The misadventures of Max Crumbly: Locker hero by Rachel Renee Russell

Simon and Schuster, 2016. ISBN 9781471144615
(Age: 11+)Recommended. The writer of the very popular Dork Diaries has done it again - and this time male readers will be able to engage with her books (perhaps competing with the girls to get their hands on the books)!
In the same style as Dork Diaries with comic-like illustrations and journal entries, Russell has introduced us to Max Crumbly, a less than inspiring Middle-School student who gets caught in rather bizarre and hilarious circumstances. Poor Max has escaped home-schooling by his grandmother only to discover that he is now the year 8 victim of the school bully. Being rescued from the claustrophobic locker by the lovely Erin does not actually mean that his life has gone to great heights. He just seems to keep getting into one twisted problem after another. Misadventures just keep following every step of his new Middle School life. And this is obviously only the first in the series as we are left in a graphic comic-style cliffhanger at the end of the book.
For those who have loved Diary of a Wimpy Kid and other similar humorous tales there is now another series to recommend. Readers who are happy to be amused rather than challenged will enjoy this book.
Carolyn Hull