Saving
the World (Maximum Ride, Book 3) ,
by James Patterson (Read by Valentina DeAngelis)
The "bird kids" are back in the
air, this time in an airplane, as they take their quest
to save the planet to Europe. This is a book of revelations-Itex
is discovered to have a sinister interest in the school
and in all the mutant life forms that the school has
produced. By using genetic engineering, Itex plans to
populate the planet with only superior human beings,
and that means reducing the current population by half.
Max discovers the true identities of both her mother
and her father, and realizes that she is not the unloved
freak she's imagined herself to be. Iggy, Gazzy, Angel,
Nudge, Fang and Max learn to appreciate the unique superhuman
talents each of them brings to their unusual mutant
family. Once mortal enemies, Max and Ari form a bond
of friendship that lets them work together to defeat
some of the evil forces that shaped their tragic beginnings.
Patterson had originally called this the
third book and final book of a trilogy, but a fourth
book followed. This book wraps up loose ends and discloses
many secrets before its satisfying but unexpected conclusion.
While this book is packed with suspense, terror and
edge of the seat situations, Patterson delves deeply
into the human intellectual and emotional traits of
the characters. Max is seen as an earnest and determined
warrior in the race to save the planet, but she's also
shown to have the same doubts and insecurities that
any teenage girl might have. The other characters act
on their impulses and dreams, too. In fact, a disagreement
between Fang and Max causes the rest of the flock to
choose sides, and the flock splits up over the dispute.
Valentina DeAngelis returns as the voice
of Max and as the narrator of this audio book. Like
the familiarity of an old friend's voice, her narration
brings to mind earlier encounters with the flock. She
creates a Max who is both fearful and intrepid, who
is playful and driven, and who is loving and reserved.
Each of the other characters speaks with a distinctive
voice, creating an ensemble cast of 6 actors in one
reader. Maximum Ride's latest adventure is a thrill
fest of battles of strength with technology-enhanced
combatants and battles of wits with malevolent authoritarian
adversaries. Young adults will cheer the rebellion of
Max and her friends, and adults will celebrate the pure
and innocent determination with which they exercise
that rebellion. An ideal book for either group listening
as a family or for solitary listening, this book is
highly recommended.
Ruth
Mormon
10/10/06
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