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.

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. In fact, during the time when she was fighting with the fake Max, I wished she would receive a really severe beating, be almost helpless, suffer, and even be on the verge of dying, you know? 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Previewing this book for near teen-age boys, I find myself quite taken with it.

I do like the characters and the story line. My boys have a penchant for books where sarcastic wit is strong in at least one character, and Patterson does not disappoint in providing lots of zinging dialog. The graphic novels led us to these, and I was initially unsure if they were for youth or adults, as in our library some of the "Maximum Ride" series is housed in the adult fiction section. In one of the graphic novels, there were several occurrences of bad language, but the rest of the graphic novels had none. This book had one instance of the word "ass", but overall, the children in the book used restrained language.

This is only book 2, so I am certain that I will have to keep reading to see how this series progresses. There are some relationship themes and a mushy kiss, but all was not explicit or out of the ordinary.

As for the story, genetically modified bird-children escape the lab and the evil genius who created them to find their families and their place in the world. The world they may need to save from the other genetically modified wolf-children who are hunting them down. There is a battle, injuries, and the kids are now being helped by the FBI. Now, while at a safe house, the kids have to go to school, real school. The question that remains is, is this house really safe, and who can the kids truly trust?

It's a captivating story that keeps me on the edge of my seat, eager to discover what happens next.

Yeah, this book was definitely better than book 1. I've always been a sucker for sequels, and this one did not disappoint.

The flock, which consists of avian mutant kids with wings, actually stays together throughout the entire novel. It's not like the first book, which had a bunch of random point-of-views. We really love the found family tropes.

And let's not forget about the Fax development! Yes, jealousy comes into play here. It adds an interesting dynamic to the story.

One thing I forgot was how young they all are in this book. It's a reminder that they're still kids, despite their extraordinary abilities.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to see what happens next in the series.

What I Liked:

Max was a great character in this book. She had some really good character development. I loved seeing her explore her more “feminine” side. Her date with Sam was especially enjoyable. I also found her little jealous streak when Fang got kissed by Lissa quite entertaining. And Fang’s equal amount of jealousy towards Sam was also a nice touch.

Iggy was another character I liked. The development of his relationship with his family was well done. It felt real and not the cheesy, expected fairytale ending that I thought James Patterson might write. The fact that his parents saw him as a freak and a way to make money was very believable.

What I Disliked:

The plot in this book was lacking. It seemed like it was mostly just following the flock as they were on the run, dodging random eraser attacks that were never really explained. Then they found a new home and spent the rest of the book trying to settle in and going to school. There wasn’t much depth to it. There is so much useless filler in this series that it’s not even funny. It’s just a waste of paper.

The writing style of James Patterson is also a major drawback. It is the simplest writing style I’ve ever come across in all the books I’ve read. There is very little description, and there is so much useless filler not only in this book but also in the rest of the series and the rest of JP’s books. It was a waste of both paper and time. The book could have easily been half the size and would have been better. Additionally, the characters are a bit immature. I understand they’re young, but considering their circumstances – being chased by evil people, living on the streets, eating out of garbage cans, and fighting for their lives – I would have expected them to have matured a bit over the years, but they haven’t.

Overall, this book was just okay. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t great either. It was kind of average, and I could have done without reading it. However, if you enjoyed the first book, you’ll most likely enjoy this one as well. 2.0

This is the perfect sequel to the first book.

It continues the story in a seamless and engaging way. The author has done an excellent job of developing the characters further and creating a new set of adventures that are both exciting and full of heart.

The writing is very well done, with a smooth flow and vivid descriptions that bring the story to life. The pacing is also just right, keeping the reader hooked from beginning to end.

I would highly recommend this book to everyone, whether you are a fan of the first book or new to the series. It is a great read that will leave you wanting more.

Don't miss out on this amazing sequel!