Maximum Ride gets a full compliment of Patterson's tension (Maximum Ride: School's Out Forever - James Patterson)

Member Name: pmcds

Product:	Maximum Ride: School's Out Forever - James Patterson
Date:	14/12/08 (46 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great book in the series

Disadvantages: Hard to read if you haven't read the previous books

While James Patterson is better known for his novels featuring Alex Cross or the Women's Murder Club, designed for adults, he has also written a string of books in a series designed for the young adult reader. It started with the two books When The Wind Blows and The Lake House before giving the books the title of Maximum Ride and then a further subtitle, with Maximum Ride referring to the main character of the series, Max.

If you have read the previous books leading up to this one, then you'll already know the history. If not, and you're interested, then a brief synopsis: Maximum Ride features six young people who were the subjects of a scientific experiment. The experiment resulted in them being left as 98% human, but 2% bird! In this episode, the six find themselves fleeing a mysterious and unidentifiable enemy, with Max sure that someone has planted a microchip under her skin.

The six are destined to save the world from something or someone, but for the moment, they need to work out how to save themselves. Patterson steps up the action and adventure to give our 6 heroes their most dangerous and perilous story yet, and he doesn't disappoint.

Previous books in this series have failed to wow me. The concept is a rather interesting one, and once you get past the strange sci-fi plot base, and with a mind to the fact that the books are designed for the younger adult to read, it's easy to enjoy this. School's Out is a thoroughly entertaining book, and it feels as if it's the first of the series that Patterson has actually completely gone for it when writing it. The previous books all seemed as if he was holding back as it was unfamiliar content, but here it's like reading one of his best Alex Cross thrillers but with a sci-fi twist.

Patterson's writing style leaves no room for the long and descriptive passages you sometimes associate with other authors. This means that the characterisation and background aren't dwelled upon, so if you are reading this before any other books in the series, then you may find it confusing it places.

I recommend gving this one a go. Maximum Ride: School's Out Forever is available from amazon.co.uk for £5.99.

Summary: Very good addition to the series