Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment. I don't think I would ever have picked up a book like that if it wasn't an author I knew
and liked; James Patterson.
Then again, I'm 21, not 14, and when I was 14 the prospect of a book about winged
children fighting to survive would have grabbed me instantly.
I bought the book anyway, wanting something different to read, and by the time I had put it down I was 14 again. Reminding me of past teenage thrillers such as Animorphs and Fearless, Maximum Ride is simple, unadulterated (literally) fun, with gripping action, fascinating characters and a powerful mystery. If I had teenage offspring, this is what I would have them reading; sure it's a cheesy book but it's written well and gives the imagination- the most important part of reading for young
fiction fans- a vigorous jump start.
Critically the book is almost too simpified and Americanised; 'Maximum Ride' is the main character's name, for heaven's sake. But, that's the adult talking, not the young reader. Suspend disbelief and just let the adventure go. Patterson writes with his usual taste for style and action and with intelligent prose. The book is planned to be part of a series, as can be seen from the website http://www.maximumride.co.uk which includes a simple game for the kids. I consider Maximum Ride among the cream of teenage reading and a step forward in that it instils the reader with a sense that you could write something similar. It touches on several areas such as action, coming of age, relationships, mystery and comedy. The website contains extracts which give you an idea of the strange family that these main characters are and their deadly enemy; the Erasers. Wolf-like mutants created in the same labs as the bird children, the Erasers (painfully cheesy but still) provide our heroes with a constant challenge.
The story takes twists and turns that keep you reading and wondering. I feel that this kind of teenage fiction- semi serious, semi fun, is what makes young readers into young writers. I reccomend Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment to anyone with teen children or to any adult who enjoyed Harry Potter, Fearless or Animorphs.