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

8/10

These children don't need broomsticks to fly...

Six children Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, the Gasman and Angel have been genetically experimented upon and now have avian DNA running through their blood, leaving them 98% human and 2% bird. This allows them to fly and possess super human strength, along with other unusual traits. Max leads this flock and they have managed to escape from the school where the experiments were originally performed. This book follows their missions, firstly rescuing Angel from malicious mutants and then infiltrating a secret facility to track down their parents.

James Patterson's first foray into Young Adult fantasy is an entertaining one. He has produced a fast paced book that is both enjoyable and easy to read. Patterson's books always seem to have short chapters, which deceives the reader into always starting the next chapter. Before you know it you have read a hundred pages. This is a great technique and I am amazed that more writers do not employ it.

The characterisation is simple and the story is largely told in the first person from Max's point of view. When the story moves away from Max it is then told in the third person. Max is a likeable character and we are able to sympathise with her and her flock's plight.

This book is written largely for the teenage market, although as an adult man I enjoyed it as a fun and simple read. There is non-stop action and the chapters often end on a cliff-hanger. Another one of Patterson's many traits. The Maximum Ride books look like the beginning of an entertaining journey for the YA fantasy market. They will also appeal to adults largely due to Patterson's excellence in writing best-selling blockbusters. They are quick reads and can be polished off in one or two nights and are a great break in-between some of the heavier books in the fantasy market. In the end, I came away wanting to read more of the exploits and adventures of Max and her flock.