Life Goes On
Image if you were genetically designed to save the world from catastrophe but you experienced situations that occur in everyday life; situations that you or I, as ordinary people, may experience day in and day out. James Patterson, the author of Maximum Ride School’s Out- Forever, writes about how Maximum “Max” and her “flock”, a group of teens and kids who are half-bird, half human hybrids, help Max save the world from the evil scientists, the “white coats”. In the book Maximum Ride School’s Out- Forever, Patterson describes experiences that Max and her “flock” endure, while trying to save the world, that allow the reader to make connections with the characters and life.
Even though Max is the one that the “white coats” designated to save the world, she can’t do it alone. That is where teamwork comes in. Not only does Max have five other hybrids with her, she has her “family”. Every time Max is with her “flock “, she has a drive to protect them even if it means getting injured. Whether they are sleeping in a park or in the forest fighting for their life, they stick together in the toughest situations. They combine their power and use teamwork to endure hardships and battles throughout the book. Her drive to protect her “family” is similar to the natural instinct we have to protect our friends and family. Just like Max and her “flock”, families stick together through the good times and bad times.
While the flock can survive almost anything when they use teamwork, they only have themselves and do not have their parents to help and protect them. Max, Fang, Iggy, Gasman, Nudge, and Angel can relate to that. They were taken away from their parents by the “white coats” as babies to be part of a science experiment. Jeb, the good guy scientist, raised them. After a year of training, Max woke up one morning and Jeb wasn’t there. Max figured he’d left them to fend for themselves but little did she know, it was yet another test-a test to see if they could stay alive without a guardian to protect them. From that day on they were homeless kids living in underground tunnels and in parks. Surprisingly we have a similar situation in the U.S. today. According to the National Center on Family Homelessness, a 2011 study stated that 1 in 45 children are homeless today. That means that there are 1.6 million children out there like Max and her friends-no help and no protection from parents.
In addition to them being homeless, Max and her flock have to survive school. Yeah that’s right, they have to go to school for the first time in their life! Not only do they have to watch their backs so they aren’t killed by Erasers, part wolf, part human hybrids. They also have to attend a private school where it is mandatory that they wear uniforms to school every day. The “flock” isn’t usually used to being around people but they try to blend with the crowd. This relates to life at some schools where students are always looking over their shoulder for bullies that tease and torment them every day. While at other schools, such as catholic schools, it is mandatory that they wear uniforms just like the “flock”.
Even though this is a fictional a book, when James Patterson writes, he does a fantastic job and includes scenarios in his story that mimic situations or problems people experience in day to day life. While on her mission to save the world, Max goes through more rough times than not. When you feel life is just not a bowl of cherries, consider this: Max, however strong and protective she acts, as technically the “white coats’ ” puppet. Not only is she a puppet, but a puppet with wings!
