Maximum Ride #1

The Angel Experiment

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Six unforgettable kids — with no families, no homes — are running for their lives. Max Ride and her best friends have the ability to fly. And that's just the beginning of their amazing powers. But they don't know where they come from, who's hunting them, why they are different from all other humans... and if they're meant to save mankind — or destroy it.

445 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1,2005

This edition

Format
445 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published
May 5, 2006 by Grand Central Publishing
ISBN
9780446617796
ASIN
0446617792
Language
English
Characters More characters
  • Maximum Ride

    Maximum Ride

    *Spoiler Warning*Maximum Ride is the main character of the Maximum Ride series. She is a teenage girl who has been genetically modified to contain avian DNA. She has wings and can fly. Unlike the other members of the flock, Max can fly at very high speeds...

  • Jeb Batchelder

    Jeb Batchelder

    Jeb is the biological father of Max and Ari. He used to work at the School....

  • Iggy

    Iggy

    Iggy is the blind member of the flock. He can feel colors and is supersensory. He lives the same quality life the other members of the flock live. (Fang) But in the sixth book (Fang) he learns he wants to see.In book two (Schools Out-Forever) Iggy f...

  • Nudge

    Nudge

    ...

  • Gasman

    Gasman

    The Gasman is the second-youngest member of Maximum Rides flock. He and Angel are biological siblings. Like all members of the flock, he has wings and can fly. His special power is the ability to recreate voices and sounds.more...

  • Angel (Maximum Ride)

    Angel (maximum Ride)

    Angel is the youngest member of Maximum Rides flock. As a baby, she was genetically altered to have avian DNA, so she has wings and can fly. She and the Gasman are biological siblings. Angel has the power to read minds.more...

About the author

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Official US Site
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead

James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time. He is the creator of unforgettable characters and series, including Alex Cross, the Women's Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride, and of breathtaking true stories about the Kennedys, John Lennon, and Tiger Woods, as well as our military heroes, police officers, and ER nurses. Patterson has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton, and collaborated most recently with Michael Crichton on the blockbuster Eruption. He has told the story of his own life in James Patterson by James Patterson and received an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.

This author also writes under the following name: Džejms Paterson

Community Reviews

Rating(4.1 / 5.0, 100 votes)
5 stars
37(37%)
4 stars
36(36%)
3 stars
27(27%)
2 stars
0(0%)
1 stars
0(0%)
100 reviews All reviews
July 15,2025
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Hear me when I say this: nothing, ever, in my human life on this planet, will hit for me like this book. It's about orphan kids with wings living together in a weird boxcar-children scenario. They are the result of being experimented on, and then they are kidnapped for more experimenting. This book hit me hard when I was in the fifth grade.


I mean, me and my friends started a spontaneous book club at the age of ten. We did it just to accommodate how intensely we felt about this book. It was such a powerful experience for us.


That's once in a lifetime. It's a memory that will always stay with me. I'm doing this series to review books I read a long time ago, and this one is definitely at the top of the list.

July 15,2025
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Tehehe! I just completed it yesterday. It was an absolutely awesome adventure that left me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The story was so engaging and full of excitement that I couldn't put the book down. I was completely immersed in the world that the author had created and found myself rooting for the characters all the way through.


Now that I've finished this book, I can't wait to get my hands on the other books in the series. I'm sure they will be just as精彩 as this one and will continue to take me on more thrilling adventures. I'm already imagining all the new characters and places that I'll get to discover and can't wait to see where the story will lead.


I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good adventure story. It's a must-read and will definitely keep you entertained for hours on end.

July 15,2025
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One of my all-time favorites that I have been engrossed in reading for as long as my memory serves me. Max, the protagonist, gives me extremely serious Percy Jackson vibes, which I absolutely adore. I am deeply in love with her and her unique voice that comes through the pages. In fact, I love all of the characters in this remarkable series, most of the time.


Although there are definitely some faults to be found in these books, perhaps in the pacing or the development of certain plotlines, it doesn't matter. This series will always hold a special place in my heart as a favorite. It has the power to transport me to another world, filled with adventure, magic, and unforgettable characters. I can't wait to continue following Max's journey and see what new challenges and experiences await her.

July 15,2025
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3.75 stars

A big thank you to my friend for recommending this book to me (lysm)!!!

I just have to express my gratitude to my amazing friend for suggesting this wonderful book. It has truly been a great read.

I'm so excited to share my full review on my blog. There are so many aspects of this book that I want to talk about.

The story is engaging and keeps you hooked from start to finish. The characters are well-developed and you really start to care about them as you read.

The writing style is also very good, making it easy to follow and enjoy.

Overall, I'm very impressed with this book and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good read.

Once again, thank you to my friend for the great recommendation.

Make sure to check out my blog for the full review!
July 15,2025
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I truly desired to complete this book. However, after spending some time with it, I was reminded that life is far too brief to waste on reading one subpar book after another.


If I had read "The Angel Experiment" when I was just 12 years old, perhaps I would have been extremely impressed. But for readers who have attained the mental maturity of a 13-year-old or older, they are well within their rights to skip this particular volume.


And as for James Patterson, I have decided to blacklist you. I simply will not read any other books written by you. The old saying goes, "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me." I have been tricked once, and I have no intention of allowing it to happen again.


Do Not Finish at page 145.
July 15,2025
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Max is living with her small family - Fang, Iggy, Angel, Nudgie, and Gasman - in a secluded place in the mountains.

She and her friends are not ordinary kids. Their human DNA has been infused with avian DNA, giving them wings, super strength, and other bird-like traits.

Max is the appointed leader of the gang since Jeb, their caretaker, vanished. Years ago, he saved them from The School, the lab that created them.

He brought them to their current hideout, but one day, he simply disappeared.

They suspect he was killed by The School's enforcers, the Erasers, who are wolflike and merciless.

When the youngest member of Max's family, Angel, is taken by the Erasers, Max decides to lead the flock to rescue her before anything bad or worse happens to the defenseless girl.

Maximum Ride is a book that I had been aware of and seen others mention as good. However, for some reason, I hadn't gotten around to picking it up.

Max reminds me of another genetically engineered character - Max from the TV series Dark Angel. This is the YA version.

They are not just humans with wings; they actually have birdlike traits, and there is the concerning aspect that their mixed-up DNA might cause them to expire or die because it is not natural.

There isn't a full-blown romance, but there are hints of something developing between Max and Fang.

Maybe this book isn't very deep, but don't get me wrong. It's not childish. I had a great time reading it, and the pages seemed to turn quickly.

For more stories of kids on the run from evil scientists who created them, check out The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong and Regeneration by L.J. Singleton.
July 15,2025
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I vividly recall reading this book during my school days. It was a memorable experience as my teacher would read the book aloud to the entire class. The way my teacher brought the story to life through her voice and expressions made it truly engaging. I was completely captivated by the narrative and found myself thoroughly enjoying the book at that time. The characters and their adventures seemed to leap off the pages and into my imagination. It was a wonderful escape from the routine of schoolwork and a chance to explore different worlds and emotions. This book holds a special place in my heart and continues to be a cherished memory of my school years.

July 15,2025
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2.75 Stars.

I initially had the intention of writing a review for this particular book. However, I became extremely occupied with schoolwork, which led to me losing the opportunity to do so in a timely manner. As of now, I find myself unable to recall precisely what I had intended to say about it. Nevertheless, I do remember that there were certain aspects of the book that I liked.


For the most part, though, the story and the characters managed to irritate me. This was especially true in the case of Max. I have to admit that this is the kind of book that I probably would have adored when I was a child. It's rather unfortunate that I wasn't aware of its existence until now.


It makes me wonder how my perception of the book might have been different if I had come across it during my younger years. Would I have overlooked the flaws that now seem so prominent to me? Or would I have been able to see the story and the characters in a more positive light?


These are questions that I may never have the answers to, but they do make me reflect on how our tastes and perspectives can change over time. Despite my mixed feelings about this book, I'm still glad that I had the chance to read it, as it has given me something to think about.

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