Maximum Ride #2

School's Out—Forever

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In this eagerly awaited follow-up, brave bird-kid Max and her flock are discovered by an FBI agent and forced to go to "school." There is no such thing as an ordinary day as Max deciphers how and when she's supposed to save the world, and she faces her greatest enemy--a clone of herself. Little, Brown and Company

409 pages, Hardcover

First published May 23,2006

Series
Places

This edition

Format
409 pages, Hardcover
Published
May 23, 2006 by Little, Brown and Company
ISBN
9780316155595
ASIN
0316155594
Language
English
Characters More characters
  • Maximum Ride

    Maximum Ride

    *Spoiler Warning*Maximum Ride is the main character of the Maximum Ride series. She is a teenage girl who has been genetically modified to contain avian DNA. She has wings and can fly. Unlike the other members of the flock, Max can fly at very high speeds...

  • Jeb Batchelder

    Jeb Batchelder

    Jeb is the biological father of Max and Ari. He used to work at the School....

  • Iggy

    Iggy

    Iggy is the blind member of the flock. He can feel colors and is supersensory. He lives the same quality life the other members of the flock live. (Fang) But in the sixth book (Fang) he learns he wants to see.In book two (Schools Out-Forever) Iggy f...

  • Nudge

    Nudge

    ...

  • Gasman

    Gasman

    The Gasman is the second-youngest member of Maximum Rides flock. He and Angel are biological siblings. Like all members of the flock, he has wings and can fly. His special power is the ability to recreate voices and sounds.more...

  • Angel (Maximum Ride)

    Angel (maximum Ride)

    Angel is the youngest member of Maximum Rides flock. As a baby, she was genetically altered to have avian DNA, so she has wings and can fly. She and the Gasman are biological siblings. Angel has the power to read minds.more...

About the author

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Official US Site
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead

James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time. He is the creator of unforgettable characters and series, including Alex Cross, the Women's Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride, and of breathtaking true stories about the Kennedys, John Lennon, and Tiger Woods, as well as our military heroes, police officers, and ER nurses. Patterson has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton, and collaborated most recently with Michael Crichton on the blockbuster Eruption. He has told the story of his own life in James Patterson by James Patterson and received an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.

This author also writes under the following name: Džejms Paterson

Community Reviews

Rating(4 / 5.0, 100 votes)
5 stars
34(34%)
4 stars
31(31%)
3 stars
35(35%)
2 stars
0(0%)
1 stars
0(0%)
100 reviews All reviews
July 15,2025
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Hmm... The second installment of the Maximum Ride series is truly as thrilling and action-packed as ever.

However, I must admit that I think I enjoyed the first book more. The first one was much more realistic and not so confusing. I mean, seriously... Ari is back from the dead?!? Okay, someone please explain to me HOW that is humanely possible...even for wacko mad scientists.

And I would really like to know WHAT the heck is up with Jeb. Why, for instance, is he saying "I love you" while trying to kill Max at the same time? Seriously, he needs to find where his loyalties lie. First he's like, "OMG MAX I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!" and then he's like, "oh wait, I just made a clone of you, Max, and actually, I love her just as much as you, so I'm going to make you two fight to the death and I'll be happy with whoever wins, 'cause I care the same amount about each of you." Right. Okay....??

And what's up with this new company, Itex?? It's making no sense. What are the whitecoats TRYING to do, and WHAT FREAKING SIDE ARE THEY ON?!?!!

And what was up with the regular school?? Who's side were THEY on? What was up with Sam? And how is Anne the head hauncho of the crazy scientists all of a sudden?

What's up with Max seeing herself as an eraser in the mirror? And the whole imposter Max thing was confusing. And the whole end part, too. And why are the whitecoats ON THEIR SIDE but trying to kill them?!?! And what do Max and the flock need to save the world from. Itex blowing up the world?!?! What?!?!

'Kay, I'm rambling now. So, anyways, back to the point. In this book, James Patterson brings up some really crazy concepts in, like, one sentence, and then he never mentions them again. He's expecting us to just figure it out ourselves and assumes we'll get it right with no more say on his part. Um, okay?!?! No thanks!! He brings up all these plot twists, but never solves them/finishes them, which gets REALLY annoying.

Basically, what I'm trying to say is... this book was great. It really was. It was exciting and suspenseful and thrilling and I couldn't put it down. But... half the time my head was hurting and I was utterly confused, or I had a brain-bashing headache, or I was filled with anger at not understanding what the heck was going on. Sooo... yeah. That basically sums it all up.
July 15,2025
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Huh. The writing style remains the same, and the characters are also unchanged. Despite this being a book with over 400 pages, I feel that the plot has not advanced much.

Sure, they have obtained a few ideas, information, and whatever else they need to "save the world," but... I don't know. I just think that reading such a long book should have provided me with more things to be excited about. Unfortunately, that's not the case.

I still have no emotional connection to the main characters, especially Max. She is just so sarcastic that it's no longer amusing. Moreover, she can really be a major pushover, and I rolled my eyes about five times because of her decision-making. She is not the kind of leader I desire; I don't understand why her beloved group keeps following her. And to be honest, I can't empathize with her feelings, whether they are love, friendship, anger, or hatred.
July 15,2025
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I don't just follow Max and the kids, but also Ari.

Max and the kids come to live with an FBI agent, and it seems as if they are safe there for the first time in a long while and can regain their strength. However, Jeb and Ari are still on their tails.

Meanwhile, they are also searching for their parents and trying to learn more about their past. There were again twists that I didn't expect.

I really enjoyed this book once more. It was a thrilling read that kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters were well-developed and the story had a great pace. I can't wait to see what happens next in their adventures.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery or adventure story. It's definitely worth the read.
July 15,2025
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Well, that wasn't as good as I hoped.

I really enjoyed the first book better. Patterson seems to continue not giving proper direction to his characters and stories.

Everything in this book goes so fast and in such an organized way that it almost feels too mechanical.

He just can not seem to organize his story effectively or write a completely correct and engaging story.

I was initially interested in where the Flock were heading and what would happen next.

To be honest, the twists and turns in the plot were quite ridiculous at times.

However, despite that, I still have this strange urge to know what happens in the end.

It's like I'm caught in a web of his writing, unable to break free until I find out the final outcome.

Maybe there's still some hidden gem in the story that I haven't discovered yet.

I'll keep reading, hoping that Patterson will surprise me and turn this around.

But for now, I'm left with a bit of disappointment and a lot of curiosity.

July 15,2025
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Objectively speaking, I am well aware that this book does not deserve a full 5-star rating.

There are certain aspects of it that might not be as perfect as one would hope. However, at this particular moment, I will not be entertaining any questions regarding this book.

Perhaps it is because I am in a state of mind where I do not feel inclined to engage in a detailed discussion about its merits or demerits. Maybe I need some more time to fully process my thoughts and feelings about it.

In any case, for now, I prefer to keep my views to myself and not have to defend or justify my assessment of the book.

It is possible that in the future, I may be more open to answering questions and having a more in-depth conversation about it, but for now, this is where I stand.
July 15,2025
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I initially didn't think I would have any interest in this series. In fact, I considered it to be extremely crazy and weird. And to be honest, I still maintain that it is indeed rather strange. However, despite its oddness, it is truly incredible.

The writing style, although still somewhat childish, is more on a middle school level. Nevertheless, it is insanely clever, and the plot twists just keep on coming one after another. The number of times my jaw dropped in astonishment or the number of times I had to put the book down and take a moment to process what was happening was simply ridiculous.

This series is rapidly ascending to become one of my all-time favorites. I found it impossible to put down, and I am eagerly anticipating getting my hands on the third installment to see what further adventures and surprises await. I can't wait to "kill" number 3 and continue this amazing literary journey.
July 15,2025
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This is an excellent series.

It has captured my attention from the very beginning and has kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.

The characters are well-developed and the storylines are engaging, making it a truly enjoyable read.

I can't wait to get my hands on the last one to find out what happens to these kids.

Will they overcome all the obstacles in their path and emerge victorious?

Or will there be more challenges and heartaches along the way?

Only time will tell, but I'm sure it's going to be a thrilling conclusion to this amazing series.

I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good adventure story with a touch of mystery and drama.
July 15,2025
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The overall performance is not bad. However, it fails to reach the level of the first one.

There are certain aspects that could have been improved upon. Perhaps more attention to detail or a different approach could have made a significant difference.

The first one had a certain charm and excellence that this one lacks. It set a high standard that was difficult to match.

Nevertheless, it is not a complete disappointment. There are still some positive elements that can be recognized and built upon.

With further refinement and effort, it is possible to bring this to a level closer to that of the first one.

We should not be too harsh in our judgment but rather encourage and support the pursuit of improvement.

After all, every attempt is a step towards growth and development.

Let's look at the areas that need work and strive to make the necessary enhancements.

Who knows, maybe the next time it will be even better than the first one.
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