Maximum Ride – The Angel Experiment ~ James Patterson

Rating:

Synopsis

Max Ride and her five friends grew up in a science lab/prison called the School. They were created as an experiment. An experiment where they ended up only 98 percent human. That other 2 percent had a big impact. These children are pretty special.But when an ‘experiment’ this secret and this special has escaped from the School, the scientists are pretty keen on making sure the world never finds out about them.Soon, Max and the other children find themselves on the run in an adventure beyond even their wildest dreams.

I’ve read quite a few books by James Patterson in the past, and usually enjoyed them, and despite being in my thirties, I read and and enjoy a fair number of books aimed at the young adult market, so when I discovered Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment, a few months ago, it was an easy choice to give it a go, and so snapped it up on [intlink id="15"]Bookmooch[/intlink] along with it’s (first) sequel, School’s Out – Forever (Maximum Ride).

It then sat on my shelves (in the reading queue) until this week. A week off work and with nothing planned other than a much delayed trip to the dentist, I settled down to make a dent in said ‘reading queue’ and The Angel Experiment, was one of those to be chosen.

Patterson, states on the cover, “Prepare to launch, these pages fly,” and boy do they! Strap yourself in for the ride as he takes you on an adrenaline packed roller-coaster of a journey, filled with mystery and suspense.

YOUR FAITHFUL COMPANIONS: Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, the Gasman, and Angel. Six kids who are pretty normal in most ways – except that they’re 98 percent human, 2 percent bird. They grew up in a lab, living like rats in cages, but now they’re free. Aside, of course, from the fact that they’re prime prey for Erasers – wicked wolf-like creatures with a taste for flying humans.

THE MISSIONS: Rescue Angel from malicious mutants. Infiltrate a secret facility to track down the flock’s missing parents. Scavenge for sustenance. Get revenge on an evil traitor. And save the world. If there’s time.

Surviving on their wits alone, weathering the constant twists and turns, we follow Max and the ‘Flock’ as they first try to rescue their sister, then try and learn just what is going on and why. Secrets about their past and future,in turns , shock, horrify and delight the six brother and sisters, all the while trying to evade the Erasers, who somehow always know how to find the ‘Flock’…

We are led though this story, by 14 year old, Max, our eponymous (full name Maximum Ride) heroine, who’s wit and teenage cynicism makes for a thoroughly entertaining narrator.

The pace never let’s up from the first page, and is always thrilling and full of surprises, as it constantly twists and turns one way and the next, each one of the very short chapters driving the plot on and ending on some kind of cliffhanger, designed to make you read ‘just one more’ chapter, before you put the book down. This is perfect for younger readers, but for me despite getting close it never quite reached un-putdownable status. Precisely because I knew I could fit in a chapter or two during TV adverts or after I went and make another cup of tea. Then again for reading on the bus, at lunch, or for a busy parent, this is probably perfect, so it’s hardly a criticism.

Some of the critical reviews I’ve seen for this book, most notably on Amazon, cite repetitiveness as one of the books faults and I can’t disagree, however as I’ve mentioned, the chapters are that short and the twists and turns, come that thick and fast it hardly matters.

Patterson’s skill as a story teller, elevates this out of the pure teen market (or even those older reader like myself who can enjoy a good young-adult book) to a great read for everyone 10-100!

Further Reading:
Check out MaximumRide.com for updates on an upcoming film, watch a video of Max soaring over New York City, and loads more, especially, Fang�s blog!

I’ll be reading books 2 & 3 over the next few weeks, so keep an eye out for my reviews! and finally book 4 in the series, The Maximum Ride: The Final Warning (Maximum Ride) is now available for pre-order!

Buy, Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment from Amazon. [UK] [US]