth into anything and everything Stranger Things.