I was drawn in by the blurbs on the jacket of Maximum Ride, and ended up really enjoying this mutant-teen-adventure on steroids. James Patterson's book is well-written, well-crafted, and downright fun - especially when waiting endless hours in an airport for whenever your next flight might be.
Flight plays a big part in the unfurling of this story. The title character, Maximum Ride, is a 14-year-old girl leading a flock of others who all have been DNA-enhanced with avian abilities and features. They have wings, and they can fly - things that come in handy when being chased by wolf-like creatures called Erasers, also DNA-mutated into something superhuman, and when trying to find your identity after spending so much time being poked and prodded by the White Coats in the disinfected labs of The School. Max and her friends have escaped the confines of scientific research and really just want to find their place in this world. Don't we all?
There's adventure as Max and the others fight the Erasers, break into several lab facilities, and blow things up. Some find new abilities as they take flight, and others discover things about themselves in the midst of the stress and trauma of fighting for one's life. Like most good mutant/superhero stories, the reader is invited to break with logic and dive headfirst into the unknown while empathizing deeply with people who have amazingly heroic and noble powers.
I found that two other Patterson books start the story of Max and her friends — When the Wind Blows and The Lake House — and the second in this particular series is already out, School's Out Forever. I look forward to reading the backstory and then the next novel as well.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - chrismon
I found the fist book being drawn in by the author, that is I read others of his books. I did not realise it was a juivinile (as referred to in the publishing world.
I will redthe next one (or rather listen to it as I do them all as audio/ books on tape/cd.
If they don't do the ending in 2 more books I will dump the series though.
The problem with books likee this is they either take it too far, that is they stretcyh the story line out like a soap opera, or they end it too quick, and the ends does not justify the lenght twe go through to get the prise.
Mr Patterson's other books are great, so I feel this could be a keeper,(AS A SERIES).
If they turn it into a Box Car Books series , or Animorphs, it is toast.
The "save the world" concept has to ring out very loud in 1 or 2 more books, to be worth the effort one expends to consume it.
If not it will turn into a waterdown sci fi of no consequence that parent will ignore and tell their kids to read something else.
If the "Save the World/mankind" concept works and Mr Patterson is a great writer/conceptionalist, then he can end the book, maybe renew the characters and write a second group of books with a long plot.
The problem is it becomes like "Dune" if you write sequal it may smell to much like the other, and then be a flop. I know very few people who have read them all, for a good reason, they peter out badly.
Adults of a certain age and time(myself), remember watching Billy Mummy in "Lost in Space" we laugh at it. It is comical to look back on but here is the rub, it was not sopposed to be that way.
When they did the pilot they needed a bad guy or it would become a "monster of the week" show. Friends and I discussed it for years and I made that observation, a friend then pointed out that, I was right, Smith was added for just that reason.
The mistake was making Dr Smith too much (to use his term), of a NINNY!
that show ran, but could have gone more, it didn't because it had no bite by the end, and was pure farce, cheesie special effects not withstanding.
Anyway I hope Mr Patterson, finishes up in 1 or most two books.
Then he can put them in to hypersleep, or shoot them into the next reality. As far as I know this is his only Sci Fi, so if he does that I hope he brings along another SCI FI writter to carry some of the load.
Harry potter is well written, but above all there are to be a finite number. You could pick up anyone and th etales are indidual, but linear. But they will end with the next book.
After that Ms Rhowling can opt to start a new series, or, Put Harry in much more adult situations. That is my hope at this point.
lastly I hope everyone gets a chance to listen to them all as Books on Tape. They are perfect for the medium, as the writing is rich and understandable. The use of Various readers to highlight various persons thoughts is nice, although for some that may not be so. I am also glad for the lack of musical backround as is done by some production companies. If it needs music to heighten the read, then it is not worththe time it takes to listen to it. The possible exception is at the begining and the end where it takes the place of swirly marbelised papers , or a single illustration in a hardcover book.
I enjoyed the others I await in eager anticipation for the next one as spoken word.
chris
2 - Fly_Fan
I really enjoyed reading this book and I think that it would make a great motion picture. I can just imagine the special affects having the "bird kids" flying around, just like the book. I really hope to see this in the theaters some day!
I think that this movie would attract many young adults. I know that many of my friends would watch it because the feelings and emotions are so easy to relate to. Fang, Iggy and Max are all around my age and I totally understood every thought they had when something bid came up! I think that a movie from this book would be very successful!
3 - Wow
My friend recommended this book to me because she said the author was great. Once I started I became addicted and now have read all of them before her!
4 - erin
i love this book and i think it would make a great movie
5 - Reyna
I love this book series it is awesome and i love the writer james patterson my birthday was coming up and i love to read so my mom bought me this book it is amazing and i think that it would be a very good movie i like how james patterson would add a relatonshis in the book because a real fourteen would be going through the same thing you rock james patterson cant wait to read more of your books xD
6 - Bobby
I love all the books I hope it becomes a movie
7 - Ali
I love these books!!! I hope The Final Warning(fourth book) is not the final book in this series! These book made me fall in love with reading all over again. I can't wait for the movie too!
8 - christian
OMG!!!This series of Maximum Ride is THE BEST SERIES OF BOOKS I HAVE EVERRR READ!!!I loved it so much,my dad bought me the first 1 and i am soon getting the others!!!!!!!!!MAXIMUM RIDE ROXXX!!!!!!I HOPE THEY MAKE A FRIGGIN MOVIE!!!LOL ~LUV YAZ~
9 - srm
IF THIS BOOK DOES NOT BECOME A OVIE I WILL SCREAM!!!!!!!I HAVE LOVED ALL THE MAXIMUM RIDE BOOKS AND ALL MY FRIENDS SAY I AM SO LIKE MAX!!! LOL.SO DOES MY CRUSH!!!i LOOK LIKE HER TWIN!!!IM SERIOUS!!!!
10 - Fangfan
I read each book twice now and Im lovin' it I really hope that they make it into a movie somday it would be very exiting.
11 - Fangfan
Who here has read MR3?
12 - Fangfan
I have started reading these books ever since they came out. I will just flip out if they dont make it into a movie
13 - Fangfan
You know what...Im just going to have to tell you people this.............THEY'RE MAKING A MOVIE OM MR.....ISN'T THAT AWSOME?
14 - Fangfan
I just looked it up
15 - Slash
I REALLY hope they do not mess up this one. A lot of books that get turned into movies get messed up, badly. I can't wait though. On another note, I'm an Iggy fan!
16 - Fangfan
I looked it up online and they said they are going to bring it out in theaters in about a year or so because they have to set up all the different scenes.And I also hope that they dont mess this one up like other movies.
17 - BOB
OMG! WE LOVE THESE BOOKS AND THEY HAVE TO MAKE A MOVIE ON THEM OR WE WILL BE SO MADD! I JSUT HOPE THEY DONT WRECK THE MOVIE! WE TOTALLY THINK MAX AND FANG SHOULD HOOK UP IN THE FOURTH AND (HOPEFULLY NOT FINAL) BOOK!
18 - vick
I can't wait for the fourth book to come out on march the 17th. I am so excited, I also heard they are making a movie. The movie is going to be about all three books. BTW...I hope in the fourth book something more exciting happens between Max and Fang, not saying that their relationship is not exciting already though.
19 - Fangfan
They are making a 4th book!?I had no idea I really think that Max and Fang should REEEEEEEAAAAALLLLLLYYYYY hook up seriously.
20 - Tammy
I LOVE THIS BOOK! CAN'T WAIT FOR THE FORTH.IT WOULD BE AWSOME FOR MR.PATTERSON TO WRITE MORE BOOKS LIKE THIS! (HINT, WINK,NUDGE,NUDGE)
21 - jessica
the books surely are #1 they are for both teens and adults. they will diffenitly make good movies. and even better live action.
22 - MRFan
Hey! Oh my goodness are they seriously making a movie? When is it coming out? Can somebody let me know! And something more has to happen between Max and Fang...I hope the movie doesn't get wrecked..because that would just ruin everything!
23 - Fangfan
Its coming out in about a year or so.
24 - vick
I heard that the movie is coming out in may 2008.
25 - MRFAN
AHH I LOVE THE MAXIMUM RIDE BOOKS. DOES ANYONE KNOW WHO IS BEING CAST AS MAX (IN THE MOVIE) OR ANY OF THE OTHER FLOCK MEMBERS!?