The Outsider by Melinda Metz Series: Roswell HIgh #1
Published by Pocket Pulse on September 1, 1998
Pages: 176
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased by Reviewer
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I have tried to keep this first post mostly spoiler free, but I can’t promise the same for the rest of the reviews in this series.
I remember watching the Pilot of Roswell on television as if it were yesterday. The chemistry between the cast, and the way they played their characters felt true. I discovered the books after the show shot an arrow through my heart like cupid. I was a little nervous to read them because I didn’t want anything to taint the EPIC-ness of Roswell and what it meant to me, but decided I had to if I considered myself a Roswell fan.
The Outsider,written by the wonderful Melinda Metz, was full of surprises and was EPIC in it’s own right. When I first saw Roswell, and then read the books, I couldn’t help but notice the similarities to Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series. In fact, many people noticed this and asked Stephanie at a book signing if she knew about the Roswell series. Stephanie said she was a fan. I think it’s obvious that Melinda crafted a timeless and classic formula with Max and Liz sharing a life-and-death secret as well as a biology class. Melinda pieced together each character beautifully, and I enjoyed all of the extra details that didn’t quite make it into the television show. I think the show distilled the best parts of Melinda’s The Outsider into the pilot, and I have to say I think the characters were cast perfectly. For those of you who have already read The Outsider, you know that Max was written as a blonde-haired, blue-eyed guy. Michael was written as having black hair, and Alex with red hair. Liz was also written with a different last name. Despite these differences, I imagined the characters in the book the same as the ones from the show. I just felt like Jason Behr was perfect for Max. I think Kyle and Sheriff Valenti come off as slightly more sinister in The Outsider than they do in the show. Melinda developed them into the perfect villains.
What did you think about The Outsider? What shocked you the most if you read the books after seeing the show? The comment section is open for discussion about this first book in Melinda Metz’s Roswell High series, and we would love if you let us know what a few of your favorite quotes are from The Outsider. For those of you who like the We Want A Roswell Movie facebook page, there will also be an event page open for the book discussions there. Please stop by later to enter to win a signed box set of the first five books from the Roswell High series. Here is a link to the order of all the books about the Roswell series. Thanks for joining us in the Roswell Read-A-Long!
I really enjoyed that Melinda had Max give Kyle a good beating in this book. 🙂 The Kyle in the show may not have deserved it, but the Kyle in the book definitely does!
I really enjoyed that Melinda had Max give Kyle a good beating in this book. 🙂 The Kyle in the show may not have deserved it, but the Kyle in the book definitely does!
I think I liked Max and Liz’s first kiss better in the show. I also liked the way they tried to trick Sheriff Valenti at the end of the pilot better than in the book. Any thoughts on this?
I think I liked Max and Liz’s first kiss better in the show. I also liked the way they tried to trick Sheriff Valenti at the end of the pilot better than in the book. Any thoughts on this?