August 6 to September 7

This next one’s a biggie — 100 bloggers will tackle bestselling author James Patterson’s third installment in the Maximum Ride series, his first foray into the young adult thriller. The eponymous heroine (Max, for short) is the 14-year-old leader of a group of genetically engineered kids who escaped from the lab they were bred in. Their mutation? They’re two-percent bird — meaning they fly.

In Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports, the superhuman “flock” contends with a more fearsome version of the Erasers, a pack of wolf-human mutants, as well as the ever-present evil Itex Corporation. As the corporation’s plans to create a scientifically superior master race gain momentum, the troupe must pull together to stop this “Re-evolution.” But can they save the world when they are torn apart, living in hiding and captivity, halfway across the globe from one another?

This is a hot series from the man who brought you Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider. Be sure to check back starting Monday, August 6 to hear what our bloggers and some of their own young readers think about the latest escapades of Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman, and Angel!

August 6: Taste Like Crazy kicks things off with kudos for Patterson’s ability to capture teenage angst. She writes “[A main character] Fang’s blog plays a large part in the book and I was more than just a little surprised to find that the blog was/is real and is updated frequently. That ‘real world’ touch helped to make the book seem more real and kind of believable… I would definitely get [Maximum Ride 3] for my 13 year old brother and I have no doubt that he would love it.” And Melanie at My Little Patch of Sunshine says “The story is about saving the world - and you believe these characters can do it! Patterson has a wonderful respect for the strength and tenacity of young people that was wonderful to read.” Check out other reviews today from Baggage and Bug and I Wasted All That Birth Control.

August 7: Today’s posts include thoughts from Shirky McLazy and Rough Edges, who says “My kid loved the book. For my twelve-year-old girl, the excitement of noble bird-kids battling the evil scientists who created them, with a scrappy fourteen-year-old heroine leading the way, was more than enough to make up for any shortcomings the book had. She has already read the first two books, visited the blog, and can’t wait for the movie.” And Jason. for the Love of God … says “One of the main characters, Fang, writes in a blog frequently and the blog actually exists. I really, really, really thought that was cool idea. I’m going to sound like I’m two hundred when I say this, but I think it’s really important that a writer stay current with what is interesting to kids now … I really think my son and daughter would like [this book] and I think I’ll probably pass it on to my thirteen year old niece.” Hydes Like Us says “I found it compelling, exciting at times, and refreshingly modern in its science-fictiony teenage way … As a former teacher, and current educator and mother, it’s my hope that kids are excited about books as I was and am. It’s current, interesting stories like Max Ride that will draw them in and keep them.”

August 8: New reviews today from Get In. Hang On. and Our Gaggle of Girls, who says “I love that Max is a girl, and that she is the leader. Girls in charge and kicking butt (quite literally in this case, destroying horrible creatures set to eliminate them) are something I love in teen/tween books, especially as the mother of 3 girls … Maximum Ride 3 is a great book to get kids back to reading before school or homeschooling start up again in September.” Gotcha Baby says “I am absolutely going back and reading the first two books, and I hope there are more in this series! [Maximum Ride 3] is a thriller, easy to read and hard to put down. The fast-paced plot has you rooting for the flock and wanting to save the world yourself.” And Myth and Stories says “The book was an adrenaline rush from one end to the other. I found myself a bit breathless as I was reading it … If you have a child (particularly a son) who doesn’t particularly enjoy reading, I suspect that this is one series that he or she would like. It feels more like an action film than a book.”

August 9: Against All Heresies writes “The dialogue is lively, spunky and totally teen-speak. No one is going to feel condescended to, reading this. The storyline is simple but the 400 pages is full of plot ‘flyboy twists’ ‘eraser turns,’ betrayal, redemption, hopes dungeon-dashed and then restored.” Hannah at The Dressing Room says “This is a great book for the teenager dreading homework, cliques, and general school stresses … it definitely offers an entertaining adventure for those who like to take a break between brain-busting reads and studying.” Mama Fasha says “It’s exciting, interesting, fun, action packed, funny, sarcastic, and witty and those are just the adjectives. The nouns and verbs are pretty good too … I highly recommend this book for adults, young adults, even pre-teens.” Sona Creidhe read the book with her son, who also enjoyed it. She says “Knowing that there is a Maximum Ride web site complete with forums, Fang’s blog really does exist, and that Max even has her own MySpace made it even more fun as my kids and I read through each site. Having the characters as part of the ‘blogosphere’ gives them a new dimension that young readers are usually not able to see with their favorite book characters.”

August 10: One of Three writes “The story itself is something young readers will love, adults and big corporations out to destroy the world, outwitted and brought to justice by a band of misfit (read genetically altered) kids who can fly!” And They Grow In Your Heart says “Max … is a 14-year old strong, sassy chick, yet she also demonstrates compassion toward the younger members of the flock. I love it! It can be tough to find strong female characters in young adult novels. I taught at an all-girls school and found that the girls always responded best to reading female leads they could identify with.” Secretburning writes “I was especially pleased to see a female heroine in this book. Max is strong, capable, and not too ruled by her crush on another character to kick some serious evil scientist bootie … The bird-kids’ message of a family being made up of people you love, rather than people you are related to, rang true.” Finally, Ranting, Raving, and Changing Diapers says “The main character and flock leader, Maximum Ride (hence the title), is a kick ass feminist that any young girl can look up to. Tough, yet she shows her nurturing side when she needs to. The book is full of action and adventure, makes you wonder what grown-ups are REALLY up to, and sucks you into wanting to keep turning the pages to find out.”

August 13: Today’s reviews include posts from What Was I Reviewing and Wandering Mamma, who says “This is targeted perfectly at young adults and really speaks to that audience. It’s all about teen angst, but for a great and noble cause.” Wit’s End says “Kudos to James Patterson for featuring a smart, physically fit, aggressive young woman as a real leader instead of just making her a sidekick to a male.” And Tangled Yarn says “since it is an action packed story, I think it would definitely appeal to kids that might not do a lot of reading, or have a hard time finding books that interest them. The chapters are very short- two to three pages each. That combined with the non-stop action make this a quick, enjoyable read.”

August 14: Jenn’s Journal says “If you have kids, nieces, nephews, random neighborhood kids, strangers, etc. in the 12-16 year old range, I think they’d get a kick out of this series.” MomReviews writes “Maximum Ride … is an Internet phenomenon, thanks mostly to Patterson’s brilliant idea to have Fang be a blogger … The passages in the book that are blog posts and comments? Completely believable as coming from kids.” Liza Was Here says “I hope that the legions of teen fans not only enjoy the action-adventure and the budding romance elements of Maximum Ride 3 – I hope they [also] imagine themselves making the kind of difference that ordinary kids all over the world make in the book.” And Magpie Girl says “Kids 8-13 who like sci-fi and high tech thrillers will enjoy this book which includes everything that age group loves – teenage rebellion, a bit of kissing, and grown-ups who take the backseat to their brilliant, misunderstood children.”

August 15: CPA Mom at Did You See That? says “Patterson writes in the first person, from the perspective of his 14 year old female protagonist, Max, and he really nails that voice. I really found myself caught up in their adventures and wondering just what was going to happen next. I for one, would love to see this series continue.” Tweedlediva at Booshoos and Apricots quibbles that Patterson may be trying too hard to be cool, but nonetheless finds the book “fast paced with quick transitions and numerous plot twists. The characters were well developed and multi-dimensional. The winged kids were lovable, loyal, and at times quite humorous.” MysticSpiral says “I closed the book wishing that I was a 14 year old girl with an unshakable faith I could change the world and that I am a vital part of an untapped resource for positive change.” And MomBrain says “[Maximum Ride 3] is the perfect book for tweens and early teens … and aunties who are recovering Buffy fans.”

August 16: Karma Calling says “[These] adventures are full of unexpected twists, some strange loops and lots of good old fashioned action … If you are suffering from a post-Deathly Hallows void or back-to-school blues fasten your seat belts and enjoy the ride.” MiserableBliss says “There are twists and turns and unexpected events and it all contributes to a great read, overall … Would I recommend the book? Absolutely. Maximum Ride isn’t a typical adventure story for kids, and I think the plot twists and general “cool” factor of the story will keep those readers engaged.” Watering Place writes “Maximum Ride is a roller coaster of a book, with short chapters, lots of action and tons of twists.”

August 17: Sheepish Annie says “[Maximum Ride 3] is a good read for children and adults alike and one that I will be bringing with me to my classroom in a couple of weeks to share with my students. Some are challenged readers and I think that this book might just appeal to them enough to encourage some skill practice.” Sisyphean deeds done dirt cheap says “Strong themes of loyalty, leadership and survival run throughout the book giving meat to an interesting plot that keeps you guessing chapter after short chapter … I would absolutely recommend this book to readers young and old. It is a wild ride with a solid message and my favorite leading bird girl, a character for the ages.” And Coffee… Tea … Soda Pop … PEETS says “I did like the idea that Patterson, through his fiction, was appealing to the younger generation to take care of this world…that they have the means to make a difference. A book with a postive underlying message is always a good thing!” And Allied reviewed the book with her daughter. They had this to say: “[Maximum Ride] is maximum fun for a mother and daughter to read together. The story gets especially intense when the flock is separated and held captive, and we learn a secret about Dr. Martinez. Does the re-evolution take place? Does Max live to save the world another day? You won’t be able to stop yourself from turning the pages to find out.”

August 20: At The Hidden Side of A Leaf, Dew says, “I would recommend this book to kids of middle school age, or slightly older or younger, who enjoy fantasy/sci-fi/adventure. I think that people who enjoy series would enjoy the recurring, familiar characters and the anticipation of the next book. I think most kids would like the idea of kids who can fly.” Poet Mom writes, “Maximum Ride is the perfect book for any young adult looking to sink their literary teeth into a fast read.” At Simple Kind of Life, Colleen says, “I can certainly see how [Maximum Ride] will captivate teens, tweens, and their parents. I can definitely see this inspiring kids to keep reading now that Harry Potter is over - there’s even a movement underfoot to get a movie made from the Maximum Ride books. I’d love to see what I read come to the big screen!” And over at Unassigned Reading, Vicki enjoyed it so much it inspired her to read the first two books in the series. She writes, “The book is action-packed, fast paced, and exciting. . . . I enjoyed reading about the relationships in this story. Max is the oldest of her flock and she kind of takes a mother/big sister role with most of the other bird kids. She really loves those kids and it shows in the story.”

August 21: Over at A Daily Dose of Zen Sarcasm, Mme. Meow reports: “The book reads very quickly and it’s quite a bit of butt-kicking, edge-of-your-seat suspense bit of goodness. . . . if you have a teenager in your life or are looking for a fun and light series to attempt to fill your Harry Potter void, or you just happen to like stories about genetically enhanced kids with wings, I heartily recommend [Maximum Ride].” Brainy Mama doesn’t like roller-coaster rides or their literary equivalent, but she says, “For those looking for a quick, action-packed read, Patterson’s Maximum Ride series just might be the ticket to “the best movie you’ll read all summer.’ ” Mom Reviews says, “Overall this is a great book for young adults and adults alike. I didn’t read this book with my 6 year old son since I think he is too young for the story line. I will save it for him to read in a couple of years,however, as I am sure he will enjoy this engaging and fast paced piece of literature. Ultimately, this book is definitely a book for kids to get excited over.” At Loomy Mama, RiverCitySTL read the book with her 13-year-old son and says, “We highly recommend the entire Maximum Ride series to parents and teens alike! My son is excited that he is prepared for the inevitable first book report he’ll be assigned in class. And I am excited that not only did he read the book, but like myself, he couldn’t put it down!”

August 22: Midlife Mama has this to say: “[Maximum Ride] is exciting and fun, and it’s absolutely meant for kids from about 12 to 16. . . . It’ll make a great movie (and I can’t wait to see the special effects.) Sure, there’s a message–’kids can make a difference’–but the pleasure of the book is in the action and the characters–and that’s a considerable pleasure.” Bethany at Wavy Brains writes, “This series has the potential to lure kids away from their games and movies, and that’s a really neat thing.” At Women and Horses, Riderone says, “I admit, I’m a sucker for mouthy girl main character and that description fits Max. . . . Max gets off some good ones that had me giggling more than once, and her intense love of her fellow bird-kids is very real despite the way she throws off smart-alecky one-liners. That her way of whistling in the dark and there’s plenty of dark in this book.” And Lela at After the Bubbly writes, “I’d say twelve to sixteen would be prime reader ages, but every kid is different. Corny as it sounds, I really think Max is a great role model for leadership under pressure. She holds it together under extreme conditions to keep her flock alive and flapping. I’m a sucker for apocalyptic/dystopia fiction so I thought it was great.”

August 23: Jody Mace isn’t sure whether or not Max rings true as an “authentic girl,” but she says: “Many people have observed that boys don’t like reading books where the main character is a girl. I don’t think that will be the case here. There’s nothing about Max that would make a boy think she has cooties.” Chicago Mama weighs in, and Sugar Mommy calls the book “fun to read” and says, “Patterson captures the snark, attitude and insecurities of a fourteen-year-old girl perfectly.” At Mom and More, Merry writes, “This book is ideal for the reluctant reader. Chapters are short and entertaining and the plot moves very fast. Patterson has done a masterful job of creating the teenage voice which permeates this world, filled with lifelike emotion in an extraordinary background.”

August 24: Major Bedhead is not a fan, but Life in the Petri Dish says that even though the book isn’t personally her cup of tea, she thinks it might be just the thing to get a kid reading: “Do I think that this book is good as YA fiction to get kids reading? You will be surprised, but yes, I actually think it is. For the right kid. I see this book as extremely light YA fiction, which is suited well either for the very young advanced reader ready to move into novels or for the older young adult (is that self-contradictory?) who has not been a big fan of reading to get a taste for an adventure in words. The straightforward nature and lack of side-tracking with detail might just get that individual to stick with the story long enough to find out that reading can be fun.” Over at Monkeygirl, Laurie says, “I think this book is worth it though for the action and the awesome character of Max. She is a really great, strong female character, so I am happy about that no matter what.” And Gloria at Gloria’s Place writes, “I enjoyed James Patterson’s simple and quick, but detailed style of writing in this book too. Despite the book’s 405 pages, the book is an easy read with short chapters a young teenager can easily enjoy as leisure reading (vs. school reading) during the summer, during vacation or maybe even the school year if she/he isn’t already bogged down with complicated books to read. Yes, reading really can be enjoyable. I would have loved more books like this when I was a teenager.”

August 27: Coffee & Critique read Maximum Ride with her teenage daughter. She says “Between Fang’s blog, the environmental theme, and even the title, James Patterson does an excellent job tapping into 21st century teen culture.” The Daily Bitch also read the book with her 12-year -old daughter, and they both enjoyed it. She says “Maximum Ride 3 is full of adventure, excitement…and just enough grossness to impress even the tween boys … These books are easy reads with a smooth flow, and a broad stroke of humor throughout.” Prose Matters especially enjoyed max, the main character. She says “Max’s character … would leave a positive impact on my daughters and girls all around the globe. It shows that women of any age can have a tough exterior and also maintain an inner strength and kindness that can take them far in any aspect of their lives, even in the most difficult of situations.” And Making Things Up writes “The book reads very much like a teen action film, with minimal plot and plenty of violence against robotic bad guys … Consider it for reluctant readers, especially those who might otherwise prefer to catch their entertainment on a screen.”

August 28: Hamster Boy says “An underlying theme about saving the environment and ultimately the earth is threaded through [the book] … The message was clear: kids need to take an active part in keeping this earth liveable … A good read that I will recommend to the young (and old) people in my life.” The Write Realm says “My teenager is now reading it and likes it so far. Knowing her, she’ll especially like how the flock is lead by a sarcastic female who kicks butt … And trust me, anything that gets her excited about reading is good to me.” And Nothing Clever to Say couldn’t put it down. She writes “This book would be wonderful for children who are interested in fantasy/science fiction. My daughter, who is almost 12, would enjoy reading this book … I would definitely recommend it.” And Hollow Squirrel was surprised she liked this book. She says “One of the ways to save the world includes blogging! YAY! The second lead character, Fang, has a blog, and he shares the evil plan & the Flock’s troubles with the world, hoping to gather support from children around the globe. Don’t make me start singing about ‘children are our future…’ but it’s true.”

August 29: Our Little Slice of Heaven says “One of my favorite things about this book is the fact that one of the characters writes a blog.  And it happens to be a real blog.  My crew is just eating that up.  There is also a short video on the website that got my crew pretty excited. I’ve heard they are in the process of putting the series on the big screen as well, and the crew has already started begging to see it.” A Readable Feast was less enthusiastic. The DeBroff DeBrief says “Young adults will find that the books are not only incredibly exciting adventure stories, made up of vivid imagery that brings the characters and their stories to life, but also that they contain aspects of life to which all kids can relate.” Abbily Ever After writes “This book is great for a teen audience, or anyone who still thinks they are a teen. Patterson’s writing is hip and witty and very believable for the 14 year old female main character.”

August 30: Vindauga says “Jam-packed with good humor and sarcasm, Maximum Ride hooks nearly any young reader and manages to also express some messages about saving the environment.” Bad Mom says “As a teacher of teens, I will definitely recommend it to my students - especially those who claim to hate reading … Definitely an E-ticket this one; go for the trio and your preteens & teenagers will think you’re the bomb.” Living With Multiple Personalities read the book with her daughter. She writes “I’m very glad that I got my daughter involved in this series with me.  It allowed us to share opinions and talk about life using some of the book topics.” And Lather, Rinse, Repeat read the book with her sixth-grade son. She says “It’s an easy read as the chapters are short and action packed. There is no opportunity to be bored as the story moves along. My son liked it, read it quickly and said he’d read it again.”

August 31: Counterfeit Humans had to keep her teenage son at bay while she read. She says “From the very start, this energetic read showed no signs of letting up. Fast-paced and well planned, the short, crisp chapters reeled me in; I couldn’t help but fly right beside Max, Fang and the whole gang as they set out to save the world from obliteration.” Chicka Nuts read the book with her daughter. They had this to say: “I LOVE that JP (James Patterson) had a character that blogged, and even included a link to the blog in the book. [My daughter] thought that was super cool and very timely.” Three Kid Circus says “The rapid-fire chapters and non-stop action are great for readers who don’t like to linger … Best of all, even with all the strange abilities of the characters, these are plausible, real-world kids, with problems and emotions just like the target audience. They don’t have everything figured out yet, and their flaws are both endearing and authentic.” And Ramblings of a Social Outcast says “Maximum Ride 3 is amazing. I’d already read the other books in the series and this did not disappoint … Max was still her awesome, sarcastic, butt-kicking self … The action scenes were great and the suspense was riveting.”

Sept 3: Freckles says “[Maximum Ride] reminds the reader that kids have a voice, an important one, and that they do have the power to change the world.” Gaijin Mama says “Patterson must have teens in the house, or maybe he spent a lot of afternoons eavesdropping at Taco Bell. The dialogue is snappy, and the teen-aged sarcasm struck me as spot on.  There’s plenty of humor mixed with zeit-geist-y references to global warming and the follies of adults.” SMS Book Reviews says “I enjoyed this book and recommend it to those 12 and up. I hope that James Patterson chooses to write more novels for kids/teens when Maximum Ride is finished. It’s books like these that get kids reading.” And This Full House says “[Maximum Ride] was pretty tame in language and graphic violence (lacking in wise-cracking kids, not so much) and perfectly suitable for the teenager in the house.”

Sept 4: Life as Lou says “Young teens will enjoy the smart aleck dialogue, the unique hybrids of man and animal and the constant plot driven action and mind games.” A Girl Named Gus says “[Max's] continual need to find her roots in order to define herself made her a likeable character and someone I think teens can identify with. It was fun to watch her grow up throughout the book and start to figure out her life.” Toddler Planet writes “[Maximum Ride] was freewheeling, adventurous, and kept me turning the pages well past lights-out. I enjoyed the book and the re-introduction to the genre, and I’m passing my copy along to a young friend to enjoy as well.” A Wrung Sponge says “I found the book to be an exciting, fast paced read. I stayed up late a couple nights in a row to finish it and found myself thinking about the Flock during the day, wondering what adventures they were getting into and what would happen next.”

Sept 5: Moving Mama says “It looks like this old moving mama has a bit of youth left in her, because I couldn’t put the darn thing down … Maximum Ride totally reminded me why I loved, loved, loved to read when I was a kid.” The Imponderabilia of Actual Life was intrigued by the premise, but ultimately unimpressed. Maddie!  Maddy! Madeeeee! says “As a librarian I would include this book and its siblings with light, easy-reading series books for summer, and would recommend it to tweens who like a narrative with a bit of adventure, thrill, and fun.” And Clueless in Carolina says “Not a dull moment. Max and her cohorts are constantly escaping the evil scientists out to destroy them, devising many ingenious ways to fly the coop, so to speak.”

Sept 6: Resident Alien says “The plot is fast-paced with short chapters of two to three pages and plenty of modern, kid-friendly references and throw away humor.” All Rileyed Up says “Why will boys like this? Danger. Excitement. Fight sequences. This book is quite comic book-esque, with its genetically altered heroes and snarky one-liners … Why will girls like this? In short, Max. Max is one hundred percent female and one hundred percent bad mamma jamma.” According to Wife Soup, “This is a book that kids can easily get excited about, and anything that makes reading more desirable for kids (or anyone for that matter) sounds like a success to me.” Cass Knits says “The excitement in [my kids'] voices was palpable, and their frantic cries of “where’s that ride book? Mom, make her/him give me a turn!” were pleasing as well … And not only did they enjoy this book, but they just had to go to the library to get the others in this series! How awesome is that?” And A Life Less Ordinary says “I recommend this book to anyone trying to coax a kid to read more. I think they — and you — will be pleasantly surprised.”

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 2nd, 2007 at 12:46 am and is filed under Books. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.