by Ryan Leahy
When the Wind Blows
James Patterson
Publication date: 28 October 1998
Rating: 4/4
One night, Frannie Devin sees an animal that should not exist in nature: a young girl with wings on her back. The sighting of the mysterious girl comes right after the bizarre murder of Frannie’s friend, similar to how her husband died three years ago.
This prompts an FBI agent named Kit Harrison to investigate and rent a cabin near her house. The girl reveals herself to Frannie as Max or Maximum. She has a missing brother named Matthew, locked away in the evil place where they were born called the School. Frannie grows close to Kit, and they team up to break into the School. What they find is horrifying: genetically modified children being stored in cages until they are used for medical experiments. Frannie, Kit and Max find the rest of the flock, but they risk their lives and may not get out alive.
Max is the epitome of an older sister. Max only cares about her younger brother Matthew and the rest of the flock. She would do anything for him from returning to the school to giving her life. Her character is truly someone that everyone aspires to be. She is only eleven years old, but she is remarkably brave and wise.
The flock is diverse. All of them are very different, but are still able to work together as the perfect team. The flock contains Ozmandias, Icarus, Peter, Wendy, and Matthew. Ozmandias is the second born and alpha male. Icarus is a blind boy that relies on bird calls to locate his family. Peter and Wendy are twins, and Matthew is Max’s younger brother. All of them are different individuals, but are able to come together to form the perfect team.
Harding Thomas or “Uncle Thomas,” what the flock calls him, works with the scientists. He usually pretends to be kind to Max and her brother to get information or make them come back to the School. However, if they do not cooperate, he is mean and violent. His character is always changing when he does not get what he wants. Overall though, he is a cruel individual and only wants to hurt the kids.
James Patterson focused on a younger audience and delivered with his unique characters and excellent plot. This novel surpasses all others in its genre and all readers would enjoy this literary masterpiece.
