Yes, I want the Gift Bundle!
A subscription includes 24 beautiful chapter letters mailed across 12 months' time. Each letter includes 2-3 physical pages, covered front-and-back in colorful story content. An introductory card with a small note to the reader is also included in each, along with added extras tucked in along the way.
No. Every story is a complete adventure on its own. You can begin with Rhena’s Path or The Adventure Begins, or choose Folktales of Gaspaar as a lighter entry point for younger readers — or simply as “more” stories for eager fans. The only exception is The Clouds of Izmah, which should follow after either Rhena’s Path or The Adventure Begins.
The basic plot of the story is this:
A royal decree. A mysterious quest. The King sends his three sons to seek the greatest treasure in the land, declaring that the one who succeeds will be Crown Prince. Max, the youngest, follows his heart even when it defies the logic of the quest, forging friendships and facing dangers that bring him at last to a perilous reckoning—a test that will decide more than a crown. Rooted in courage, loyalty, and the struggle between truth and deception, The Adventure Begins is a timeless tale of daring choices and the cost of keeping one’s word. This is an award-winning tale filled with peril, wonder, and an ending that will linger long after the final page is turned.
Looking for another story? Find more stories here.
We have three "starting" stories to choose from.
Our youngest story collection Folktales of Gaspaar (gold letter story) was written as an option for our youngest readers after receiving so many requests for younger siblings watching their older brother or sister enjoy The Max Letters adventure stories. It is generally recommended for ages 6+.
Our two adventure stories, The Adventure Begins (red letter story) and Rhena's Path (purple letter story), are both recommended for ages 8-14+ — or if you would like to read the story to your child, even younger! My father, the author of The Max Letters, read my brother and I these stories starting at ages 6 and 7, and it was a delightful experience for us. Of course deeper meaning and a new level of enjoyment will come at each reading through the years.
(There is a fourth story, The Clouds of Izmah (blue letter story), but it is reserved for readers who have completed one or either of the two adventure stories, The Adventure Begins or Rhena's Path. It serves as a sequel to both stories. All of our stories cross paths and share characters, so true fans end up collecting them all!)
Another way to determine whether your child is a fit for these stories is to think of their fit for a comparable classic story: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. These are similar in terms of both style, content and readability.
Sort of. Kind of. Not really. The content of The Max Letters chapter letters are taken from the author's book The Witch's Tower in The Max Series. But this experience is something different. It came out of a wild idea to turn an already wonderful story into something extra special and fun by telling it with beautiful art and illustrations, allowing it to build excitement and unfold across time.
This, combined with the love and nostalgia we remember as kids, being so excited to open our own piece of mail that had been written, stamped and sent to us with care... We just had to give it a try – and sure enough, we think there's something special to this experience, and we hope you love it too!
Yes, you can either order a single subscription for each child, or you can send a single subscription to multiple members of a household. Simply enter all of their names in the "Letter Recipient Name" field at checkout. For example:
You are welcome to enjoy more than one story at a time, but our store is only set up to receive one subscription order at a time. If you want to place an order for more than one story subscription, you'll need to place one order, then start over and place your following order.
Remember you can always send a single subscription to multiple members of a household. Simply enter all of their names in the "Letter Recipient Name" field at checkout. For example:
Once you purchase a subscription, a list of Question Prompts will be made immediately available to you in the form of a PDF that can be downloaded or printed. These question prompts correspond with each chapter letter, and are meant to spark conversation with a young reader you gift, so that you may "keep up" with their story journey, even if you aren't reading the letters. They'll also help you to explore your young reader's thoughts and discuss deeper themes in the text such as friendship, courage, truth and more. All are able to be navigated at the age appropriate level of your young reader.
We make gifting easy! First, you will select the upcoming mail date of your choice at checkout, to tell us when you want your first letter to be mailed. (We mail letters on the 14th and 28th of each month.) This way, you can delay your first letter due to a special occasion if you prefer.
You will receive a Gift Printout immediately at purchase to tuck in a card or gift - or even attach to an email for instant delivery! This makes gifting easy - and perfectly timed!
You may also select our Gift Bundle option when it is available. In the case of Gift Bundles, these ship with tracking and deliver within about 3-5 days. If speed of delivery is your priority, this is a great option for swift arrival!
