There is a laugh-out-loud, frantic joy in reading a middle-grade diary series packed with doodles, comic strips, and constant near-disasters. Written and illustrated by Rachel Renée Russell—the #1 New York Times bestselling creator of the massive Dork Diaries phenomenon—The Misadventures of Max Crumbly is a brilliant companion series that exists in the exact same universe.
The story follows Max Crumbly, a quirky, comic-book-obsessed boy who transitions from being homeschooled by his grandmother to facing the ultimate, terrifying battlefield: South Ridge Middle School. Below is the definitive roadmap to reading his books in order.
The Max Crumbly Series in Chronological Order
1. Locker Hero (2016)
Max Crumbly is determined to survive his new middle school, but things get off to a rocky start thanks to Doug, the school bully, whose favorite hobby is stuffing Max into his own locker. Max desperately wishes he could be like the superheroes in his comic books, but his only real “superpower” is smelling pizza from three blocks away. When he gets trapped in his locker over a long weekend, he accidentally witnesses a group of bumbling thieves breaking into the school.
2. Middle School Mayhem (2017)
Picking up exactly where the first book’s cliffhanger left off, Max is out of the locker but still trapped inside the school at night with the three ruthless bumbling burglars. Armed only with his wits, a rolling office chair, and some assistance from his tech-savvy classmate Erin (via the school’s intercom system), Max has to channel his inner hero to foil the heist while trying not to get caught by the criminals.
3. Masters of Mischief (2019)
The chaotic night at South Ridge Middle School reaches its absolute peak. Max and his trusty sidekick Erin have managed to evade the thieves so far, but now they are stuck in a hyper-secure part of the building with no easy escape route. Max must pull off his most daring stunt yet to save the day, protect the school’s brand-new computers, and make it home before his parents realize he’s gone.
The Dork Diaries Connection (How Max Fits In)
If your reader is a massive fan of this illustrated universe, they will be thrilled to know that Max Crumbly and Nikki Maxwell (the star of Dork Diaries) live in neighboring towns and actively cross paths!
To see how the two series beautifully intertwine, look out for these specific crossover milestones:
- Dork Diaries 10: Tales from a Not-So-Perfect Pet Sitter (2015) – Max Crumbly is officially introduced to the world here before getting his own standalone series! He helps Nikki with a chaotic puppy rescue mission.
- Dork Diaries 13: Tales from a Not-So-Happy Birthday (2018) – Max makes a fantastic guest appearance in Nikki’s main diary layout, cementing their fun, supportive friendship across the two franchises.
About the Author: Rachel Renée Russell
Rachel Renée Russell is a former attorney who traded writing legal briefs for writing internationally bestselling children’s books. Inspired by her own daughters’ humorous and often painful middle school experiences, she created Dork Diaries, which has over 55 million copies in print worldwide.
With Max Crumbly, Russell wanted to give readers a heavily illustrated, fast-paced “boy-centric” perspective of early adolescence, filled with authentic middle-school anxieties, comic-book pop culture, and slapstick humor. She collaborates closely with her daughters, Nikki and Erin (who share names with her famous characters!), to keep the illustrations and dialogue feeling fresh, relatable, and deeply authentic to young readers.
Why the Chronological Order Matters
While many middle-grade illustrated journals feature standalone episodic plots, The Misadventures of Max Crumbly operates entirely as a continuous, fast-moving timeline.
In fact, Books 1, 2, and 3 essentially take place over the course of one wild, extended weekend inside South Ridge Middle School. Book 1 ends with Max trapped in a locker looking at thieves; Book 2 starts the exact second he crawls out; and Book 3 concludes the midnight showdown. Reading them sequentially is absolutely mandatory to understand how the wacky school heist is resolved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will there be a Max Crumbly Book 4?
While a fourth book titled Misadventures of a Magician was originally planned, there is currently no official release date scheduled. The author has been heavily focused on expanding the main Dork Diaries series, but the door remains completely open for Max’s return!
What reading age are these books intended for?
The Max Crumbly series is perfectly tuned for young readers aged 7 to 11 (Grades 2 to 5). Because the pages are packed with heavy doodles, large text formats, and comic strips, they are heavily recommended as an ideal “gateway choice” for reluctant readers transitioning into chapter books.
What books are similar to Max Crumbly?
If your child has devoured all three books and needs a new series with the exact same energy, they should immediately dive into Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Lincoln Peirce’s Big Nate, and Lincoln Brickeys’ Timmy Failure.
Verdicts and Recommendations
The Final Verdict: For an incredibly fun, fast-paced, and highly visual reading experience that perfectly captures the hilarious highs and terrifying lows of middle school, grab a copy of Locker Hero (2016) and read the trilogy in order.
This series is a perfect match for: Kids who love drawing comics, readers who struggle with dense pages of text, and anyone who believes that you don’t need real superpowers to be a hero in your own school.
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