Maximum Ride
The Angel Experiment
By James Patterson
Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (2005)
ISBN 978-0316155564 (hardcover)
Grades: 7 Up
Maximum Ride, or simply Max, is a strong 14 year-old girl. She takes care of her younger (not blood related) ‘siblings’: Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman and little Angel. Without parents or any adults around, she is responsible for “the flock”. As a result of modifying laboratory experiments, they are children with wings—their 2% bird genes allow their 98% child bodies to fly. They ran away from the lab in which they were raised in small cages and cannot trust anyone. Living in secrecy in the Colorado Mountains, they run away again when discovered by the Erasers: half man/half wolf genetic experiments created in the same lab. Their lives are always in danger as these sanguinary mutants are always hunting for them, wherever they go. With a single light kiss, a slight element of romance is added to the story, probably to be developed in one of the book’s sequels.
Thoughts
Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment is the first in a series of seven books. It appeals to a broad spectrum of readers as it has characters of all ages, genders, personalities, and nature. It offers suspense, surprise, fantasy, science labs, fights, romance, and many other elements that may appeal to readers. Apart of the fantastic nature of being scientific mutants, the characters are mainly normal children that are fighting for their freedom. The contrast between the day light and the peaceful sound of the wind under their wings, against the dark, dirty, and noisy world they endure when hiding underground between the train tracks and the lab, add to the suspense.
Grade 7 up.
About the Author
Born in Newburgh, New York, on March 22, 1947, author James Patterson is well-known for many of his works and charismatic characters in a wide range of genres, especially thriller and suspense. He writes for various ages and reading levels and many of his works have been adapted for TV and to the big screen. The Thomas Berryman Number, published in 1976, was the first of several novels. He has written over seventy novels and many of them have appeared on best-seller lists around the world. He is listed in the “Guinness World Records,” as the author with the most New York Times best sellers (NYTimes, 2010). Today, Patterson lives with his wife and his son in Palm Beach, Florida.
Review
Horn Book Guide Reviews 2006 Spring
Website: http://www.hbook.com
Max Ride and five other human-avian genetic hybrids fly (literally) from the lab where they were created as experiments and forge a new life in hiding. When six-year-old Angel is captured, Max leads her makeshift family in a rescue attempt, raising questions about their origins and destiny. Smart-mouthed, sympathetic characters and copious butt-kicking make this fast read pure escapist pleasure. Copyright 2006 Horn Book Guide Reviews.
Activity
From Maximum Ride official website
“Science—Unfortunately for Max and her Flock, the scientists experimenting with genomics use their knowledge to harm rather than aid society. But genomic research can be used for useful purposes: developing new energy sources, insect-and drought-resistant crops, and hardier livestock. Assign students a partner and ask them to select one of the above fields to research. Each pair should make a brochure explaining the field of genomic research, detailing both its positive and negative impact. The brochures should be presented to the class and displayed in the classroom.”
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