Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to fly? To float in the sky and feel the wind flick across your hair?

Well for 14-year old Max, this is her daily life. At a young age Max and five other kids were taken to “School”(a laboratory where humans are tested and injected with animal DNA). These six children were all injected with a bird DNA, allowing them to fly. Max is the eldest, so she looked over the kids. Fang is the second eldest. He is a quiet one but can get protective at times. Iggy is the next eldest. Due to some experiments he became blind, but even if he is blind he is still able to make bombs and even cook. Then there’s Nudge who loves talking. She is a stickybeak and likes looking at things that she is probably not meant to see. Gasman is next, the others call him Gazzy for short and he loves food and eating. Lastly there is Angel. She is not only the youngest but also the most special as she can read minds and is the one who is the closest to Max. These children got so close that they were known as the “Flock”.

Max and her “Flock” were held captive in the “School” for what seemed a long time. Eventually, they escaped with the help of Jeb Batchhelder, a scientist who took them from the “School” and protected them from further harm. Over the two year span he acted like a father to them. He clothed them and fed them until he disappeared and was thought dead by the “Flock”.

After the disappearance, the “Flock” had to learn to protect themselves and fight as Erasers (a creature with a mixture of Wolf and Human DNA) would occasionally attack them to try and take them back to the “School”. One day, the erasers captured Angel, the youngest of the “Flock,” and took her back to the School. Now the remaining Flock try to go back and save Angel before it’s too late.

Come and experience the journey with these six kids as they face problem after problem, heartbreak, and betrayal.

Maximum Ride is a book filled with action, adventure and fantasy. Due to the way the story is written, it draws the reader in and provokes them to wanting to read more. This story really inspires me with how deep the bond the “Flock” have with each other and much they would go to protect the ones they love. I recommend this book to people of the age between 13-18. It is also suitable for both male and female.

Katelyn G, Yr 9