Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports by James Patterson

Synopsis:

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?

I’m pretty sure this series just keeps getting better as it goes. I feel that there was depth added to the characters in the flock in this one, especially when they were split up.

Max and Fang are both incredible leaders, but they need to learn how to work together to lead as a team. I feel that by the end of this novel they figured that out. I hope so, at least.

We got a peak into some of the inner workings of the big, bad corporation that is trying to take over the world. I wasn’t aware that they were stationed all over the place, but we learn that they are.

The new flying creatures they created were pretty comical. They were very strong, but they were so dumb and often ended up in destructing themselves.

We finally figured out the truth about Max’s origins as well. It will be interesting to see how that plays out and if she will return to her real family at all.

This book just left me wanting to dive right into the next book in the series, so I would say that it did its job!

That said, YA novels can be so cute when they have a bunch of kids standing up for the flock. When kids read these books, they probably feel like they can achieve anything they set their mind to, and that is awesome!

4/5 stars

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Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

Synopsis:

Hopeless romantic Isla has had a crush on introspective cartoonist Josh since their first year at the School of America in Paris. And after a chance encounter in Manhattan over the summer, romance might be closer than Isla imagined. But as they begin their senior year back in France, Isla and Josh are forced to confront the challenges every young couple must face, including family drama, uncertainty about their college futures, and the very real possibility of being apart.

Featuring cameos from fan-favorites Anna, Étienne, Lola, and Cricket, this sweet and sexy story of true love—set against the stunning backdrops of New York City, Paris, and Barcelona—is a swoonworthy conclusion to Stephanie Perkins’s beloved series.

I am so happy that this book captivated me from start to finish. I so badly wanted it to be better than Lola and the Boy Next door, and IT WAS! So, I was thrilled.

We are back in Paris for this novel like the first one. I think that may have been part of what made a big difference. The second book was just so unlike these two that it didn’t feel like the same series at all.

In this one, we meet Isla who has been in love with Josh for years. Once they begin talking, she becomes aware that he has feelings for her as well, and it goes from there.

These books seem so much more romantic and sweet since they take place in Paris, a city that is known for romance.

I enjoyed Isla and Josh more than Lola and Cricket which made it even easier to read this one too. They had great chemistry right from the beginning, and it was hard to not get completely lost in their story.

This was a great 3^rd book. I think it is only supposed to be a trilogy, but I find myself hoping for more books in this series.

5/5 stars

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Rumble by Ellen Hopkins

Synopsis: 

Matthew Turner doesn’t have faith in anything.

Not in family—his is a shambles after his younger brother was bullied into suicide. Not in so-called friends who turn their backs when things get tough. Not in some all-powerful creator who lets too much bad stuff happen. And certainly not in some “It Gets Better” psychobabble.

No matter what his girlfriend Hayden says about faith and forgiveness, there’s no way Matt’s letting go of blame. He’s decided to “live large and go out with a huge bang,” and whatever happens happens. But when a horrific event plunges Matt into a dark, silent place, he hears a rumble…a rumble that wakes him up, calling everything he’s ever disbelieved into question.

Another great novel by Ellen Hopkins. As always, she doesn’t shy away from tackling tough, controversial topics. In Rumble, we find storylines about religion and suicide. Both of which are difficult topics to look at objectively by some.

I thought she did a good job. This book was full of heart-wrenching moments along with some humor from the protagonist.

Rumble also dealt with loss and underage drinking in a very real manner. It almost felt like this book could be someone memoir when made it even more interesting to read and it was easy to get sucked into it.

I found myself staying up way too late reading this book because I just could not put it down.

5/5 stars

Memorable Quotes: “See, the thing about the barreling-into-you kind of love is, it leaves deep, wide scars. I tried, but never stopped loving her.”

“’Too many parents don’t have time or inclination to observe what their children are reading, and far too many parents don’t raise their children to respect their decisions. That is why we, as a community, must assure that every book our children can access meets high moral standards. That is what God would have us do.’

Apparently, God is into banning books.”

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