Max the mouse didn't mean to run away from home. He had a good gig with his owner, Melissa. He was well fed, and he liked riding on the little girl's shoulder when she walked around the house. But Max was really curious to see what was on the other side of the fence in the backyard. Once over the fence, Max joins a group of endangered mice to found a new colony in a deserted field where mice are safe from the evil urban alley cats. But life, especially for mice, being what it is, the little group finds no peace in their private Eden. So Max cleverly rigs up a balloon for an escape to Mars. He deals with a pompous senator who helps create the hot air for their sails, a scholar mouse, a church mouse, and a love interest. Max and his little band of explorers discover that Mars is even more dangerous than Earth. For mice, that is. A science fiction book for young readers, Max the Mouse and the Secret of Mars delivers important messages about kindness, bravery, and the need to save the Earth through Max's adventures.