Middle School Mayhem

Misadventures of Max Crumbly #2

by Rachel Renée Russell

Max Crumbly faces the music in this second book in the series from #1 New York Times bestselling Dork Diaries author Rachel René ​ e Russell!

When we last left our hero, Max Crumbly, he had crash-landed on top of a Mighty Meat Monster pizza after taking a late night tumble through the vents at South Ridge Middle School—and he was completely surrounded by three ruthless criminals!

Will Max be shredded to bits like mozzarella cheese on the hard and crunchy pizza crust of doom?

Can his friend and sidekick, computer whiz Erin, help get him out of this sticky situation alive?

Genres: Middle Grade, Fiction, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Humor, Graphic Novels, Romance

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2017

About the author

Rachel Renee Russell is the #1 New York Times Best Selling author of the book series, DORK DIARIES, and the upcoming, THE MISADVENTURES OF MAX CRUMBLY to be released on June 7, 2016.

For more about Nikki's world visit www.DorkDiaries.com

For more about Max's world visit www.MaxCrumbly.com

Reviews

[reenie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Once upon a time about four years ago, I adored Rachel Renee Russell for being witty and realistic and relatable and honest in Dork Diaries. And somewhere along the line, I lost the adoration when she lost her connection to reality, but still, hold hope and still read her books, wishing for her to return to her roots. I put my faith in Max Crumbly, but it was a pointless attempt.
Alas, the roots have lifted, and in all the books she has written recently, the signature voice that I loved is gone, and only disappointment remains.

[Bees · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man, I really thought this whole misadventure would be over!! Oh well, anything to make more books, I guess...anyway not bad, but I'd really like a series more like Dork Diarys! *sigh* oh well,not bad but I'd like to see more of middle school than the air vents. I like the book, don't get me wrong but I just expected more... )-=

[Sanja_Sanjalica · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5
Just as the previous book, full of Home Alone (School Alone??) scenes and little else.
Really like the rap.
Everything else was just...I don't know. I know I said I wouldn't read the sequel after not liking the first book, but I came across it related to my work so I gave it a shot. Can't say it was worth it.

[Shreya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like the previous book in this series, this book was filled with, embarrassment, surprise, and most importantly, another major cliffhanger! I get that the author wants to hook the reader with all the surprise in the story, but I can’t wait for the next book in the series! I bet it’ll be just like this one, including the most important element this author uses, surprise! The most surprising part in this book was definitely when Max had tried to escape the middle school, safely with his dad’s comic, and Ralph, the main burglar, pops out of the door and scares him, half to death! I did not see that one coming at all! The main story is, Max Crumbly is trying to escape the homeschooling with his grandma, to what he think is the better world of public school! When he finally gets a shot there, the bully, Thug Thurston, is there to destroy his life, by locking him into his locker! The second time Max gets trapped, opportunities come knocking at the door, but he can’t get his chances to fall into place! Long story short, Max ends up traveling the school ventilation system, in hopes to get out, and finds himself trapped in a bigger situation. Turns out that three burglars are burglarizing the school, very same night! When the burglars realize a kid is in the school, they need to stop him from escaping the building and informing the police about the theft. In this book, Max and his friend, Erin gain control over the security system, and work together so they can get his dad’s expensive comic, and leave the premises to inform the police. They team up to track the burglars, and create booby traps to stop the burglars from catching him. I think that this book was amazing, so great job on that, Rachel Renee Russel. This book really impressed me, and made my day!

[Rainy Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second adventure of Max Crumbly. This time, he tried to capture the thieves that wanted to steal the school's computers and getting his dad's comic book with the help of his friend, Erin.

Personally, I think I prefer the Dork Diaries series more. But it's not like Max's story is not good. It's good, but it didn't really piqued my interest like Nikki's stories did. Besides that, Max's adventures were solely occur in one place only and that was, in Max's school ground. So, that made this series probably less exciting to me.

This book is suitable for young readers because there's a lot of illustrations (Max doing his "heroic" things). I probably will recommend to you the Dork Diaries series more.

[Kaylee · Rating 5 out of 5]

For my second book I read max crumbly locker hero middle school mayhem. In this book we got brought back to where we lead off in the other book. Max flew through the vent and ruined the burgers dinner break and now they are mad Ralph tries to go in the vent but gets stuck and moose and tucker try to get him out and pull Ralph pants down. Then they lower moose into the kitchen and rap him in plastic food rap. Then lower tucker into the gym and get him in a net connect the net to the basket ball hoop and pull him up so he can't escape. Finally he is almost out but he runs into Ralph and Ralph chases him down and Ralph gets rapped in a snake called Tinkerbell. Then Max runs and jumps out the window after his dads comic book and falls into the dumpster and then Erin comes and tries to get him out of the dumpster but falls in too. And again it ends on a cliff hanger.
The theme for this book is anyone can be a hero no matter what people have done in the past. In the book in the past Max throws up on thugs shoe. Max has also lied to Erin but she still helped him so she was a hero to him. He has also been a big baby and weakling in the past but now he is a hero and he has a trusty side kick Erin.
In my opinion this is a really good book. I liked the book because there are some pretty close calls. Like when Max slides across there pizza and they are about to get him but the lights go out and he gets away. That was a close call!! I also like the book because There are some pretty cool raps and funny comic book things in it. The author did a really good job on this book it is one of my favorites.

[Ghost Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want a locker like his 😂

[Kumail A · Rating 4 out of 5]

a solid sequel, can’t wait for more.

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book "Max Crumbly Middle school mayhem" is a good book. I like it because the character is a confident character and believes in him self. I also like it because the character is set on a quest to stop the crimi8nals inside the school.

[Seyma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dit boek was veel beter dan de eerste. Het was gewoon veel korter wat ik beter vond ook voor mijn concentratieproblemen want het eerste boek was echt veel te groot. en ik ging deze keer ook weer gewoon snel doorheen en ja.

[Riley]

The boy version of Dork Diaries. My student loved this book, and read without me. This book I used to start the transition away from only reading graphic novels.

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the girl is very annoying, but this book is good both the best from this author, but enjoyable.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
Not as good as the first book but not too boring

[Kayleighbooks5 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very funny book I recommend this to people who like comedy have a good day!

[Lily Pierce · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Carson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall an ok book. Pretty much a rip off of Diary Of A Wimpy Kid

[Chi Chi · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was funny. I like how it was finishing the story from the previous book, but not finishing it completely. Hilarious and captivating, Middle School Mayhem really set expectations high on what the next book would be like.

If you don't like cliffhangers, in the first few pages, Rachel Renée Russell writes on how you might not want to finish this book. Still finish it though!

Also, it's a quick read! ;)

[libs :p · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, so... this book was okay. I found the actual school scenes with the burglars really interesting and super fun, yet this book was just filled with sooooo much filler content.

Honestly, I said in my review of book one that it just felt like the beginning of the book and not the first book in the series, and honestly I feel like if you took the filler content out of both of the books and combined them into one, it would make one, almost complete, book.

This book also feels like it’s just missing the last twenty pages. It honestly feels like the whole storyline just needs and ending and that’s it, and it could really be resolved VERY quickly, so I’m not really sure why there’s a whole nother book?

Honestly, it does feel like these first two books have felt unfinished and that it’s ended at a really unerganomic point in the story. However, if you’re reading them back to back like I am, it’s not that big of a problem.

(Also I really didn’t love the treatment of turtles in this book 😢 It doesn’t send great messages to kids about keeping pets).

[Liv · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another wonderful book from the amazing author Rachel Renée Russell. “Middle School Mayhem- Misadventures of Max Crumbly” By Rachel Renée Russel is a book filled with humor, embarrassment and rap songs. Not to mention this book has a major cliffhanger. Our main character in this book is Max Crumbly himself and his sidekick Erin Madison. Max is still stuck at the school dealing with three burglars. But his sidekick on speed dial helps him along the way. Will our hero Max be able to deal with those burglars and leave the school? I would give this book a four out five star review. Although this book was amazing, there were some points throughout the book that were plain out confusing. Other than that this book was amazing. The theme for this book is to never preserving. If you like books that are filled with humor you would love this book.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silliness ensues as we revisit Max Crumbly still trying to recover his dad's comic book while three thugs are vandalizing the middle school. Bumbling, idiotic thieves are after Max, but he has one thing on his mind...get that comic book. Of course, the logical thing would be to call the police, but with the help of his friend and computer genius, Erin, he's sure to get it all worked out.

The Misadventures of Max Crumbly: Middle School Mayhem is quite repetitive and overly slapstick(y). Not as much fun as the first or even Dork Diaries...I think this misses the mark, but on the other hand, kids will probably love it. Sigh.

[mia ✿ · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Er ligeglad hvis jeg har skrevet en istedetfor et eller omvendt. Du kan rende mig. (Dog må det gerne siges, hvis det siges pænt.))

Læst denne bog på dansk da jeg desperat skal udvide mit ordforåd og forbedere mine læse evner. Selvom jeg ikke har læst den 1. bog i serien, synes jeg at den var meget morsomt og sjov at læse. Dog vil handlingerne have givet mere mening, hvis jeg havde konteksten af den første bog, da den starter i medias res direkte efter den første bog.

Alt i alt var bogen sjov, men ikke noget jeg kommer til at drømme om og savne oplevelsen af. Derudover kommer jeg ikke til at læse serien videre.

[Riya Barnett · Rating 3 out of 5]

/3.5 stars

I gave this a 3.5 instead of a 4 solely because the story was dragged out way too long. I enjoyed the book, but Russell carried the same exact story from the first book (which ended in a cliffhanger) to the very end of this book, which was also a cliffhanger. If the whole third book is them being stuck in a middle school I don’t have very high hopes.

Not to mention it’s very annoying when danger can be easily avoided ie. Calling the police instead of a pizza place. Or just exiting the building and finding a phone and calling the police?? The very extended amount of time it took to trap and escape from the villains was painful.

[Sheri S. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe I needed to have read the first book to really appreciate this book...My kids enjoyed this book but I was looking forward to its end. Max is stuck inside a middle school trying to keep a group of bullies from stealing computers. He comes up with some creative ways of keeping the boys inside the school so they will be there when the police come. I can see how the book might be appealing to kids, but I just didn't enjoy it.

[Dapple · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book very funny because I like Max adores superheros, and imagines to be one while going through the school ventilation system in the middle of the night and stopping bandits from stealing the school’s computers! It is amazing what ideas Max has and how he makes them come to live, and all in one, how his girl friend, Erin gets involved. This is a very well thought out story with nice art.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Feels like a lot of time spent in backstory and build-up, only to end just as it gets interesting. Frustrating.

I understand the importance of having a middle school appropriate voice, but the repetition of Max’s catchphrases got really grating. And I think it won’t take long for this book to feel dated.

[Cym · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a quick read, with large drawings on the pages. The story itself was short, with flashbacks that don’t seem to have connections with what’s happening in the present. Of course, the events that happened were not exactly real life, not really fantasy-like, but flukes.

It’s entertaining and there was a part which made me LOL. It’s ok, over all.

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like the one before it, it's a good read, and I would recommend it for YA boys or girls. But, the story line was a little over the top for me, so, I won't be reading anymore of this series. It was still well written and the art is just like the dork diaries, which the author writes.

[Serena · Rating 5 out of 5]

These stories were quite interesting. I like that Max and Nikki have a similar life.

[Earline · Rating 2 out of 5]

I haven't read the first book in the series, but was disappointed in the lack of Middle School in this book. Instead it was a strange Home Alone-esque romp with rap songs.

[Sely · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've finally decided to continue this series forever... NOT. So long, Max. Nice to know you.