It’s that time of the month. Well, almost.

I’ll post April’s Books of the Month tomorrow. This is an opportunity for the readers to get involved. Leave a comment telling me what nonfiction and/or fiction book you think should be next months Book of the Month.

Also, I’ll be writing reviews for March’s Books of the Month, Thomas L. Friedman’s The World Is Flat and George Orwell’s 1984 sometime in the next week. So, if you want to beat me to the punch on discussing them, head on over to the forums.

1. The Secret
   Rhonda Byrne
2. In An Instant
   Lee & Bob Woodruff
3. Women & Money
   Suze Orman
4. You: On a Diet
   Michael F. Roizen
5. I Feel Bad About My Neck
   Nora Ephron
6. The Audacity of Hope
   Barack Obama
7. A Long Way Gone
   Ishmael Beah
8. Somebody’s Gotta Say It
   Neal Boortz
9. The Best Life Diet
   Bob Greene
10. The Hardcore Diaries
    Mick Foley

Source: Publishers Weekly

1. Nineteen Minutes
   Jodi Picoult
2. Whitehorn Woods
   Maeve Binchy
3. Shopaholic & Baby
   Sophie Kinsella
4. Step On A Crack
   James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge
5. Sisters
   Danielle Steel
6. Innocent In Death
   J.D. Robb
7. The Watchman
   Robert Crais
8. The Double Bind
   Chris Bohjalian
9. For One More Day
   Mitch Albom
10. Plum Lovin’
    Janet Evanovich

Source: Publishers Weekly

It’s hard not to like James Patterson’s easy-to-read, fast-paced Maximum Ride series. He keeps the chapters short, and you find yourself turning the pages at a fast rate, keeping in line with the novel’s pace.

Since I’ve just come off a streak of reading nonfiction books about genetic engineering, Patterson’s pageturner was a relief.

Max, Fang, Iggy, Gasman, Nudge, and Angel are back for a second round of action, running from Erasers, outsmarting the whitecoats. The six genetically engineered bird kids and their talking dog, Total, pick up where the last round left off. They have information that might lead them to their parents. Max’s Voice is driving her crazy. And, they’re going to school (the real kind).

Ari, the genetically engineered Eraser (half-wolf, half-human), finally shows his human side. This was the one thing the first book, The Angel Experiment, was lacking. We see that he is not just a monster, but he has retained his human feelings after all of his alterations. But, we are also reminded that he is 7-year-old boy beneath that grown exterior.

Most of the story is told through the eyes of Max. She becomes jealous of the FBI agent who takes them in and plays the mother role to the kids for a while. She becomes jealous, or at least mad, at the girl who kisses Fang at school.

Patterson focuses on character development throughout most of the book. Nothing happens that actually moves the story along, and I was left wanting a little more. It felt like the major storyline left off in the same place that it began.

It’s hard not to like the action. Not to like the easy-flowing style. The characters that you come to love.

Overall, it’s not a bad addition to the series. I hope he answers some of the big questions in the next book though. Otherwise, the series will probably lose its appeal.

Not to end on a bad note, because I did enjoy reading School’s Out — Forever, I want to say that you should definitely read this series if you’re looking for something a little lighter and want to have fun.

Patterson will not disappoint.

1. Shopaholic & Baby
   Sophie Kinsella
2. Step On A Crack
   James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge
3. Innocent In Death
   J.D. Robb
4. Sisters
   Danielle Steel
5. The Watchman
   Robert Crais
6. The Double Bind
   Chris Bohjalian
7. For One More Day
   Mitch Albom
8. Plum Lovin’
   Janet Evanovich
9. The Alexandria Link
   Steve Berry
   
10. High Profile
    Robert Parker

Source: Publishers Weekly

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