Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

In James Patterson's blockbuster series, 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?
(goodreads.com)

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MY THOUGHTS:

So, the only reason I began this series was because I recieved a lot of reccomendations for it. I was very hesitant to read, because--Come on! Bird people? I thought it sounded a bit...wonky. And then I saw that it was 422 pages and I thought "Oh man. Do I really want to read this? I do have a book about werewolves and vampires..."

But then I did begin to read it, and I must say it was much better than I had anticipated. The protagonist is fourteen-year-old Maximum Ride (a self proclaimed nickname) who is generally smart, caring, and humorous.

I was a little shocked at first by the narration, where James Patterson has his protagonist actually talk to the reader, but as I read further it began to really pull me and I found it quite cute, actually. One little quibble I have, though, is the intelligence level of the children. There are six in all: Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gazzy, and Angel. Max, Fang, and Iggy are each 14 (also sort of self proclaimed); Nudge is 11; Gazzy is 8; and Angel is 6. I mean, I know that they are genetically modified and that their intelligence level should probably be above level, but I'm only slightly older than them and I consider myself fairly intelligent, yet the six year old knows more than I do! These kids don't even attend a school to educate them.

Reasons I liked it:

• The protagonist. She is tough yet soft, stoic yet vulnerable. There are several moments when she has to remind herself that she is only 14, and not exaclty cut out to raise children, but then she reminds herself that they are a family and that she would do anything for the other five. She is also sarcastic, which is undeniably awesome! She is always alert, even when she wants more than anything to relax. And instead of gushing about boys and her hair and what she's wearing, she focuses on her "flock" and their happiness--even when she begins to hear voices in her head.
• The variety of characters. There is a blind pyromaniac (Iggy, who happens to be my favorite!) who doesn't let his disability stop him from anything--even blowing up his enemies! There's a black little girl who is sweet and adorable and will talk your ears off (Nudge). There is the dark and brooding boy who actually kind of cares even though nobody but Max really knows it (Fang). There's an 8 year old boy who tries really hard to be tough and who is a junior pyromaniac (Gazzy, short for Gasman). And there is the precious little six year old who can control minds and breathe under water and a lot of other crazy things that I can't even begin to fathom (Angel).

My Rating:

3 out of 5 stars. Worth a shot!