Since I’ve just come off a streak of reading nonfiction books about genetic engineering, Patterson’s pageturner was a relief.

Max, Fang, Iggy, Gasman, Nudge, and Angel are back for a second round of action, running from Erasers, outsmarting the whitecoats. The six genetically engineered bird kids and their talking dog, Total, pick up where the last round left off. They have information that might lead them to their parents. Max’s Voice is driving her crazy. And, they’re going to school (the real kind).

Ari, the genetically engineered Eraser (half-wolf, half-human), finally shows his human side. This was the one thing the first book, The Angel Experiment, was lacking. We see that he is not just a monster, but he has retained his human feelings after all of his alterations. But, we are also reminded that he is 7-year-old boy beneath that grown exterior.

Most of the story is told through the eyes of Max. She becomes jealous of the FBI agent who takes them in and plays the mother role to the kids for a while. She becomes jealous, or at least mad, at the girl who kisses Fang at school.

Patterson focuses on character development throughout most of the book. Nothing happens that actually moves the story along, and I was left wanting a little more. It felt like the major storyline left off in the same place that it began.

It’s hard not to like the action. Not to like the easy-flowing style. The characters that you come to love.

Overall, it’s not a bad addition to the series. I hope he answers some of the big questions in the next book though. Otherwise, the series will probably lose its appeal.

Not to end on a bad note, because I did enjoy reading School’s Out — Forever, I want to say that you should definitely read this series if you’re looking for something a little lighter and want to have fun.

Patterson will not disappoint.

I’ve also posted this review of School’s Out — Forever at Books In Bed, my new book community and review site.

Fourteen-year-old Max takes her six bird-children gang (Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gazzy, and Angel) along for a ride in which they narrowly escape wolfman creatures (Erasers), learn they each are growing new abilities, and back to the dreaded School. And they do not want to go back there. That’s where they and the Erasers were created. They escaped from the School two years ago and were finally free from the experiments and training.

Problems arise when Angel, the youngest of the four, is kidnapped. The rest of the gang is bewildered as to why they only took Angel and not any of them. Angel has a secret ability that none of them knew about. Now, the remaining five must go back to School in order to save her.

Patterson never fails to deliver an entertaining read. I’m still looking for a more humanistic side of the bad guys though. But, then again, people love to hate the bad guys. He still puts together decent story nonetheless, but it is almost redundant at some points, the similarities from his first two (unrelated) books.

The action doesn’t stop on any turn of the page or indent of the paragraph, which has been typical of all the bird-children books he’s written so far.

But, this book is only the tip of the mystery-filled iceberg for the six children. The author leaves many questions unanswered, which could turn away readers who like a clear-cut resolution by the end. I know this is the beginning of a series, but a little more resolution would have went a long way. However, the unanswered questions open countless possibilities for the future. Possibilities that I hope are fully realized in the next book.

Now, on to Maximum Ride: School’s Out—Forever.

The two books were a fun read. Of course, I like just about every book I read, but not every one of them is fun. It’s a nice break from reality, with a side of love, drama, and action.

The thing I’m most interested in about the books is the idea of genetic manipulation and transformation. I’ve always believed that humans will one day transform themselves far beyond, physically, what we are now, whether it be wings, robotics, or whatever else. Patterson touches on the real issues at hand in both books. How will we accept the next stage of human evolution? Max and her genetically altered brother and friends have wings. They can fly.

Although, I would like to have seen a more humanistic side of the “bad guys,” the book still brings up the issues that will be brought about by these men. These are issues that are relevant to today by way of cloning and genetic research. Are we playing God? Is this ethically right? Is science being held back by its opposers?

Whatever the answers to those questions may be, Patterson delivers. If you’re not interested in the scientific and moral implications brought up in this book, it’s still a great read. One that should not be looked over.