Maximum Ride School's Out Forever

Sometimes I feel that the first book in a series is, in a way, wasted space. Within the first book an author has to set up the details for not only the significantly shorter plot but also for the rest of the books to follow. In the Max Ride series I felt that this happened. The first book took me a while to really get attached and engulfed within the story. I did not want to give up on the series because my mom read the first book maybe a few years ago and said that she really enjoyed the younger twist... I wanted to keep reading them so I could not only have another book chat with her but also treat her to a glimpse of the following books. Well I am so glad that I did not give up hope on max ride because the second book blew me away. Max and "The Flock" journey never seemed to have a dull moment. The plot began with Fang's injury during flight. The Flock took her to the hospital sue to the severity of the injury. This was dangerous for them because the doctors would realize that they were not normal. The FBI showed up soon after their arrival. The kids meet an FBI agent, Anne, who does not seem like the usual threat while at the hospital. They find trust within her and feel safe even when she allows them to be examined. But later they come to find that Anne worked in the lab where all the members of The Flock were created. Anne's plan was to capture them and ultimately kidnap and confine them again. Then the final mind blowing reality that Max has to face is that she has been cloned. She never imagined that she would have to face herself in this war. Overall, the second book was more captivating of the two that I have read. I can't wait to continue this series next trimester. but for now I am reading the Witch and Wizard sequel, The Gift. :)

Maximum Ride vs. Witch and Wizard

Both series written by the James Patterson, an autor noted for his gut-wrenching novels, Maximum Ride and Witch and Wizard have captured my imagination into both the scientific and mystical world that Patterson reveals. Maximum Ride is a series of seven books all encompassing the journey of seven children. These children call themselves the Flock. They were rescued from The School were they were experiments made into 98% human and 2% super beings. Some have wings and can fly. Others have super vision, or the ability to read minds. The School created "Erasers" to find the escapees and bring them back to further the experimentation and research. The Flock's journey in the first novel is to rescue the youngest, Angel, from The School after being kidnapped. I enjoyed this first part of the series because I can see the future books in the series being more action packed and full of adventure. The only down side of this first book was that it was mostly trying to develop the characters and introduce them in order to build their characters further in the later books. I can definitely see the potential this series has and I can not wait to start the second book.
The Witch and Wizard kept my attention more so that the Max Ride because there was not as much "fluff" in the first book of this series. It was mystical but the dark side of the book was very similar to the Hunger Games... Two children, siblings, were arrested for having magical powers. They were unaware of these unique powers until after they were in custody along with their parents. They learned to embrace their gifts even though the government does not tolerate this type of power. The two were sentenced to execution when they turn 18 years-old. But the novel links their journeys details from their arrest until the time of their scheduled execution... This series is detailed, complex, action paced, and magical. If I read this closer to the time that the sequel was coming out I would have started The Ghost right after instead of getting into the Max Ride series. My mom bought be The Ghost but I think that I should continue investigating the Max Ride series before giving up too soon of that story-line. Then after I read the second book in Max Ride, I will then continue the other series! Lots of reading! So little time!