The Angel Experiment (Maximum Ride #1)

The Angel Experiment is one of those books that throws you straight into action so it peaks your interest early on!

It follows Max and a group of kids who can fly, but their abilities come from something much darker than just being special. They’ve been experimented on, they’re being hunted, and they don’t fully understand who they are or why any of this is happening to them. The story moves fast, jumping from hiding to escaping to fighting, and it keeps that sense of urgency the whole time.

I actually started this series back in middle school, and I remember loving it because it felt different from anything else I was reading at the time. The idea of kids with wings was already cool, but what stuck with me more was the group dynamic. Max as a leader feels real, she’s strong but still unsure sometimes, and you can tell she cares about keeping everyone safe. Fang stood out to me a lot too, mostly because he’s quiet but clearly important, and I always liked how his character slowly shows more than he says. Iggy being blind but still incredibly capable was another detail that made the group feel unique, and Nudge and Angel added a mix of energy and emotion that balanced everything out.

One thing to know before going in is that this is the first book in a series, and it definitely feels like it. It doesn’t wrap everything up neatly, it kind of pushes you straight toward the next book. Because of that, I wouldn’t really recommend it to someone who prefers standalones or wants a clean ending. You’ll probably feel like you have to keep going just to get answers. At the same time, that’s also what makes it fun, especially if you like getting invested in a longer story and watching it build over time.

My favorite parts were the scenes where the group is working together to escape or survive, especially when they’re flying. Those moments felt exciting and a little freeing, even with everything going on. Overall, it’s a fast, action heavy read with characters that are easy to get attached to, and it’s a strong start if you’re ready to commit to a full series instead of just one book.

Honestly? Before reading this, I thought it was going to be a bit cheesy and kind of lame. I mean, genetically mutant kids with wings escaping from evil scientists and wolf guys? It sounded like one of those stupid TV shows that my brother always watches.

After reading this, I can definitely affirm that it is NOT cheesy or lame. I can't even really remember why I thought it would be. It was definitely fast-paced and exciting and full of action and kind of horrifying at some points. What's not to like?

Maximum Ride follows six children, who are 98% human, and 2% bird. (hint, hint: they've got wings) They've got kind of ridiculous names: Maximum (who IS a girl), Nudge, Iggy, Fang, Angel and Gasman. They live in isolation, because the evil scientists who created them are out to get them. Their caretaker, Jeb, has disappeared, but they all know he's (ahem) dead. One day, Angel is captured by the Erasers (seriously, erasers? it sounds like their pencil cases are out to get them) who are evil kind of werewolf thingies. So of course, Max and the rest of the flock fly off to save her.

I reckon that this should have been two books. One for rescuing Angel, and then another for being in New York.

At first I was really confused, because the book didn't actually clearly state that Max was a girl (or if it did, I missed it) so for the first, like, 30-50 pages I went on believing that she was a BOY, because Maximum sounds like a boy's name, which made me really confused because Max's "voice" sounded more girly. Then I saw the others referring to her as "she", and I was like "wait, she? Ooooohhh... Max is a girl." So yeah. Don't make that mistake. It's confusing.

I love Max's character. She's tough, witty, and caring, and violent and funny and daring (lol... that rhymes.)

I have some questions though, that weren't really touched on in the book. for example: how does the school get all this money? Is it government funded? Why do all the others have powers other than flying (e.g. mind-reading, breathing underwater) and Max doesn't? How did they get the bird DNA inside a human egg? Why the hell would you give up your child to be tortured and turned into a bird mutant?

Anyway, hopefully these will be answered in the next book. I would love to have wings, but I guess if I had to go through all they did to have them, it wouldn't be so fun. Still... Wings are so cool!

To sum it up, this was a great, action-packed book, and I can't wait to read the next one.

The Angel Experiment is an amazing start to the new James Patterson series Maximum Ride. I think James Patterson did a great job switching from adult to YA. Patterson couldn't have done a better job.

Reader reviewed by darklightkid

Six kids, ages 6-14, live all by themselves in a cabin high in the Rocky Mountains. Here we have Max, the fearless leader; Fang, Max's right-hand man; Iggy, the blind teenage pyro; Nudge, the fashionista motormouth; the Gasman (don't ask); and Angel, the cute but terrified little baby of the group. They are nothing like other kids. They were born in a secret science lab known euphemistically as the School. They are 98% human, 2% bird. They can really fly, because they have huge and majestic wings. And they also have other cool superpowers. For instance, Angel is a mind reader, and the Gasman can mimic voices and sounds with 100% accuracy.

But soon their peaceful mountain idyll will be horribly shattered by the arrival of the dreaded Erasers. These are the human-wolf hybrids used by the School as security guards - essentially, created werewolves. The Erasers, including Ari Batchelder, a little boy Max used to know at the School who has now been brutally modified into one of these nasty brutes, appear and after a raging fight, they kidnap Angel.

Max, Fang and Nudge go on a cross-country flight to rescue their lost Angel. Along the way, Iggy and the Gasman join them after they are forced to flee the cabin due to further Eraser attacks. They later end up captured and brought to the School, where Max meets her old mentor, Jeb Batchelder (Ari's dad), who was believed dead but is now revealed to be a traitor. Jeb informs Max, most cryptically, that she is destined to "save the world."

The flock soon manages to escape and, on information Angel managed to pick up during her brief stay in the School, travel to New York in search of another lab, called the Institute. As they search, Max develops the most splitting headaches imaginable, and also a strange Voice begins to talk to her in her head and give her even more cryptic advice. And all the while, a seriously awkward romance starts to develop between Max and Fang, mortifying the heck out of them both.

Welcome to the start of one of my all-time favorite book series. Now if only they could make the movie already!! (They should fire Catherine Hardwicke from the director's chair, because she's delaying the movie with her too many script rewrites!)

Reader reviewed by Steve, SGD

Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment is the first book in the Maximum Ride Series, and it is a great start to the wonderful sequel. The main character is Max, and she is not human. She resembles an angel. In This book, you take an exciting ride through Max's fight to rescue her little sister. I think this book is incredible, with action and excitement in every corner. You won't stop reading, because of the fact of the amazing twists the story takes that will make you wanting to read more.
The down part of this story is the ending. I don't want to give too much away, but it is depressing, not very well written, and it doesn't keep you up at night thinking about it in my opinion. Other than that, the book is amazing.
In all, this book is amazing, and I suggest you read it. It is full of twists, turns, action, and all out fun. This book is a magnificent way to start off the amazing Maximum Ride Series, and if you like fiction books full of ironic twists, and fast paced action book that will keep you reading throughout the story, then this is the book for you.



This Book Review Was Made By Steve For Literature Class.

Reader reviewed by K

In the Maximum Ride series there are 6 bird kids who grew up in a lab where they were made.  They all have wings, different skills, and can kick butt.  The bird kids in the flock (their group) are Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, the Gasman, and Angel.  In this book Angel gets kidnapped by the people that created the bird kids and thats not a good thing.  For more on the flock and their adventure check out the books at a library or a store.

Reader reviewed by Jamie

Max and her friends are half human half bird they were raised in a lab but what has become of their parents were they always this mutant and did their parents give them away ? this is a exciting action thriller that will leave readers with question and curiousity. Meet 6 unforgettable characters Max(leader),Fang,Iggy,Angel,Nudge and Gazzy!  They aren't ordinary they can fly as high as birds  readers will experiance a fastpaced adventure along with Max and the flock as they try to run away from those lab people who tortured them in the first place. This is a ride readers don't want to miss, great start to a amazing series.

Reader reviewed by Sarah Jane :)

Maximum Ride, named herself after a famous  astronaunt. She wasn't named by her parents at birth because Max wasn't given birth to. She was a test tube baby, a genetically made child. But Max and her friends aren't all human, they are 98% human and 2% bird. After excaping the "school" where Max was "born" with Fang, Izzy, Gazzy, Angel and Jeb, Jeb goes missing and they are forced to think the worst. One day while outside, the five are ambushed by Erasers, evil creations maade by the school to kill them, and they kidnap Angel, the youngest of the 5. This sends the flock, as they like to call themeselves, on a chase back to the school that they had been avoiding for years to save one of their own.

Reader reviewed by Agustina Gonzalez

Being a teenager has never been easy. Especially, when your fourteen-year old girl that has wings and is on the run with her flock from evil scientists. Life has never been easy for these kids; question themselves who their real parents are. When Angel is kidnapped by the Erasers, it is up to the flock to rescue her. Max is hearing this voice in her head, which is advancing what to do.  Maybe Max is starting have feelings for Fang, Her sidekick and long time friend. Ultimately, Max has something more difficult to face. Saving the world.

I had a really good time reading this book. It was very entertaining. After page I wanted to know what will happen to the flock.

 

Reader reviewed by Jesse

I have just recently read the book Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment. I thought i was a mysterical, facinating book. I would highley reccommend that you read this book, along with the others in the series! James Patterson, in my opinion, is a good author. He can write for children, teens, or adults. I have never really liked to read, but I read this book, and OMG! I now love to read. So you're probably wondering, is she going to tell about the book or not? Well, I am! Angel gets taken back to the school and well they try to save her, and get her back. But what happens when Max helps a girl named Ella? He has to go to the doctors and they find the chip in his arm, and Max says her life is practiclly over. Then they fight long, and hard to get Angel back, and they finally do! Then they find the Instuitute and they get their parents names and addresses, all but Max does. Was Max really a test-tube baby? Read th other books to find out!  =)