English

__**Book Review**__
Maximum Ride, The Angel Experiment By James Patterson

Maximum Ride is a thrilling story based in present day America. 14 year old Max and her ‘Flock’ of five unrelated siblings were born and raised in a secret lab run by sick, twisted scientists skilled in genetic grafting. Being humans with lighter bones, stronger muscles, bigger lungs, air sacs and //wings,// they were the ‘School’s’ most successful recombinant life form//.// Put under painful, inhumane experiments every day and kept in dog crates, they learnt the harsh truth of being completely abandoned. However, all was not lost for them. One of the scientists, Jeb, took pity on them and snuck them out of the School and took them to the mountains where he cared for them as his own.

They learnt how to fly, fight and fend for themselves; and just as well because one day, Jeb left to buy food and never returned. After the shock of having the closest thing to a father taken away from them, life for the flock continued in freedom. But they were always aware of the danger that followed their every step. They remained hidden from the world for almost two years until one day, when they went out to look for berries, were attacked. Angel, the youngest and smallest of them, is kidnapped in a short violent battle between the Flock and a group of Erasers, who are wolf hybrids created by the School to act as their security. Max and the remaining Flock have to somehow track down the rogue helicopter that took Angel away and return to the place they swore they’d never go back to.

As the story unravels, so does the characters true personalities. The writer often switches between each point of view so you can learn the depth of each person and see his or her side of the story. There are so many different angles to view the plot that there is never just the ‘bad side’ and the ‘good side’. As everything moves on, you often find yourself sympathising with the villain and wishing his life hadn’t been so tragic or hoping that the hero wouldn’t do what they were planning.

It is the kind of story where you get absolutely lost in it. You fall in love with the characters and sometimes the bigger picture is as vague to you as it is to the ones trying to figure it out. You feel betrayed when a character changes and you can even become suspicious of the ones you first thought were on the good side. The style of writing lets you put yourself into the book, like you’re standing there with them as it happens. The fight scenes feel so real and exiting that it is as if you’re running for your life too.

I wouldn’t say everything ties up neatly in the end because it isn’t supposed to. The story continues in the sequel and it only solves just enough things for you to be satisfied, while still leaving you asking questions.

Overall the story is amazing. Full of adventure and emotion with just the right amount of humour. Max has an edgy, powerful attitude and the book is set in a heart racing speed leaving you on the edge of your seat; definitely not to be read just before you go to sleep! Loveable characters and a plot to die for, those pages turn themselves.

=**__ Poem __**= This poem was written based on my very own experiences, over the past week and a half, of basically just writing a poem. Before you read I'd like to say that I did not mean to offend anyone on how they write poems or say anything bad about anyone else's poems. I did all the things described in this poem so it is all based on my opinion and was not meant to demean anyone. Hope you enjoy!

__The Troubles of Writing__ I’ve never liked writing poems. You think it’s going to be this fun, soul searching even where you sit outside and dream, But it never is.

Cars roll by at awkward intervals, Pointless things interrupt you and need your attention Random thoughts from the past.

Trust me you can try, But when something needs to be done, suddenly, shredding a rose of its thorns silently in the dark, well, It becomes a ‘necessity’.

So you give up. You sit there and pour the most depressing thoughts you’ve ever had onto the paper, Too grim for any teacher to see

Try again tomorrow? It’s a nice though but taking a warm stroll around the block, is hardly anything to write about.

Get inspiration from people? You can spend all day watching the kids at the park, but you’ll probably be more interested in writing about how to shut them up then anything else.

Write something funny? Come on, unless you’re Dr. Seuss and whoever’s grading it has the humour of a six year old, It’s not going to happen.

Then you start to think that maybe you’re the answer Children are the future right? So you write about the current worlds ‘disgusting’ state. Honestly, they’ve heard it a thousand times before.

Then there’s the dramatic approach. It never fails; writing about the mysterious couple who share their last moment together. Using all time favourites like ‘Clinging to hope’ and ‘Face lashing hair’ But they’re always a sure winner, classic reads to most teachers.

So yes, most of the time, Poems are a stressful event. Just wishing that it will sound better to someone who’s reading it the first time round

But in the end, You’re always proud of what you’ve written because no matter how silly it can be, A part of you is inked into that page.