Review: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson (MRRC)

So, who out there is participating in the Maximum Ride Reading Challenge?

I'm actually hosting it, along with the delightful Ella from Musings in Ink. Basically, the point of the Challenge is to read (or re-read) all seven of the already-released Max Ride books, in preparation for the release of the LAST ONE, Nevermore! All the details are on the Official MRRC Blog. It's never too late to sign up! (Also, if you've already signed up, we're going to need you to re-sign up a different way. Details about that are on the signup page on the blog. Thanks!)

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?  

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Okay, so one thing I forgot about this book is how FAST-PACED it is--and in a good way! It jumps right into the action, and the super-short chapters make it seem even faster.


Max is such a super-awesome heroine. I mean, imagine for a second that you were a genetically altered teenage girl who was part bird, had wings, and were being hunted by crazy wolf-men who'd love to either kill you or take you back to a group of crazy scientists who'd looooove to cut apart your brain. Do you think you'd be able to crack jokes all the time?


But behind her tough exterior, Max is really a kind, soft person (but don't tell her I said that!). She cares about her friends--her FAMILY--and she'd do anything to protect them. Which is why she'll do anything to get Angel back when the littlest Flock member is kidnapped by the aforementioned wack-jobs.


Then there's Fang. Max's right-wing guy, her second in command, her best friend. Nothing with Fang is ever complicated...until it is. But that's all I'll say about THAT.


The whole Flock is really great. We have Max the leader, Fang the strong and silent, Iggy the pyromaniac, Nudge the chatterbox, the Gasman whose name needs no elaboration, and Angel, the cute little one. Every last one of them is unique, and fantastic in their own way. Together, though, is when they really shine, whether they're fighting Erasers or just working together on finding information about the School and their parents.


One more major thing I love about the Angel Experiment (and ALL the Max Ride books!) is how FUNNY they are. Seriously, they're all full-to-the-brim with laugh out loud moments. I couldn't even come close to naming them all, but I'll share a couple:

     Popcorn for breakfast! Why not? It's a grain. It's like, grits, but with high self-esteem.

     "I didn't know a van could go up on two wheels like that, for so long." -Nudge 

     Why was the blind guy playing with matches, you ask? Because he's good at it. Anything to do with fire, igniting things, exploding things, things with fuses, wicks, accelerants...Iggy's your man. It's one of those good/bad things.

And one more:

     "Feeding a crowd?" the woman behind the counter asked.     "Yes, ma'am," Fang said sweetly.      Yeah, him and all his split personalities, I thought.

 Anyway, this book ROCKS, so it gets <*><*><*><*><*>


(Seriously, you guys, go check out maxridereadingchallenge.blogspot.com!)


(:D)
~Mag