The second installment in Patterson’s ‘Maximum Ride:  The Fugitives’ series picks up right where the first book left off.  Almost right away the reader is thrown into the fast-paced action of the story as Max and the gang try to survive and fathom the mystery of their entire existence.  Unlike the last book, Patterson does take a bit of time to develop his characters and even spread a little drama and romance. However, he still continues his mildly complicated plot over several states and battlegrounds.  Even though this book has been on the market for several years, the issues addressed in it are even more important now than at the time of its publishing, and readers will find that they are able to connect well with the author’s message. Overall, the book was a very enjoyable read, with awesome action and interesting characters.

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language Rating: 17 religious exclamations, 8 mild obscenities, 3 anatomical terms

Violence/Gore: 7 fight scenes that include kicking, hitting, etc.; 9 instances of threatening or implied violence; a character receives a near fatal mauling; a character tries to cut a chip out of her arm with a seashell; a bomb is detonated in a school without any injuries;  characters receive minor injuries in the fight scenes.

Sex/Nudity: Characters kiss twice

Mature Subject Matter:

Science ethics, exploitation of children, death, fugitives

Alcohol / Drug Use:

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