Also posted on STRANGEMORE.COM. 
 Oh schnikes. 
 James Patterson is now using the word "imprint" now. God help us all. 
 Well, considering the imprinting in this book is from one teenager to another and that they are actually BIRD mutants (the term imprint originated from the act of a baby bird bonding with it's mother), it isn't quite as icky as a wolf imprinting on and falling in instatruelove with a newborn baby. Because we all know that bestiality combined with pedophilia is totally romantic, right? But still, Patterson. WTF? 
 Other than the obvious blatant attempt to appeal to the Twilight generation with the onset of a love triangle between a blond Adonis-type mutant and the rugged dark-haired broody mutant, I had a lot of fun reading this book and the series in general. 
 I probably should be ashamed to say that I read the Maximum Ride series, but who am I kidding? I have no shame. It's a guilty pleasure. I started reading them before I matured literaturicly, and no, I'm not sure that I'm proving my point by using a made up word like literaturicly but "So what? Who cares?" *multiple exaggerated shoulder shrugs* 
 The Rundown 
 For you sci-fi gurus, you may notice similarities with James Cameron's masterpiece television series Dark Angel, which if you haven't watched... what the hell is wrong with you? Let me break it down: Jessica Alba, as a mutant, kicking ass while wearing leather - Do you need more convincing than that? REALLY?! 
 Some facts about the Maximum Ride series by James Patterson: 
 * Girl named Max, short for Maximum. 
 * She kicks ass and doesn't stop to take names. 
 * She is a mutant with special abilities because of her recombinant DNA. 
 * She has a "flock" of other friends with special abilities. 
 * Her love interest is part of her group but it seems they are destined to NOT be together. 
 * Her main job is saving the world, but she mostly ends up just doing a few odd jobs here and there. 
 While this may not be Dawson's Creek with mutant teens who have a ridiculously large vocabulary, it IS a lot like Dark Angel, complete with angst, wangst, and a love triangle but specifically with recombinant DNA bird kids! WOOOOOO! 
 These books are by no means "brain food." In fact, most would consider them juvenile, which is one thing I love about them. They don't use complex or lyrical language. They can be melodramatic at times, but mostly they are just unadulterated fun, not to mention entirely addictive. 
 The Tone and Pacing 
 The Maximum Ride books usually fly at a breakneck speed and don't often slow down. The flock is always on the move, always performing ridiculous feats of awesomeness, and always making stupid jokes. Regardless of the camp in these books, they have a lot of heart also, as well as great messages for younger teens or pre-teens. 
 "There's nothing more dangerous than someone trying to act for the greater good." 
 Which is so true in lots of ways. Many horrific things have been done in the name of the greater good. Hitler thought the Holocaust would create a superior master race. Religious extremist think that ridding the world of all religious opposition is for the greater good. People who think they have the best intentions can often be the most ruthless. 
 Apart from messages about saving the world and being the best version of yourself, there are also not-so-complex undertones about doing what's right and taking care of the planet. It did get a little preachy for my taste in one or two of the books, but overall, the series is still worthwhile and hella fun to read. And there is only ONE more after this book. *cries like a little baby, like a little baby in it's crib* 
 The Verdict 
 I'm so ridiculously attached to these books and these characters that I just can't give this one any less than 4 stars. 
 There are not very many articulate reviews of these books (I mean one review actually calls a main character "butt poop") and unfortunately the books themselves are not highly intelligent. There aren't really any prerequisites here. No thinking required. 
 The Scarecrow could read these books. *sings* "If I only had intelligent conversational techniques." 
 These books are FUN, FUN, FUN! And mainly just that, which is exactly what I needed.