Reviewed by Olivia
Rating: High Three
Who I'd Recommend to: fans of Erin Hunter's Survivor series, and people who enjoy stories that are action packed and non-stop.
Fav Quote: "You have a chip in you? Like a potato chip? How? Did you eat one?" (Rocky after hearing that Max had a microchip in him).
Summary (from Amazon):
A science experiment gone horribly awry has granted Max, Rocky, and Gizmo the unique ability to read and understand human words. Armed with this know-how, they continue to journey south, on the lookout for beacons planted by a trusted friend's owner -- beacons that promise to lead the trio to their people.
When the companions reach the ocean's edge, they find a free-spirited beachfront community. Reunited with long-lost friends (and introduced to a new delicacy -- cat kibble), Max, Rocky, and Gizmo gain the motivation they need to keep going. But danger lies ahead. . . . As their travels take them deep into the spooky swampland, can they discover what's driven the humans away? Or have they finally reached the end of the long road?
Rating: High Three
Who I'd Recommend to: fans of Erin Hunter's Survivor series, and people who enjoy stories that are action packed and non-stop.
Fav Quote: "You have a chip in you? Like a potato chip? How? Did you eat one?" (Rocky after hearing that Max had a microchip in him).
Summary (from Amazon):
A science experiment gone horribly awry has granted Max, Rocky, and Gizmo the unique ability to read and understand human words. Armed with this know-how, they continue to journey south, on the lookout for beacons planted by a trusted friend's owner -- beacons that promise to lead the trio to their people.
When the companions reach the ocean's edge, they find a free-spirited beachfront community. Reunited with long-lost friends (and introduced to a new delicacy -- cat kibble), Max, Rocky, and Gizmo gain the motivation they need to keep going. But danger lies ahead. . . . As their travels take them deep into the spooky swampland, can they discover what's driven the humans away? Or have they finally reached the end of the long road?
My thoughts: I started this series when I was 8 (I'm currently 11) when it had just come out. I've waited on the edge of my chair for the next ones to come out, and I finally got my hands of this one. Unfortunately, this book was a little bit too much of one thing and not enough of the other. The first half of the book had WAY too much action packed into something not very exciting. For example, when Max, Rocky, and Gizmo were in the swamp, just walking on and on, the author tried to put in action that just made the story seem too dull. The whole first half of the story went on that way until the threesome got out of the swamp. When they did, I felt as much in relief as Max did. From then on, Christopher Holt did a great job of putting in just enough action (what was needed) while still managing to keep us interested in the unexciting parts. I loved Julep, Dixie, Georgie, and even Flicktail was funny. (I really liked how Holt brought back something hilarious from book 1 that I thought I'd never hear again.) However, Dolph was almost too two-dimensional in this story, constantly going back and forth between being fair to Max or killing him. And in the end, when Dolph says he'll let Max go for good, I thought I'd seen the last of him, but in the next book, Dolph is a threat again. It was very confusing. But overall, a great series and a good book with highs and lows.
