LUKE McAlister's dad has lost his temper once too often.A crazy plan to sell him for $500 works, Dad is taken away in a van and Luke's troubles are over - until Mum finds out. Luke turns super sleuth to try to get Dad back and learns the frightening truth behind the mysterious disappearance of an increasing number of townsfolk and their pets.It's up to him to save not just Dad, but his whole family, their friends and a host of other people. He doesn't have the brawn to defeat his deadly opponent... does he have the brains? Their lives depend on it... Mad Dad for Sale deals with the common issue of parent/child conflict in an entertaining way that will appeal to young people. Luke is a likeable character whose outrageous ideas lead him into some crazy situations. Children (and teenagers) will readily relate to his feeling that he is unfairly treated at home. While on the surface it is a light-hearted adventure, the story encourages the reader to think about their family relationships and it may even change the way they see things.