The Angel Experiment (Maximum Ride, Book 1)

by James Patterson

2006

Status

Available

Publication

Warner (2006), Edition: Reissue, 464 pages

Description

After the mutant Erasers abduct the youngest member of their group, the "birdkids," who are the result of genetic experimentation, take off in pursuit and find themselves struggling to understand their own origins and purpose.

Media reviews

3.5 out of 5 stars! I really wasn't sure what to expect at first with this book. But once I got started I couldn't stop! Kind of written with the same type of thing as the Darkest Powers Series, but with quite a few unusual twists! I'll be interested what the next book in the series, "School's
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Out-Forever", entails.
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2 more
Booklist
Patterson occasionally forgets his audience here, as evidenced by his sardonic tone and such glib adult asides as "they found their prey: moi," but he's picked a comfortable formula (orphans protecting one another and making a home together), which he's cushioned with an abundance of slavering
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beasts, childhood heartaches, and unresolved issues...
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School Library Journal
As with Patterson's adult mystery thrillers, in-depth characterization is secondary to the fast-moving plot.

User reviews

LibraryThing member Lilsongbird2009
I loved this book I loved it so much I read it all in one day. He is an excellent author though one or two things he did was kind of random and weird but I live for that so I loved it.
LibraryThing member KatieD1
This is a fun book to read. It has constant twists and turns that will keep you engaged and Max's slightly sarcastic way to telling the story is a cause for some laughter. The book is about five genetically engineered kids who are basically human crossed with bird. In the first book, one of the
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girls- Angel- is taken and the rest of her "flock" try to get her back. Along the way, they must battle evil scientists, the infamous human-wolf Erasers, and their fear of the cages and lab where Angel is taken, all to save a member of the flock. I read this book in two days flat because I just couldn't put it down.
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LibraryThing member booksandwine
Maximum Ride is not an ordinary teenage girl. She and her 'siblings' are part of a governmental genetic experiment. Max is part human, part bird, and a whole lot of attitude. Anyways, for the majority of the book, Max and her 'flock' are on the run from the government and these bad guys called
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erasers, which is really a synonym for werewolf.Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson was a rather quick read. I read it in the span of a few hours. The chapters were incredibly short, averaging 3 pages, and the font was big. Also there was plenty of action, if not character growth. While I can't complain about action, my favorite part of reading is meeting and becoming acquainted with characters. I finished this feeling as though I didn't know the characters well enough, and also asking several questions pertaining to plot holes. For example, the kids are basically raised in isolation and it seems like they were fairly mistreated, so how is it that they know how to read and write? I thought being experimented on didn't leave much time for education. Also, how did they know how to use the internet? I know I'm nitpicking, but I am bothered by plot holes, much like other people are bothered by things like historical anachronisms and such.On the one hand, I think this is a great book to hand to reluctant readers, as it's not difficult to read, there's plenty of action, and the characters are somewhat likeable. However, I felt the writing wasn't up to par with most YA I've read. I've read a few critical reviews of this book, where in the comments it's defended because the book is YA, therefore it doesn't matter that the writing isn't very quality. I'm going to put this out there right now, I think that because a book is YA it is not exempt from being quality. I think as a consumer of young adult lit I have a reasonable expectation of fabulous writing, and I most certainly encounter great writing with a lot of YA I come across (John Green, Libba Bray, Neil Gaiman, Maureen Johnson, Robin McKinley, Richelle Mead, Sarah Dessen, and so on and so forth). Also for YA to be taken as a legit genre, shouldn't we want some sort of quality in what we read? Granted, yes, not every book has to be great and amazing, and sometimes we all just need a great trashy read, but still I guess I just want more from what I read. And, I just didn't get that more from this book. Although, there are plenty of people out there who love this series. I liked this book, but didn't love it. That said, I will continue the series, and review all of them, as I won the books in a contest, therefore am doing my part as a winner by publicizing these books.
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LibraryThing member papersister
An interesting concept with mediocre writing. I'm not really a James Patterson fan anyway, but I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. It seemed like Patterson was trying too hard to write a clean book for a teen audience. The story was all over the place and there was very little flow between
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events in the story. It read like a movie (as advertised in the reviews) and is probably a good choice for reluctant readers, but this wouldn't be m first pick.
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LibraryThing member Heptonj
This is a great book which has short chapters therefore quick and easy to read. I read this in half a day as it was hard to find a place where I could happily put it down. It's an unusual tale about a group of children who have been genetically engineered so they can fly (among other things).
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Having escaped from the lab they have to survive on their wits alone which leads to all sorts of scrapes and mischief. Amidst all this I think there is a budding romance between Max and Fang.
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LibraryThing member jenreidreads
I'm not that big of a Patterson fan, but this was a fun book. A very easy and quick read, too. Kids genetically mutated to have wings who are running for their lives while also trying to save the world...I enjoyed it, but I don't recommend it that highly. Read it if you have a free afternoon with
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nothing better to do.
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LibraryThing member Conner23456
I really enjoyed this book. I feal the shorter 2 to 3 page chapters let me move throught the book faster than a 20 page chapters in another book.
LibraryThing member stelle
This is once of my favorite books of all time! Everyone should read it!
LibraryThing member BenR
This book put me on the ride of my life. I finished the book in two weeks! I ain't kidding
LibraryThing member TW_Spencer
This is hold onto seat, white-knuckled thriller that more than lives up to its name.
LibraryThing member mattsya
Patterson, (for better or worse) brings his best-seller sensibilities to this YA sci-fi novel. The novel is written with a very fast, almost nauseating pace, alternating constantly between different point of views. Unfortunately, in rushing so fast to get to the next cool action moment, a lot is
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lost in characterization and theme. Readers looking for intriguing science fiction would be better served by the works of M.T. Anderson and Scott Westerfield. Because Patterson is brand-name in fiction, there will be definite interest in the title from all sorts of readers.
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LibraryThing member tjsjohanna
Enjoyable read - my 13 year old boy loved it and can't wait to read the rest. I thought it was entertaining, and the short chapters were a different style that definitely gives the impression of swiftness in the plot.
LibraryThing member MSLMC
This page turner is appropriate for any age. A high level elementary reader through adult.
LibraryThing member jensha
group of misfits escaped from "school" must stick together and use their superpowers to escape recapture'; great description; fast-paced
LibraryThing member mchrzanowski
This is Patterson's first attempt at young adult fiction. I think he did a pretty good job. The book follows this group of genetically altered teens on a cross-country trip of self discovery. I found the main character, Max (a.k.a. Maximum Ride), to be very enjoyable. I loved her sarcastic replys
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and attitude. Once I started to read it, I had a hard time putting it down. I thought it was a very enjoyable read and a great young adult book.
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LibraryThing member abbylibrarian
Max is a fourteen-year-old girl whose DNA has been modified to give her wings. She and five other bird-people have escaped from the lab where they have lived most of their lives and they are trying to survive on their own. When the youngest of the flock is kidnapped by evil mutants called Erasers,
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Max must lead the others to try and save her.

I have to say that I liked this book in spite of myself. The chapters were rarely longer than three pages and I felt like the book started in the middle of the story and there were huge chunks that I hadn't read (the adult books, perhaps?). But it was action packed from the first page and it made for a quick, interesting read. Plus, the concept of the novel is interesting to me- children experimented on to create new blends of DNA and they each have different powers because of it. Great airplane or poolside read.
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LibraryThing member LAteacher
5 'unusual' kids living out in the country,they have the ability to fly with large wings. No gaurdian, no parent and to make matters worse they are being chased by humans with the ability to transform themselves into werewolves. What will keep them alive?
LibraryThing member kpickett
Max and her siblings have just escaped from the school, a secret lab for government tests. Max isn’t like every other 16 year old girl. She has wings. She and her flock are on the run trying to figure out who made them and for what purpose. Although Max is obviously different from other girls she
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still wants a normal life, with school, a family and home. But that will have to wait until after she saves the world.
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LibraryThing member slightlyfan
Very original and creative. The characters are very unique in their own way and work together as a team to make one kick ass group of kids. They are so complex, yet at the same time so easy to understand. And the fact that they have wings just makes then so much cooler.

I love the fact that they go
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places in this book. When they run from the white coats, they run far away. Not to a cave in the next town. They go from San Francisco to New York for petes sake!

What is great about this novel is that the author makes these kids smart. They aren't smart for being kids, they are smart even for adults. You could tell Patterson really enjoyed working with these characters. This is one of the first book series that I liked both books equally.
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LibraryThing member bookishjoxer
This book was pretty good. It started out with the feeling of cliche boring rescue type story. I am happy I finished it and want to get on to the next one.
LibraryThing member maddyoj1
This is a really good book. It's about a bunch of genetically engineered bird-human hybrids. They were "born" at a cruel place called The School. They have escaped and lived in the woods with a scientist. When one of their kind goes missing, 3 go in search of her and two stay. These two create all
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sorts of mischief while the others get mixed up in troubles of their own.
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LibraryThing member vfranklyn
This was a good, fast read. I think the dialog was a bit too clever, but overall a good read and I look forward to reading the next installment.
LibraryThing member christinastephinie24
This is a very interesting book that seems like it's realistic. Personally, I think of this book as my 2nd favorite series (Twilight series being my 1st). It keeps you on the edge of you seat, and sometimes you can feel adrenaline running through you. Max and her flock are great "people" running
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from bad while trying to save the world. It is a great book with an amazing plot. I highly recommend this book.
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LibraryThing member cazedbooker1
this book is really great. It's about a girl and her friends who are expierments!! A must read for younger teens
LibraryThing member hpluver07
Excellent! James Patterson has a really good idea for an enjoyable seires!

Language

Original language

English

Original publication date

2005-07-04

Physical description

464 p.; 4.25 inches

ISBN

0446617792 / 9780446617796

Barcode

1600885
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