Boundless and Maximum Ride

 I've read two books so far this summer I want to recommend.  The first is The Boundless by Kenneth Oppel.  We had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Oppel here in Boise a while back.  He talked all about his writing process and the stories behind his stories.

This book was a fun adventure.  Historically, it tells the story of the coast to coast railroad in Canada, but the story has some great fantastical elements.  The main character, Will, is on the maiden crossing of the Boundless, a seven mile long train.  Will's life is in danger, and he must survive the journey.  With run-ins with a few Sasquatch, some circus performers, and no shortage of villains, this book is exciting, and hard to put down.  I highly recommend it!

The other book I just finished is the ninth book in the Maximum Ride series, Maximum Ride Forever.  I was a little surprised at the publication of this book, because James Patterson said the eighth book was the final book in the series. This series is about a group (flock) of kids who were experimented on and their DNA was mixed with avian DNA, so they all have wings and the ability to fly, among other powers.  There is a lot of action and danger, as they seem to run into trouble and people who want to kill them in every book.  This one is a little different because it takes place after the world has been destroyed.  Max and her flock have to figure out what happened, who is left, and how to survive.  It wasn't my favorite of the series, but it was a fun read, especially if you're a Maximum Ride fan.

Right now I'm reading Mark of the Thief.  I am loving it so far, and I'll be back with a review in a day or two.