The Angel Experiment (Maximum Ride, Book 1)

by James Patterson

Book Overview

Max soars above the world . . . but in James Patterson's thrilling adventure, fantasy can come crashing down to reveal the nightmares of the Angel Experiment. Maximum Ride and her "flock" -- Fang,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 031615556X
• Release Date: April 2005
• Publisher: jimmy patterson
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 1.5" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

Great deal

Couldn't put it down.

One of my favorites!

James Patterson has a long list of books however not many of them compare to this! Action, Sci-Fi, Romance and Family who doesn't love books that have flying children who fight monsters and were raised in a lab? Those who don't read this book that's who! It is a wonderfully written book and the first in the series, that's right series! I know for a lot of my fellow book lovers that we are always looking for books that have more to come. Highly Recommended!

One of my all time favorites!

I read this series in high school and absolutely loved it! I recently decided to reread it and it did not disappoint! I love the characters a lot. Max is smart and headstrong, but is not without fault. I highly recommend reading the whole series!

Loved it from the first sentence!

Words can not describe how good this series is. I have read all but the last book and although it seems like James Patterson is running out of things to write about as the series goes on you just become so attached to the characters that you keep reading. I would definitely reread this series and I'm normally not the type of person to reread a book.

Maximize your reading with some good time Sci-Fic by Patterson

If anything, I had seriously misconceptions when it came to Maximum Ride. For once it was written by James Patterson, world renowned author of murder mysteries that were turned into movies usually starring Morgan Freeman to name a couple. When I saw this down at the library in the young adults section, the immediate thought that came flying from my head was, "Somebody misplaced this book in the wrong section!" I thought this because I knew James Patterson for writing books for ADULT audiences only, so was irked that someone would leave the book in the wrong section of the library. Of course, it irked me so much that I took a chance and snatched it off the book shelf to read it myself (odd no?). After several weeks I finally got around to reading it. Without a doubt these pages DO FLY as the side panel of the book warned. The storyline surrounding the characters could be more well thought out; Its sort of hard for me to describe, but a short summary would be this: [Max and her band of brothers and sisters (the flock) find themselves hunted by a organization from a place called The School after being ambushed in their hideaway home. From there they find themselves constantly running for their lives while trying unravel secrets hidden from them]. The concept of children with the ability to fly (with the inclusion of Hollow Bones) with WINGS is a nice touch to the story; The flying scenes were written very convincingly. The description of the action unfolding the extremely short chapters were well detailed, the words unfolded in my mind smoothly, the pharagraphs constructed in way that you don't find yourself scratching your head trying figure out how'd that character end up in such a position and so forth. The characters are stellar; From Max to Angel, these Teenagers, tweenagers, and kids are excellent reflections of their real life counterparts to a T. And the villains, while they make you hate them, are well written. They're never so predictable, or straightforward with their plans it makes you roll your eyes. And, yes, while this book leaves some things unexplained and the story does end quite abruptly, Max convincingly shushes that with a convincing teenage comment. Highly recommended reading.

Only One Word-AMAZING

Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment is truly an amazing book. I picked up at noon and couldn't put it down (literally) until 2:00 am when I finished it. I was so worked up i didn't sleep all night. I actually reread some parts of the book. This book is, in a sense, based on When the Wind Blows and The Lake House. Max, the main character is 98% human and 2% avian (bird)is in all three books, but the other characters are changed up a little bit. The book starts off with this warning, "If you dare to read this story, you become part of the Experiment. I know that sounds a little mysterious-but it's all I can say right now-Max" As soon as I read this, I knew this was going to be a good book. The main characters in this book are Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, the Gasman, and Angel. The book starts off right in the first few chapters. Angel gets captured by the Erasers, part human, part wolf, and taken back to the horride School (which they escaped in When the Wind Blows). The flock then has to go rescue her and along the way, many things happen. Max gets shot when she helps a little girl named Ella, the Gasman and Iggy set off the Big Boy, a bomb, and kills many Erasers, and Fang and Nudge gind the "hawk" in them. When the flock finally gets Angel out, Max learns that she has a chip in her arm and the Voice in her head. Amazingly painful headaches announce the presence of the Voice. Painful enough to knock her out cold and fall dangerously from the sky at about a mile high. Lickily Fang catches her (one of my favorite parts). The flock eventually goes to this Institue in NYC and finds horrilbe experiments being done. "Gruesome," was what one of the flock had said. The flock helps the kids get out and in the process, Max kills an Eraser named Ari. This, so far, is my all time favorite book. I love Max's character, not to mention her wings. Her spunk and her confidence in herself always amazed me. One reason why I think I liked this book so much was something that James Patterson said, "I think people like this book (When the Wind Blows-close enough) because everybody has, at one time or another, dreamt of flying. And these books bring you into lives of people who can fly." I truly believe this is true, what J. Patterson said. This is an great book!!!:)

This is the MAXMIUM RIDE of ALL books!

"If you dare read this story you become part of the Experiment. I know it sounds a little mysterious- but it's all I can say for now," - Max. This eye grabbing, thrill riding, rollercoaster of a story catches the interest and imagination for all readers. Even if you hate reading, like me, you won't be able to set this book down! It's a thrill/ adventure based book written by James Patterson, author also of best selling When the Wind Blows. Patterson created a fantasy clashing reality book that is telling about six young experiments and there life. Have you ever wished you could fly? Well the main characters in this book are six kid mutants from ages five to fourteen, Angel, Nudge, Gassman, Iggy, Fang and Max. The oldest Max, is the leader of the folk. These kids are a mixture of bird DNA and human genetics. All they remember is living in a lab, a lab of evil and hatred. This is the place where white coated people come and perform tests on them, hurt them, push them to a limit, and you are nothing but and experiment here even if you are half human. Through living in a lab they gained having powers that come to them as they grow older, such as far sight like a hawk, or being able to breathe under water (caused by tests). The whole reason why we know about these experiments is because they have been the only ones to escape. With these six escapees they are trying to live with out being killed by the government and there helpers know as the Erasers. All they want is to live, live and know what this is all about, and who they are and what they came from. However, this is or should I say, they are not to be exposed, this is the government's little secret. But, not for long... because once your start reading this you are a part of their nightmare. This twisted mysterious nightmare that I could never figure out to the last paragraph. If you enjoy a mysterious book that tests your limits of what is real and what can't be, then this is a book for you, for all- once your hooked there's no way out.

Long Story Short...Absolutely Incredible

"Congratulations. The fact that you're reading this means that you've taken one giant step towards surviving till your next birthday." ~Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment I have to say, seeing that James Patterson had written all of those adult murder-mystery novels, I had my doubts as to whether he could successfully write a young adult story. I was proven WRONG. This book is very masterfully done, and I know that Patterson is indeed a master at his craft, but since he had never written a book for the kids, this was a surprise. The main characters are: Max (the book's namesake), Fang, Iggy, Nudge, the Gasman, and Angel. They are all kids who were subject to genetic alteration at a very young age, and thus will never...EVER...lead normal lives. Max leads the pack (or flock, depending on how you look at it) as the oldest, who is in charge of keeping Fang's spirits up, Iggy from blowing up their home, Nudge from talking to the point that it drives everyone insane, and the most important-saving six-year-old Angel from being torn apart by the Erasers, wicked wolf-men mutants, or dissected by the evil whitecoats who work at the School. Max is an excellent character-funny, smart, strong, and sarcastic, which is a good quality for a lead character. Fang is second; the strong-and-silent type, but always feels emotion without letting the flock see it. Iggy is great-blind but incredibly intelligent and fond of making cynical remarks. Nudge is very nice, funny, a COMPLETE motormouth, and has a tendency to make quick decisions that no one can stop her from carrying out. The Gasman doesn't play the most enormous role, but as Angel's brother, he does make for a good one. And that brings us to Angel, the sweet little girl who was kidnapped by Erasers. She's very cute, and she has a special ability...make that TWO special abilities...which I will not name. She holds a special place in Max's heart, as her "Little Angel". There is a bit of a love interest between Max and Fang, but it doesn't become wholly evident until the second-to-last chapter in the book. I, being a complete sucker for love interests, love that part and wish so much that the sequel will come out so I can see more of it. The battle scenes in this story are amazing-almost like it's right there and happening in your living room...or bedroom or whatever. Very well desccribed, you can see it as a clear picture in your mind. Some are kind of graphic, so if you have any problem with reading about blood, I would reccomend passing on this one. If not, you're really in for a treat. Overall, this book was totally fantastic, and if you're considering purchasing it and you're reading this...buy it right now. I'm dead serious-your life could depend on it.

Book on tape

Part of my class listened to this book on tape. Although it was a shortened version, I thought it was fantastic! It was suspensful, which was very good. At first people were hesitant to listen but after the first few minutes, we couldn't wait to hear more! I'm planning on reading the book soon to learn what was left out in the shorter version. I am also praying that Mr. Patterson is working on a sequel to the book so that I can find out what happens next!! ps. Read it! you won't regret it!