April 22, 2010
Dear Friends,
I have recently finished reading Fang by James Patterson. I gave this book a 10 out of 10, along with the rest of the Maximum Ride series, because this is really a great book, and hopefully the series will continue! I really enjoy the first person narrative writing from Max's perspective, because you get to see inside her head, and she is my favorite character. This book is about 6 kids who are 98% human and 2% human. They are basically a family, and have been together since their start in tiny test tubes. I enjoyed this book because many of the characters evolved in it, and some new ones were introduced that progressed the plot a lot!
I was surprised by the introduction of the newest "bird kid," Dylan. Dylan was designed to replace Fang in the flock, and be Max's perfect other half. I like how Patterson introduced the new character, but I didn't like the character himself. I liked it better with the good old flock, getting through things together. Throughout the book, I built up a grudge towards Dylan. In previous books, an antagonist towards the flock named Ari, was always hunting down the flock, but in the end showed a softer side before he passed away. Even though Dylan seems to be on the flock's side, he appears so genetically enhanced that he would be absolutely perfect for anyone, not only Max. He is described as gorgeous, with eyes like turquoise pools. He is brought into the story by a man that Max particularly does not like, and that makes him come across as a bit suspicious.
However, I understood why the author established Dylan as a character. The five books preceding Fang were all really great, but the flock stayed relatively the same for most of the time. I think James Patterson figured that Dylan would be a fresh start, in some ways, because he could evolve and develop as a new character, and put an interesting twist on the story.
I didn't agree with Angel's and some others' ideas throughout the story that the flock would be better as two separate flocks; Fang and Max in one, and the rest of the bird kids: Nudge, Iggy, Gazzy, and Angel in another(supposedly this is supposed to help them survive somehow in the Apocalypse). The whole entire flock functioned perfectly well up until this point into the book, and it seems like the author has been putting off the Apocalypse that has been mentioned continuously throughout the series. After Angel's prediction stating that Fang was going to be the first to die, Max constantly tries to spend as much time as possible with him, eventually tearing him from death near the end of the book. Unfortunately, Fang leaves the flock for the benefit of bringing Max back to her "leaderness," and not just the "Maxness" that he knows and loves. Hopefully this choice of his will bring the series' plot to escalate and lead into another book.
A quote that I found meaningful was this one:
"Fang, come on, I thought. You promised you would never leave me. You promised. I gulped again, hearing nothing, feeling nothing under my ear. This can't be, can't be, can't be....Oh, God, help me, help me....
My mind was starting to completely shut down in order not to feel this pain, when i heard a beep.
Then another beep.
Then I felt Fang's chest rise as he gasped in a breath, and I felt his heat beat, right under my cheek.
I bolted upright, staring at his face. His mouth opened. His good eye widened. I grabbed his hand in both of mine and clasped it hard against my chest. I couldn't say anything, could only stare at that poor, battered face I loved so much."
I picked this particular quote because it really shows how Max would be without Fang; lifeless. I truly believe that they belong together, and if Fang was lost, Max wouldn't have meaning in her life. Sorry to spoil it, but yes, with a shot of adrenaline straight to the heart, Max brings Fang back to life. One thing that this quote and some of the following chapters show is Max's determination to save her friend. This is one of her traits that makes her my favorite character, because I like her way of thinking, and her straightforward "say what you're thinking" attitude, as well as her sense of humor. If she is angry, she shows her anger in flying crimson flags!
I wish that Angel wouldn't have been as rebellious in this book, because she really seems like she has gone crazy. She wants to be the leader of the flock so badly, and even points a gun at Max in one point in the book and threatens to kill her. I don't like this change in Angel at all, and I wish she would learn that she needs to grow up and mature before she can be the leader of the flock. Also, Angel takes a side with Dr. Gunther-Hagen, a genetic scientist working on ways to grow back limbs, when Max shows no sign of trusting him. However, Max can barely have faith in her own father, Jeb Batchelder, after all he's done to the flock throughout the whole series.
I was also very surprised when Max and Fang kind of "eloped" to Las Vegas, because they went by themselves, leaving the flock and newcomer Dylan at home in the mountains. Another thing that surprised me is that they gambled on the slot machines and won the jackpot! This wasn't a very important part to the book, it only lead up to what was about to become in the Vegas scene, but I thought it was very interesting to include this chain of events in the book.
This is a really great book, with enough action to get your heart racing and enough drama and romance tied in that just makes it an overall great book! I would recommend this to anyone who can relate to a few "slightly different" kids flying toward a bright future!
Sincerely,
Shakira Stowers :)
