The Angel Experiment by James Patterson (Maximum Ride, Book 1)

Patterson, James (2007). The Angel Experiment. New York, New York: Little, Brown Young Readers. 

ISBN: 9780316067959

404 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Science Fiction

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 4 stars

Subjects: New York, Science Fiction, Mutation, Surgery, Identity

Reader's Annotation

14-year-old Max is one of a group of genetically enhanced children with unique talents  on the run from predators called Erasers who seek to destroy any evidence of their existence, but how long will they be able to evade these hunters? 

Summary

When a group of genetically enhanced children escape from a lab with the help of a scientist sympathetic to their cause, they are immediately hunted by a group of predators that are part-human, part-wolf and completely dangerous called Erasers. The Erasers need to catch and return these mutants before the world can find out that they exist. When Angel, a six-year-old, is captured, the other members of her "family" must help rescue her even as they learn more about their pasts and why they were created. 

Notes

Readers might recognize James Patterson as the author of the Alex Cross books, starting with Along Came A Spider and Kiss the Girls, both of which were also made into movies. Readers who enjoyed this book might enjoy those mystery thrillers, but they should check out the other books in this series: School's Out-Forever, Saving the World, and The Final Warning. 

Author Information

James Patterson's Website

School's Out- Forever by James Patterson (Maximum Ride, Book 2)

Patterson, James (2007). School's Out- Forever. New York, New York: Vision Press. 

ISBN: 9780446618892

368 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Science Fiction

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 4 stars

Subjects: New York, Mutation, Surgery, Science Fiction, Identity

Reader's Annotation

When genetic mutant Fang is injured in a battle against part-human, part-wolf predators called Erasers, his "family" must take him to the hospital, but his strange DNA leads them to contact the FBI, and for the first time, Max and her friends experience what it might be like to live a normal human life, but how long can it last?

Summary

Max is one of a group of genetically mutated children who escaped from a lab and have been on the run ever since. They are in a battle with part-human, part-wolf predators called Erasers that want to bring them back to the lab they left or otherwise exterminate them. When one of the group, Fang, is injured so seriously that he must be taken to the hospital, doctors immediately notice anomalies and contact the FBI. The lead agent, Anne Walker, takes them to her Virginia farm home where, for the first time, they manage to lead normal lives, but when they start to try to seek their birth parents, they begin to realize that Anne might not have been entirely upfront about who she is and why she has taken them to her farm. 

Notes

Readers might recognize James Patterson as the author of the Alex Cross books, starting withAlong Came A Spider and Kiss the Girls, both of which were also made into movies. Readers who enjoyed this book might enjoy those mystery thrillers, but they should check out the other books in this series: The Angel Experiment, Saving the World, and The Final Warning. 

Author Information

James Patterson's Website

Saving the World by James Patterson (Maximum Ride, Book 3)

Patterson, James (2007). Saving the World. New York, New York: Little, Brown Young Readers.

ISBN: 9780316155608

416 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Science Fiction

Age Level: 15-19

Stars: 4 stars

Subjects: New York, Mutation, Identity, Rebellion

Reader's Annotation

Max and her "Flock" have returned to face their ultimate enemy and destroy their creators before they themselves are destroyed, and in the process, save the world from a eugenics plot- but will they succeed? 

Summary

14-year-old Max has returned with her friends in the 3rd book in this series. Now that they have discovered more about who created them and why, the time has come for action. It turns out that it has been decided by their creators that they must be exterminated, but if that happens, then the world as a whole may fall subject to a plot to re-engineer parts of the population and create a superior master race and terminate the rest. With their creators more determined than ever, the group is weak, forced to hide and separated, so this novel begs the question of how they can possibly hope to succeed against such incredible odds. 

Notes

Readers might recognize James Patterson as the author of the Alex Cross books, starting withAlong Came A Spider and Kiss the Girls, both of which were also made into movies. Readers who enjoyed this book might enjoy those mystery thrillers, but they should check out the other books in this series: The Angel Experiment, School's Out-Forever, and The Final Warning. 

Author Information

James Patterson's Website