Fans of Moss's Amelia series (or more likely fans' brothers) will enjoy these stories about Max, an aspiring scientist and inventor who's dealing with the separation of his parents. Max and his best friend create a comic book about alien erasers, reproduced on the pages alongside other cartoon drawings, Max's sketches, and scientific experiments. An entertaining choice for intermediate-level readers.

MOSS, Marissa . Max Disaster: Alien Eraser Unravels the Mystery of the Pyramids . Bk. 2. ISBN 978-0-7636-3585-5 ; ISBN 978-0-7636-4408-6 . ea vol: illus. by author. unpaged. Candlewick . 2009. RTE $15.99; pap. $6.99. LC number unavailable. Gr 2-4 These eye-catching transitional readers pack a lot into each slim volume: comics, humor, common childhood problems, science experiments, history, science fiction, and more. Flip-flopping between a comic and notebook format, the narratives follow the everyday life of an elementary school student and the supposedly real comic adventures of an alien eraser that claims to have taken over his brain. The alien's plan is to inspire Max to draw comics about his "glorious deeds," which include such feats as building the ancient Egyptian pyramids. Besides having his brain controlled by an alien, Max has an assortment of other things to deal with: a moody teenage brother, a boring teacher who confiscates his favorite belongings, and parents who have recently separated. He expresses and illustrates these everyday troubles with humorous, colorful drawings and diagrams of imaginative inventions, such as the "referee robot," designed to control fighting parents; and the "Book-to-Brain Zapper," which translates books into one's own words, creating a "report [that] miraculously writes itself with NO spelling mistakes." These books are full of fun, facts, and adventures that are sure to capture the interest of both reluctant and avid readers. Melinda Piehler, Sawgrass Elementary School, Sunrise, FL