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Maximum Ride Series Collection - Forever, Angel Experiment, School's Out, Saving The World, Final Warning, Max, Fang, Angel
The Maximum Ride novels for young adults feature 6 teenagers who are 98% human and 2% avian.
4000 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2010
10 people are currently reading
326 people want to read
About the author
James Patterson
954 books356k followersOfficial US Site
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead
James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead
James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
July 18, 2015
Totally loved all of the books. I couldn't wait to keep reading. The only part I didn't like is the end of book 8. (Won't spoil.) Really glad Patterson made a new book and can't wait to keep reading. Love how Max is a strong girl who Is a fighting machine and is independent. (Most of the time.) Happy reading to all!!
January 14, 2018
Favorite childhood series since I was a young one in 7th grade. The books fall downhill a little after the first four or five - the first THREE are really, to me, what truly encompasses the entire series. Now that I'm older I've outgrown it a little, but it will still always have a special place in my heart and it will always be one of the most influential book series on my life.
October 8, 2020
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“Holy [Insert your choice of a swear word here]," said Fang stunned.
I always want to scream a little bit in frustration whenever I see James Patterson's name on anything, and it's all because of this stupid book. Over the years, Maximum Ride has kind of stuck with me as an example of precisely how to eviscerate a genuinely intriguing premise with poor writing, shell characters masquerading as people with depth, and general word-vomit. It truly feels as though Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment exists basically for Patterson to announce to the world that he thinks teenagers are idiots. And what's depressing is that this isn't even the only poorly written drivel that Patterson has put out there. In my experience, that's almost all that he ever writes.
to Destroy a Decent Premise
I remember the first time I found Maximum Ride, I remember being really enamored with the idea behind it. A group of kids who were experimented on and escaped? Experiments that resulted in the kids having bird characteristics, wings included? This book sounded great. And I think Patterson knew that about his premise.
What I think he also thought was that if he just word vomited a terribly written book with a decent plot idea behind it, he'd make a lot of money off young readers. And yeah, that's exactly what he did. Because this book is both terribly plotted and terribly written. But the idea that started it? Yeah, that was pretty good.
Perhaps it was easy for Patterson to pump out a batch of novels by putting minimal efforts into the writing. But it left us with some of the most painful writing I've ever seen in literature. He never really put any depth into anything and this always bugged the hell out of me. This book and series always felt like a way of saying teenagers didn't deserve well thought, profound, or intelligent fiction. It felt like he just wrote it with the sole purpose of making money.
Disappointment
If you're looking for anything worthwhile in this novel, you're not going to find it. Maximum Ride is very clearly written by an old man who doesn't remember what it's like to be a teenager. His main character, Max, is meant to be an edgy heroine. But instead, she reads more like a little girl trying too hard to be cool and never really succeeding. There's no depth or dimension to any of the characters. Often times, instead of following an actual plot, Patterson has a habit of spiraling off into random pointless events that add absolutely nothing of substance to the novel as a whole.
I can't believe the number of instances where we are subjected to the most random and useless scenes in the lives of these characters. And it all seems to be solely for the purpose of padding the novel with extra pages. You could skip multiple chapters and still not read anything pertaining to the overall plot. Skipping even more chapters takes nothing away from anything you read.
The plot, itself, isn't bad. I actually really liked the premise when I first picked it up. I also kind of liked the world that Patterson built. But barring those initial concepts, there's not much to applaud about this book. Nothing he ever writes really does anything impressive with these themes and ideas. You get bare-bones plots and characters, leaving you feeling like you read an empty shell of a book. And yet the blurb that enticed you to pick it up in the first place had promised you so much more.
Just...Skip It
This book series is the sole reason behind my absolute distaste for anything with Patterson's name on it. It genuinely bugs the heck out of me that he's getting other authors published with his James Patterson Presents. I know first hand how vapid his novels are and hate that he's putting his name on the works of others. Granted, I would never judge another author's writing capabilities by another author's books, but I can't help the grating feeling I get whenever I see his name on a book. Maximum Ride made it incredibly difficult for me to take this author seriously at all.
The story as a whole amounts to what is basically power-written drivel, devoid of any substance at all. And it's a real shame because I truly do believe that the premise had a lot of promise. It's just a shame that it all turned out to be a pitiful waste. I think, ultimately, that I'd love to see a similar premise written by a more competent author who actually cares enough to spend the time and effort to really develop both plot and characters.
TLDR; Maximum Ride is a desultory waste of time and money, despite sounding interesting on paper.
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“Holy [Insert your choice of a swear word here]," said Fang stunned.
I always want to scream a little bit in frustration whenever I see James Patterson's name on anything, and it's all because of this stupid book. Over the years, Maximum Ride has kind of stuck with me as an example of precisely how to eviscerate a genuinely intriguing premise with poor writing, shell characters masquerading as people with depth, and general word-vomit. It truly feels as though Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment exists basically for Patterson to announce to the world that he thinks teenagers are idiots. And what's depressing is that this isn't even the only poorly written drivel that Patterson has put out there. In my experience, that's almost all that he ever writes.
to Destroy a Decent Premise
I remember the first time I found Maximum Ride, I remember being really enamored with the idea behind it. A group of kids who were experimented on and escaped? Experiments that resulted in the kids having bird characteristics, wings included? This book sounded great. And I think Patterson knew that about his premise.
What I think he also thought was that if he just word vomited a terribly written book with a decent plot idea behind it, he'd make a lot of money off young readers. And yeah, that's exactly what he did. Because this book is both terribly plotted and terribly written. But the idea that started it? Yeah, that was pretty good.
Perhaps it was easy for Patterson to pump out a batch of novels by putting minimal efforts into the writing. But it left us with some of the most painful writing I've ever seen in literature. He never really put any depth into anything and this always bugged the hell out of me. This book and series always felt like a way of saying teenagers didn't deserve well thought, profound, or intelligent fiction. It felt like he just wrote it with the sole purpose of making money.
Disappointment
If you're looking for anything worthwhile in this novel, you're not going to find it. Maximum Ride is very clearly written by an old man who doesn't remember what it's like to be a teenager. His main character, Max, is meant to be an edgy heroine. But instead, she reads more like a little girl trying too hard to be cool and never really succeeding. There's no depth or dimension to any of the characters. Often times, instead of following an actual plot, Patterson has a habit of spiraling off into random pointless events that add absolutely nothing of substance to the novel as a whole.
I can't believe the number of instances where we are subjected to the most random and useless scenes in the lives of these characters. And it all seems to be solely for the purpose of padding the novel with extra pages. You could skip multiple chapters and still not read anything pertaining to the overall plot. Skipping even more chapters takes nothing away from anything you read.
The plot, itself, isn't bad. I actually really liked the premise when I first picked it up. I also kind of liked the world that Patterson built. But barring those initial concepts, there's not much to applaud about this book. Nothing he ever writes really does anything impressive with these themes and ideas. You get bare-bones plots and characters, leaving you feeling like you read an empty shell of a book. And yet the blurb that enticed you to pick it up in the first place had promised you so much more.
Just...Skip It
This book series is the sole reason behind my absolute distaste for anything with Patterson's name on it. It genuinely bugs the heck out of me that he's getting other authors published with his James Patterson Presents. I know first hand how vapid his novels are and hate that he's putting his name on the works of others. Granted, I would never judge another author's writing capabilities by another author's books, but I can't help the grating feeling I get whenever I see his name on a book. Maximum Ride made it incredibly difficult for me to take this author seriously at all.
The story as a whole amounts to what is basically power-written drivel, devoid of any substance at all. And it's a real shame because I truly do believe that the premise had a lot of promise. It's just a shame that it all turned out to be a pitiful waste. I think, ultimately, that I'd love to see a similar premise written by a more competent author who actually cares enough to spend the time and effort to really develop both plot and characters.
TLDR; Maximum Ride is a desultory waste of time and money, despite sounding interesting on paper.
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January 18, 2021
I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS SERIES!!!! I used to not like to read but then I read this book and it changed my book reading life. This series is VERY high action and I just couldn't put any of the books down! If you are looking for a binge series or just a few good reads, I would DEFINATLY try this one.
February 3, 2022
Maximum Ride Series
James Patterson
I have just finished reading this series and all I can say is WOW! This series is my very first James Patterson read, I must say he has outdone himself in these books. Nothing could stop me from reading this, not even my family. This is a series all readers should experience for it will open up to a world of captivating. I love these books, they made me cry, laugh, cringe, smile, frightened and makes me wish it would never end.
Busters Thoughts – Imaging being able to have wings, it would be AMAZING!!! Just think about it… these characters have wings and they complain about it…What’s wrong with them, I mean yes, they were tortured and stuck in cages most of their life but still, you have WINGS!
Ages 14+
Listen Parents – lots of violence, scary scenes, romance (kissing), mild coarse language, gore, mature themes and drugs references (medical reasons)
James Patterson
I have just finished reading this series and all I can say is WOW! This series is my very first James Patterson read, I must say he has outdone himself in these books. Nothing could stop me from reading this, not even my family. This is a series all readers should experience for it will open up to a world of captivating. I love these books, they made me cry, laugh, cringe, smile, frightened and makes me wish it would never end.
Busters Thoughts – Imaging being able to have wings, it would be AMAZING!!! Just think about it… these characters have wings and they complain about it…What’s wrong with them, I mean yes, they were tortured and stuck in cages most of their life but still, you have WINGS!
Ages 14+
Listen Parents – lots of violence, scary scenes, romance (kissing), mild coarse language, gore, mature themes and drugs references (medical reasons)
December 6, 2021
They are written for young adult so they are a little juvenile, but if you know that going in they are good. The reviews said they were as good as the Hunger Games. I would not go that far, but they were a fun little read.
May 21, 2017
THIS SERIES WAS AMAZING!!!!
November 14, 2017
Amazing series and recommended for anyone who likes thrillers.
August 30, 2018
BEST SERIES EVER!!!!!!!!!
July 29, 2020
One of the best series I had the joy to read as a young child!! There are some valuable lessons on life that can be learned from this book series.
May 2, 2021
AMAZING
all I need is that one word
A M A Z I N G !!!
I highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys reading!!
all I need is that one word
A M A Z I N G !!!
I highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys reading!!
December 6, 2021
AMAZING
July 13, 2023
ALL TIME FAVORITE BOOK SERIES, NO QUESTIONS ASKED.
January 25, 2024
Shaped my entire personality
July 4, 2024
Loved this series as a kid, however the last books ending was such BS. It did not wrap things up the way I thought it should, felt very rushed.
August 22, 2024
These books were my literal childhood. My intro into the world of fantasy novels. I’ll never forget my experience reading them.
January 3, 2017
RECCOMEND
October 21, 2017
I LOVE THE BOOKS!!!!!! SO FUNNY TO!!!
December 22, 2020
I grew up reading these books, and I am forever grateful for them. My teacher read the first book in class. Ever since then, I have been hooked. The Maximum Ride series is what got me started in reading as a teenager.
March 27, 2018
I loved the characters and the plot (for the most part) but honestly this book series should've ended at book three, yet somehow ten books ended up being put in this series.
September 8, 2016
I loved all of the Maximum Ride books! After reading all of the books I was sad because I was so into the books and then suddenly I was done and there was no more to read. You just get so lost in Max's world and after reading all of the books its like you have gotten to know the characters so well. Every time i would pick up another one of these books I wouldn't put it down till I was done.
July 13, 2021
One of my absolute favorite series of all time. Quite a masterpiece. James Patterson is such a great author. My one and only complaint was the ending. The last book was too small and seemed hurried after the whole six part series.
December 16, 2015
I loved this series.. read it in a matter of a couple months because I couldnt put it down. Great story, lots of twists and always something to keep you guessing.
July 26, 2016
Really good books. Couldn't put them down. Very exciting.
March 17, 2025
I love these books!
Maximum is so brave and mentally strong.
She takes action and leads in order to protect the ones she cares for
Maximum is so brave and mentally strong.
She takes action and leads in order to protect the ones she cares for
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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September 18, 2015how do you start reading it and is the 9th one on this website
March 31, 2017
My absolute favorite series. It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. This whole series is indreadable.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews