Recently I came across a book series by James Patterson called Maximum Ride. Not only does this book call out to the pure imagination that I’ve always had when reading, but it drew my daughter in as well. She was hooked from the first chapter and finished this rather hefty book (for her age) in only a few days. I started reading it with her and as I prepared for my schedule to change with my upcoming surgery I realized I needed to finish the book before that date.
The book is about 6 kids on an extreme adventure…and they can do amazing things to your soul as they struggle to overcome troubles and work through friendships and daily struggles.
It didn’t take any pushing at all because the book grabs you from the start and pulls you through action and adventure with every turn of the page. Emotions rise up in you that you haven’t felt in ages. Pictures come to mind of the scenes in the book with vivid detail. I truly did enjoy this book and I find it will capture the minds of many youngsters and teens, as it already seems to have done.
Not only does the book have a website that’s incredible to visit but there are MP3′s, videos, a myspace page, forums, commercials and even mention of a blog within the book. Is it really out there? You’ll have to read for yourself and find out what new adventures come before Max in this series of books (the full title is Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports.)
I think too often we get our lives intertwined with online activities and we forget to encourage our children to pick up a good book and get lost in the action. I’m very glad that I got my daughter involved in this series with me. It allowed us to share opinions and talk about life using some of the book topics. I love that there’s so much online activity about the book along with just the printed words we read.
Definitely one to add to your list of books to share with your kids (or, if you’re like me, a kid at heart, read it for yourself!)