Maximum Ride Reading Challenge: Interactive Game

You guys are probably all sick of me blathering on about the Max Ride Reading Challenge (NEVER TOO LATE TO SIGN UP!!), but I have exciting news.

I've finally fulfilled my promise and created an INTERACTIVE Max-Ride themed game. It's (in my [perhaps biased] opinion) pretty fun and kinda cool!

Basically, the goal is to choose one of the members of the flock and fly around as them, avoiding Erasers.

Sounds simple enough, right? At first. But as the game goes on, more Erasers appear, faster, stronger...and harder to evade.

Anyway, check out the game right HERE at the official MRRC site, and let us know what you think!!

[Incredibly huge thanks to the ever-fantastic CJ, without whom that game would have never gotten done. Okay, maybe it would have, but it would have been waaay lamer. And half the scripts wouldn't work.]

(:D)
~Mag

Review: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports by James Patterson (MRRC)

So, who out there is participating in the Maximum Ride Reading Challenge?

I'm actually hosting it, along with the delightful Ella from Musings in Ink. Basically, the point of the Challenge is to read (or re-read) all seven of the already-released Max Ride books, in preparation for the release of the LAST ONE, Nevermore! All the details are on the Official MRRC Blog. It's never too late to sign up! (Also, if you've already signed up, we're going to need you to re-sign up a different way. Details about that are on the signup page on the blog. Thanks!)


(Don't forget that because this is the third book in the series, my review may have slight spoilers for the first two books, but not the third! You've been warned! ;D)

Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports by James Patterson 

In MAXIMUM RIDE: SAVING THE WORLD AND OTHER EXTREME SPORTS, the time has arrived for Max and her winged "Flock" to face their ultimate enemy and discover their original purpose: to defeat the takeover of "Re-evolution", a sinister experiment to re-engineer a select population into a scientifically superior master race...and to terminate the rest. Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman, and Angel have always worked together to defeat the forces working against them--but can they save the world when they are torn apart, living in hiding and captivity, halfway across the globe from one another? 

------

The bird kids are BACK, and their lives are full of just as much action and drama as before. Seriously, these guys cannot catch a break. 


The good news? They've escaped from Itex, they're safe and together, and there don't seem to be any Erasers...anywhere.


The bad news? They still have to figure out where they came from, they still have to "save the world," and whatever is going to replace the Erasers is sure to be about six billion times nastier. 


The odds are not in their favor. (Oh, sorry, wrong series ;D)


And, since this is the flock we're talking about, things. get. worse.


It turns out that the sociopathic crazies at Itex/The School are planning something big. Something unbelievable. Something incredibly evil and sick. They want to make the world a purer place...by killing everyone who isn't "perfect."


Yeah, you can see how that would be a problem.


The question is, how will the flock stop them? How CAN they, when they're technically nothing but a bunch of kids with wings, and they're starting to fight among themselves?


Okay, now that I've freaked you out satisfactorily, I'll finish up with some teasers!


One that showcases Fang's awesomeness:

     "Is dere anysing special about you?" asked ter Borcht. "Anysing vorth saving?"     Fang pretended to think, gazing up at the ceiling. "Besides my fashion sense? I play a mean harmonica."

Another that shows the flock's morbid creativity:

     “Look, we're trying to explore other options to your retirement," the whitecoat said. "You might be useful to us in other ways."
     "Because we're not that useful dead," Nudge said thoughtfully.
     "No," I agreed. "Well, maybe as doorstops."
     The whitecoat made an "eew" expression.
     "Or those things in a parking lot that show where the cars should stop," suggested Iggy. He closed his eyes and went stiff, to demonstrate what it would look like.
    "Also an option.”

And one more that basically sums up Max in a nutshell:

     His eyelids flickered, and it seemed to me that he was controlling himself with difficulty.
     Well, I get under people's skins. It's a gift I have, what can I say?

Altogether, Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports gets <*><*><*><*><*>


(Also: Remember to sign up for the Max Ride Reading Challenge!!!)


(:D)
~Mag

Review: School's Out--Forever by James Patterson (MRRC)

So, who out there is participating in the Maximum Ride Reading Challenge?

I'm actually hosting it, along with the delightful Ella from Musings in Ink. Basically, the point of the Challenge is to read (or re-read) all seven of the already-released Max Ride books, in preparation for the release of the LAST ONE, Nevermore! All the details are on the Official MRRC Blog. It's never too late to sign up! (Also, if you've already signed up with Linky, we're going to need you to re-sign up a different way. Details about that are on the signup page on the blog. Thanks!)

School's Out--Forever by James Patterson 

Fourteen-year-old Maximum Ride and the other members of the "Flock"--Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman and Angel--are just like ordinary kids--only they have wings and can fly. It seems like a dream come true--except that they're being hunted by half-human, half-wolf "Erasers" who can fly, too. 

In Book 2 of the series, the Flock members are taken under the wing of an FBI agent and try to live "normal" lives by going to school, making friends--and continuing their relentless search for their parents. But the Erasers return, forcing the Flock to abandon their search and make their escape once again. The voice inside Max's head keeps telling her that it's up to her to save the world, but this is especially challenging to do when she is faced with her ultimate match: a newer and better version of herself, Maximum Ride II. Max's heart-stopping quest to investigate the mind-blowing mystery of her ultimate destiny continues in the scariest, strangest, and funniest James Patterson novel yet. 

------

 The flock is back and better than ever! No, seriously, the second Max Ride book may be even better than the first!


We're tossed right back into the action, as School's Out--Forever picks up right where The Angel Experiment left off. For a second, it seems like everything's okay and the flock might actually catch a break. And then, naturally, all heck breaks loose.


After an emergency leaves them with no choice but to go to a hospital, the flock is discovered by the FBI, who are VERY interested in the genetically altered kids. Which is only to be expected. Oh, and it gets worse. Because now Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gazzy, and Angel are sent to live with an FBI agent. Who enrolls them in SCHOOL. Yeah. 


As they try to blend in with the "normal" kids at school, the flock is still trying to discover all they can about their parents and where they came from. Oh, and let's not forget the fact that Max was apparently made to "save the world". That's a biggie.


All the awesomeness of The Angel Experiment is back in full force. The flock is as hilarious, kick-butt, and lovable as ever, and the twists and turns at every corner keep the pages turning. And if you're a fan of sarcasm, (as I most DEFINITELY am) then Max is seriously the heroine for you, because you can barely go more than two sentences in the narrative without finding a snarky comment.


The rest of the flock is as awesome as ever, too. Especially Fang. I LOVE Fang. And his and Max's relationship can only get more complicated. So it does.


Basically, my point is that if you loved TAE and you haven't read SOF, you MUST. And if you haven't read either, go read them both. (And the rest of the series, during the Max Ride Reading Challenge! [More shameless plugging ;D])


To finish up, some delightful teasers from School's Out--Forever. (You can see more from my Teaser Tuesday HERE)

     "I look like prep school Barbie," Nudge complained, as she entered the kitchen. She caught sight of me in my uniform and looked slightly mollified. "Actually, you look like prep school Barbie. I'm just Barbie's friend."

(This next one's slightly edited for spoilers)

     "You're kidding, right? Please tell me you have a stronger motive for me than 'fair is fair.' Life isn't fair. Nothing is fair, ever. That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. I need to help you because fair is fair? Try, 'I need you to help me so I won't rip out your spine and beat you with it. I might respond to that. Maybe."

And one more, because I can't resist.

     "Fang! This is a huge break! Of course we should go check it out!"
     He looked at me. "But we're grounded." he said with a straight face.
     I stared at him for a second, and then we both burst out laughing.

School's Out--Forever gets <*><*><*><*><*> 


(:D)
~Mag