MAX

MAX
By James Patterson
Science Fiction
Little, Brown and Company, NY, 2009

Summary:
Maximum Ride (Max) is the leader of a group of six kids ranging in the age of six to fourteen. These kids have different powers in addition to the fact that they all have wings and can fly. This is the fifth and latest book in the Maximum Ride series. The “Voice” that speaks only to Max, tells her that she will save the world. In this installment, Max and the rest of the flock have to battle robotic demons and radioactivity to free Max’s mother from her kidnappers. Max and Angel (the youngest of the flock at age six) use their ability to breath under water and Angel’s ability read minds and talk to animals to save Max’s mother from a facility where she being held at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Max as the narrator shares her thoughts and problem with the reader that are much like problems that normal kids would have at age fourteen. The book is an easy read for preteen level readers. Patterson writes short chapters (often two to three pages) that helps the reader stop and pick back up where they left off. While the book is a science fiction book, it does not bog down with details that would make the reader lose interest.

Themes: Friendship, Family, Belonging, Identify, Survival, Quest, Values,
Good vs. Evil, Courage, Conformity and non-conformity.

Rationale for Use: Well written, easy readability, believable adolescent characters adn problems, intricate plot, complex characters.

Content Area Connections: The book presents an element of suspense. The students can review development of plot and characters.

Possible Problems or Concerns: Complex plot may be difficult for some. The visualization of the fantasy concepts. Some struggling readers mya have problems with vocabulary and comprehension.

~Bill Oxenham