The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

Fourteen-year-old Maximum Ride, better known as Max, knows what it’s like to soar above the world. She and all the members of the “flock”—Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman, and Angel—are just like ordinary kids—only they have wings and can fly. It may seem like a dream come true to some, but their lives can morph into a living nightmare at any time... like when Angel, the youngest member of the flock, is kidnapped and taken back to the “School” where she and the others were experimented on by a crew of wack jobs.

Her friends brave a journey to blazing hot Death Valley, CA, to save Angel, but soon enough, they find themselves in yet another nightmare—this one involving fighting off the half-human, half-wolf “Erasers” in New York City. Whether in the treetops of Central Park or in the bowels of the Manhattan subway system, Max and her adopted family take the ride of their lives. Along the way Max discovers from her old friend and father-figure Jeb—now her betrayed and greatest enemy—that her purpose is save the world—but can she?

Maximum Ride is no ordinary 14 year old girl. She and her adopted family - Fang and Iggy, both 13, Nudge, 11, Gazzy, 8, and Angel, 6 - were created in a lab called the School. The experiment made them 2% bird. Apart from the fact that they have wings and can fly, they also have special powers that are revealed as the story unfolds.[return:][return:]At some point before the story begins a sympathetic scientist named Jeb helped the flock escape. He spent a couple of years raising and caring for them before disappearing one day. Max and gang assumed that he had been killed by the School s mercenaries, another experiment which resulted in wolf-like mutants called Erasers.[return:][return:]When their hideout is discovered by the Erasers in the beginning of this book, Angel is captured and taken away. The flock realises that one of their old friends back at the School, Jeb s son Ari, now lead the Erasers and is out for their blood.[return:][return:]Max makes a decision that she never wanted to make: They had to go back to the School and save Angel. [return:][return:] Maximum Ride was inspired by James Patterson s previous novels When the Wind Blows and The Lake House , which also featured a Max who escaped from a School. But all similarities end here. This is a different Max with a different set of supporting characters. [return:][return:]While the other kids found new powers, Max finds a Voice in her head. She s not gone off her rocker; something s been implanted in her that could be opening this unsettling two-way communication. Her mission, the Voice tells her, is that she has to save the world.[return:][return:]I found Maximum Ride a bit of a disappointment; the main reason I got it was because I loved the original two novels. [return:][return:]However, it was intended for a new audience altogether, and I don t mean people who haven t read Patterson before. The series is aimed at kids, which is a little hard to believe at first if you judge books by their cover. Narrated by Max, the book may appeal to younger readers who have entertained fantasies of flying and other cool things.[return:][return:]Having done various genres and written convincingly from the POV of women, Patterson now tries his hand at writing for young adults. It s sci-fi meets fantasy, and certainly is a different spin from Cornelia Funke or JK Rowling. However, I probably won t endorse it as being better. His trademark short chapters may keep some of you reading, but it s a tired device for a long time fan. I need a break from Patterson anyway.[return:]return:

Overall, a quick, page turner that is enjoyable enough. Not much happens and the plot is often repetitive. The attempt at humor is juvenile, which makes sense for the target audience. Interesting enough premise to continue reading to see where it goes.

Edit: just started reading the second book, summaries of future books, and reviews. Does not seem like it really goes anywhere. Weird blog subplot, that I actually remember as a teen reading this series. Will not be reading more of the books.
It was good to distract me and get reading actual books again.

I like reading stories that have female protagonists, generally. Unfortunately, I found this one irritating. I'd be able to ignore the quality of the writing if there weren't much better YA fare to be found, but there is. That said, the story is interesting, so at least it's got that going for it.

I've only read 1 James Patterson adult novel many moons ago.

This is his foray into YA and I really enjoyed it.

Fast-paced page turner, really want to read the sequel.