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Maximum Ride by James Patterson
Maximum Ride:The Angel ExperimentRelease Date: Buy it Today! Little, Brown Young Readers
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Maximum Ride clearly has the right title. This book is a roller coaster ride the whole way through. We open on Max, a genetic experiment of a human and bird hybrid, and the rest of her flock as they flee from the Erasers who want to take them back to the School they escaped from a few years ago.
So now Max and her flock have to break back into the school, rescue one of their own, avoid the Erasers (part wolf, part human), find out information about themselves they aren’t really sure they want to know (like if their parents abandoned them, sold them, or they were kidnapped), live in an a NYC subway, and try to put together the pieces of what they are and why they were created. Of course, they also finally get to do some normal kid stuff for the first times in their lives, like go to the zoo, attend an outdoor concert, and go toy shopping.
This was one of those books I kept being told I had to read. And it was always adults telling me it as well. I’d say I like YA, fantasy, and science fiction especially, and inevitably Maximum Ride would come up, and my conversation partner would be shocked that I’d never read the book. Now, it’d been sitting on my bookshelf for a while and I started the first few pages before, but finally, I was sick of hearing “You haven’t read it? Really???” so I decided to sit down and read it. It still took me a few chapters to become entrenched in their journey, but as soon as I did, I was hooked. Bought all the rest of the books, including the hardcover that I couldn’t really afford at the time (but like I was gonna wait for it on hold at the library? Hah.). Really, I can’t imagine if I had read the first two books before the third was out, how I would have survived the wait. They are a trilogy and each book leads into the next. I’ve heard talk of a fourth one, but at least book three leaves off at a decent enough ending place that I don’t feel cheated.
I loved the tone of this book – Max is a personable character who keeps us going through the story, and her voice definitely adds a sense of urgency. I felt like Max was really telling me these things, like I could almost believe that this was happening in my reality and I felt for her and her flock. Sometimes though, the pace was a little too fast, and I would barely feel like I could catch my breath before the next action-packed event. Then again, that was the same life that the characters were living, so it worked.
A really neat aspect of the books is the blogs set up online for the main characters. One of the secondary mains (since it’s first person, there can only be one truly main character, at least story wise) has a blog both in the book and on the real internet and the reader can see some of his journey from the book. The blog overlaps into the book and at one point in the third book, the flock has split up, and Max’s group is keeping track of the other group via the internet. Apparently, there are a bunch of pictures in the earlier posts on the site, but when I tried to look, they were broken images.
Ratings Reasons:
Action 5 – I have not read a faster and more action-packed book in a while. At least not one that was still so easy to follow.
Romance 1 – And that one is only because if you know what the eventual ship is in later books, there’s a little foreshadowing in this book. Still, it’s pretty much zilch. Which is okay, because the eventual ship is cute, and it’ll get there by book three.
Characters 5 – Okay, so it’s hard to judge the characters on just this book and not all three books, but I was definitely interested and invested enough in the characters by the end of book one that I had to have book two on hand to start right away. Max and her flock, as well as the scientists at the School, and even a few Erasers, all feel like real characters with motivations. One of the bad girls that eventually emerges by the third book is a little less clear of a character to me, but that’s not enough to drop the rating.
Overall 5 - If you like science fiction, if you like YA, heck, even if you like adult books, give this one a try. It’s fun, action-packed, and interesting.
Extras:
To begin with, you’ll want to go get the other two books: Maximum Ride: School’s Out Forever and Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports. James Patterson has also authored numerous adult books.
There are a lot of great websites out there for Maximum Ride. There is the main site for the book, which has the commercial and some featured sites. Doesn’t seem like it’s been updated much, though, since the newest book came out. Then there is the blog for the flock, where they all post to their fans. Plus of course, there is always the myspace page. And go play the game on the British site. There should be a Maximum Ride movie in 2009 or 2010 as well. Besides that, there is a fourth book, Maximum Ride: The Last Global Warming Warning scheduled for 2008.
Here are online instructions on How To Be Like Max.
One of the things that kept me from reading Maximum Ride for so long was the obvious similarities between the series and the TV show Dark Angel. Hmm, genetic experiments on teenagers? Check. Main girl named Max? Check. On the run from the scientist that created them? Check. Now, I used to love Dark Angel for the first season, then the second season got a little strange as they tried to explain too much. Actually, by the third Maximum Ride book, I was beginning to feel like they were trying to add too many layers as well. Anyways, I digress; Dark Angel entertained me, and I highly recommend it as a mindless distraction. The whole first season is basically, “Look, Max is sexy and kick ass! Look, Logan is sexy and smart!” and some days, you just need that in your life.
The Artemis Fowl and Bloody Jack series also might appeal to fans of this book, as they are relatively fast paced and interesting in similar ways.
Come discuss Maximum Ride on the forum as well!
Parents:10+ There is some blood and violence, especially by the later books, but I didn’t quite feel like it was bad enough for a higher rating. The actual writing style is aimed at children and adults alike, and this might be a fun one to read together.
yes, Maximum Ride is definentualy my favorite books out there. Although i’m certain of the movie, i hope all the rumors are right of Patterson coming out with the fourth book. I read the first and second book in less then a week, and now i’m in the middle of the third. I read every chance i get (which reminds me… i gotta go.)
anita reply on June 30th, 2008:
i love these books and im only 12 i have read all of them but 1 i am on chapter 100 on the third book it is really good but im not going to spoil it i already have the last book but i am not to it yet. i started reading the 1st book on may 4th i havent stopped reading yet july 1st 2008 peace out
Looks like the 4th book is avaliable for preorder on amazon, so it had better be coming out ^_^
Amazon
I thought it was a good read, but it completely disappointed my expectations with the ending, or rather, the lack of an ending.
This book suffers from a massive case of “second book in a trilogy” syndrome. There is no decent resolution of anything. I would therefore *not* recommend it to anyone, except as part of a three-book package deal.
And I won’t ever read a Patterson book again until someone I trust tells me the story is complete.
anita reply on June 30th, 2008:
what r u talking about? the 2nd book? try reading the 3rd book it is the best!
anita reply on June 30th, 2008:
try reading the rest of the series the third one is the best
Which book disapointed you by the ending? I did wait to read the books until the third was coming out because I knew it was a series and knew the books ended on cliffhangers.
What I really hate is when I never realized the book was part of a new series until the end of the first book. I really want authors/publishers to label it as a series/trilogy if the book is going to end with a lot left hanging. I’ll read the book if I know its part of a series, but nothing puts me off a book faster than finding out as I’m reading the last chapter.
I have read all of the Maximum Ride books more than once. I am currently reading the 3rd book for the third time. I really hope the fourth one comes out because I felt the third left me hanging a bit.
I also hope there is a movie because that would just be awesome.
anita reply on June 30th, 2008:
i know that would be awesome but they wont make one because it is too much like dark angel the t.v show
I was amazed by how like Dark Angel it was. It just completely shocked me, with the parallels, and I couldnt help but wonder if James Patterson had come up with the idea before or after Dark Angel…was he a fan? In many ways the two are completely and utterly different…but in some…it’s almost scary. The movie, however, will be interesting. I can barely wait, and I just hope that it doesnt ruin the book I fell in love with.
anita reply on June 30th, 2008:
there wont be a movie because it would be like a copy cat of dark angel
I just hope that there is a movie someday. As far as I can tell, there isn’t any definite word on whether or not there will be a movie and more importantly, when there will be one.
anita reply on June 30th, 2008:
it is already 2008 and still nothing
I love this book. I hope they make a movie about it. I hate reading but i read this book in 2 days :).
Its always good to know what books are good for “non-readers”. Have you tried Artemis Fowl? I think thats another good one for those who hate reading ^_^
Im really curious to know, how many books are there going to be? There have been a lot of different answers, some are saying 12, some are saying 4, and the rest say somewhere in between. Does anyone know or did he not say?
anita reply on June 30th, 2008:
he said in the back of the 4th book that it was the last book in the series
I haven’t really heard an end number. There will be at least four books, but I don’t know past that.
Maximum Ride is soooooo the best book that i have ever read and , trust me, i have read a LOT
This one the best books i ever read in my life. i couldn’t put the bookdown.
there is only 4 books for whomever would like to know he said it in the back of the 4th book but i loved them i couldnt put it down i finished all4 in 2 months
Oh, thats good. I don’t like it if the author keeps on continuing the series. I just finished the third book and the story seems to be about finished. Just bought the 4th book as well, so I didn’t see the note at the back. =)
crichoux reply on July 12th, 2008:
Yeah, I hate when a series goes past when it obviously should have ended.
I read the first book and my boss is asking me to write a review for the paper here in Texas. Im having troubles though because I do not know the resoultion. I don’t know if it is me being careless or is the ending really fuzzy? I read the ending 3 times and I just can’t find it if anyone can help me as soon as possible that would be great! Please reply to this!!!
Thanks so much!♥
crichoux reply on August 22nd, 2008:
Hmm, Honestly, I think you’re having that trouble because there was no ending. Its a lot more like the ending of the pilot of a new tv show - the author seemed to know the next book was coming and felt no need to wrap anything up.
They make one small victory against the school, but it ends with “Lets get out there and defeat the school some more!” Really, if it had ended a few chapters earlier, you could have at least pretended there was some resolution.
hi. Iv read all 4 books from front to cover and still the 2nd and 3rd are my favorit. The 1st was awsome too but u know the first book is alot of confusing stuff untill you keep reading further. I wrote on the blog for the 4th book blog and clearly if you read that (im rob on there still) i didnt like that book. Sorry James Patterson but that book was horrible. But moving on to the first book. i found this when I was at five below and for some reason I had a cd with the sound trac for the 2nd book. i read the first and it was awsome. Ether way I was wondering what peoples favorit book is. Please never say the 4th one cause IT WAS NOT GOOD. Thanks
dude did u like the 4th book?? I sure as heck didnt. the entire book was a lecture on global warming.