Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

I was recently in Target, and I happened to pass the book section and stopped to browse.  Again, my attention span.  If I don't go to Wal-mart with a "come on" buddy, then it takes me 3 hours to shop.  (As in, someone to tell you to "come on" when you stop to stare aimlessly at this mundane display of containers or that end cap of organizing implements.)  Three hours is probably a conservative estimate.  If my sister and I go shopping at Wal-mart together it's like the ADD factor is exponential and it's an all day excursion.  


So, at the book section in Target I saw Fang: A Maximum Ride Novel.  I read the dust jacket because I was curious what kind of YA books James Patterson was writing.  (I mean, he went from all action/mystery to sappy chick beach books for the adult set.)  

I was instantly intrigued because the premise seemed to branch off from one of my favorite James Patterson books of all time, When the Wind Blows.  

From working in a bookstore for close to three years, I can tell you that this was one of his more poorly received books.  I thought it was excellent.  I think I go against the grain when it comes to Patterson, at least his earlier books.  I actually liked the non-Alex Cross books better than those featuring the character portrayed by Morgan Freeman in Kiss the Girls.  

I think the Alex Cross books are fine action/mystery/thrillers, but I applaud Patterson's attempt to break out of that mold and into sci-fi with When the Wind Blows.  (Genetic engineered children with wings, enough said... awesome.)  

I was really excited to see that Patterson's new YA series was based loosely on that premise, but thought it better to pick up the beginning book before I shelled out the cash for the new hardback at Target.  (This was BPS= before Paperback Swap).  As soon as I did sign up for Paperback Swap and was creating my pages long wish list (great feature, by the way), I remembered that book, but not the title or the author.  I used to make fun of my mom for her "Book of Books," a journal that she has entered all the books she has read, or has at home to read, or wants to read, alphabetically by author.  What do I have now?  A "Book of Books."  Only difference is mine is Black Watch plaid (my personal favorite plaid)















whereas my mom won't have anything but Royal Stewart plaid on hers.  

After a couple of Google Searches for "flying children" or "kids with wings" I realized what it was I was looking for, and added the first in the series, Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment to my wish list.  

It was pretty good for a YA book.  (Meaning I do miss profanity, gore, and sex in it.)  I feel like there is a lot of unexplained back story in this first installment, which actually makes you want to keep reading the series to figure things out, but also seems to drop the reader in the middle of the action with no idea what is going on.  Because it is a YA book, it is easy to follow.  It isn't so simplistic as to not be engaging and it is a quick entertaining read.  Not only did it keep my attention to the end, I plan on reading the next one.