Maximum Ride Curriculum Guide

Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment

1. When Angel is taken, the Flock is devastated because they know she has been taken back to the School for more tests and experimentation. What options do they have for rescuing her? Why are they willing to put themselves in harm’s way to save her?
2. Each of the six children in the Flock possesses a supernatural skill. How do these skills work together to make the Flock stronger? How does each child’s strength contribute to the Flock? What similar characteristics do all six children possess?
3. Max and Fang are the same age, so why is Max the leader instead of Fang? What characteristics does she possess, which Fang lacks, that enable her to safely lead the Flock? What are the drawbacks to her leadership? Would Fang be a better leader? Why or why not?
4. Why is Jeb’s betrayal more hurtful than even some of the experiments and tests the children have endured?
5. The Flock’s search for their parents gives them hope for a new way of life. What do they expect to happen when they find them? Are their expectations realistic? Why or why not?
6. Iggy is blinded when scientists operate on him to try to improve his night vision. What does this show about the character of the scientists at the School? How does Iggy adapt to his blindness? How does his blindness affect the Flock?
7. Max hears a voice in her head, but she doesn’t know whose it is or if she can trust what it says. How does she determine whether or not she can trust it? To whom could the voice belong? Why?

Maximum Ride: School’s Out—Forever

1. When Max sees herself in the mirror as an Eraser, she panics. What is her biggest fear? What measures does she take to ensure the Flock’s safety against her should she become an Eraser?
2. While Anne takes good care of the Flock and gives them a relatively normal life, Max is never convinced Anne is who she says she is. Why is Max so suspicious of Anne? What facts does she discover to support her suspicions? How does Max’s jealousy play a role in her attitude toward Anne?
3. Attending school for the first time affects each child differently. How does each of the children respond to school? Why is the transition to “normal” easier for Angel, Gazzy, and Nudge?
4. Max is surprised to discover that she is jealous of the Red-Haired Wonder, and Fang is none too happy about Max’s date. How is Max and Fang’s relationship changing? How does this shift in their relationship affect the Flock?
5. Why are Ari’s feelings for Max so confused? Does he feel more love for her or hate? How does he convey his feelings for Max?
6. What is Max’s concern for Angel’s ability to read and control minds? Is her concern justified? Why or why not?

Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports

1. For the first time since the Flock escaped from the School, Max and Fang disagree about the direction the Flock should take. Justifiably concerned, Max feels bound to save the world for the common good, while Fang’s priority lies with the safety of the Flock. Reread their conversation in Chapter 13. What is the basis for their disagreement? How does this difference of opinion affect the Flock?
2. How does the Flock react when they discover the Erasers are robots? How do the robotic Erasers differ from their predecessors? What advantages does the Flock have over the Robot Erasers? What disadvantages?
3. Why does the popularity of Fang’s blog cause Max to feel threatened and offended? What are the positive aspects of the population-at-large knowing about the Flock and their situation? How does the blog negatively affect the Flock?
4. How does Max’s decision to allow Ari to join the Flock affect them? Does Max have the right to make a decision, which no one else in the Flock agrees with? What overriding emotion leads Max to her decision? What emotion does Fang reveal when Max chooses Ari over him? Is he justified in his decision to leave the Flock? Based on what the reader knows about these three characters and their pasts, are both emotions justified?
5. When Fang and Max split up, each member of the Flock is forced to make a hard choice. Why do Nudge and Angel stay with Max? Why do Iggy and Gazzy go with Fang? How do their choices affect the safety of the Flock?
6. Once Fang is away from Max, he realizes all the extra duties Max has had to perform and the pressure she has endured as leader of the Flock. What effect does this realization have on Fang? How does it alter his perception of leadership?

Maximum Ride: The Final Warning

1. When the Flock meets with the government officials to determine their future, Max is uncomfortable with the way the officials answer her questions and their condescending treatment of the members of the Flock. How does Max respond to their offer? What role do Jeb and Dr. Martinez play in the decision she makes?
2. Each member of the Flock seems to be spontaneously mutating and gaining a new ability. How are their new abilities affecting the manner in which the Flock operates?
3. Why do Fang and Max trust Dr Martinez, but not Jeb? Why does Max continue to trust the voice in her head?
4. Fang and Max risk their lives to save Sue Ann. Based on what you know about the characters of Fang and Max, would they have saved Sue Ann if they had known that she turned them over to the Uber-Director?
5. How does Max attempt to keep the Flock from becoming bitter and cynical? Are her attempts successful with all members of the Flock? Why or why not?
6. Why does the Flock come to share the scientists’ beliefs about global warming? How does the Flock show its support?
7. Max and her Flock are given a chance to attend a special school for mutant children where they will be safe, warm, and well-fed, but when Max hears the voice in her head giving coordinates for another mission, she tells the Flock to get ready to go. Why is the Flock so willing to go with Max and relinquish the safety they all so desire?

Cross Curriculum Activities

Science—Unfortunately for Max and her Flock, the scientists experimenting with genomics use their knowledge to harm rather than aid society. But genomic research can be used for useful purposes: developing new energy sources, insect-and drought-resistant crops, and hardier livestock. Assign students a partner and ask them to select one of the above fields to research. Each pair should make a brochure explaining the field of genomic research, detailing both its positive and negative impact. The brochures should be presented to the class and displayed in the classroom.

Science—The science of robotics has dramatically advanced in the last 20 years due to new computer technology available to scientists and engineers. Ask students to investigate the use of robotics in society today and to select an actual product or tool that utilizes robotics. Each student should make a visual aid showing the product they have selected, how it works, when it was invented, and its purpose. Display the projects in the school library.

English/Language Arts—Fang enjoys writing his blog and keeping in touch with kids from around the world who follow the adventures of the Flock. In groups of three, ask students to make a list of the adventures of the Flock since their inception at the school in The Angel Experiment. Then, assuming Fang’s voice, ask each group to write a first-hand account of the adventures to post to Fang’s blog.

History—Throughout history, humans have yearned to fly, and in many ancient myths and folklore, people do have wings and can fly. Ask students to research fictional accounts, locate stories of people with wings and find stories of people who can fly. Have each student write a summary of a story they find and read it to the class.

Art—In small groups, have students envision the Flock as a community of superheroes. Students will need to imagine where this community would live, how they would be called to action and by whom, what their costumes would look like, how their individual powers could be further enhanced, etc. Have each group collaborate to write and illustrate a comic book or graphic novel introducing their superheroes. Students can present their Superhero Communities to the class, and judges from outside the class could select the most viable and creative community.

Social Studies—The newspapers report trends in Global warming; books and news magazines carry in-depth analysis of the phenomenon; and even the mass media, such as the Oscar winning film, An Inconvenient Truth, focus the public’s attention on the far-reaching ramifications of global warming. Ask students to find a partner and together find one of the above types of presentations on global warming to view or read. Then, ask students to make a multi-media presentation to the class conveying the pertinent facts and using a variety of media/tools to aptly communicate the information the team has gathered. Have students collectively establish a permanent display in the school to bring awareness to global warming.

Geography—In Chapter 25, the Flock boards a private jet for an unknown destination. They do know they have joined a group of scientists as part of a rescue mission, but they do not know who or what they will rescue. Have students work in small groups to draw a map tracing the Flock’s steps in Parts II and III, including their mode of transportation. At each place the Flock makes a major move, have the students write a brief paragraph about the country or the place to which they have traveled. Ask students to use a variety of artistic mediums as they create their maps and to display their maps in the classroom.

Media Studies—Many television shows are focused on locating criminals. These television dramas often include descriptions or the victims and assailants, circumstances of the crime, reenactments, and reward information, to name a few elements. Assign students to small groups to write their own version of Maximum Ride—The FBI Files. Students should select an incident from the series and script and present the television show based on details from the books and their own creative interpretations.

Thematic Connections

Teamwork—The Flock must cooperate and share the same goals in order to survive. What events force the Flock to work together as a team? What is their number one goal? In spite of their differences, how do Max and Fang continue to prove they are working as a team? On the other hand, how would teamwork help the scientists?

Loyalty/Betrayal—The Flock is betrayed throughout the series by almost everyone in whom they place their trust—Jeb, Ari, Anne, Sue Ann—just to name a few. How does the Flock continue to persevere in the face of constant danger, knowing they can depend on no one but themselves? How does loyalty help/hinder the Flock and their goal to stay free? How does Fang’s departure prove the loyalty of the Flock?

Responsibility—Max’s sense of responsibility to take care of the Flock and to keep them safe overwhelms her at times. How does the Flock share in this responsibility? How does Max extend this sense of responsibility to those outside the Flock? What special responsibilities do Jeb and Anne have?

Hope—Hope is the driving force behind the Flock’s attempts to stay free and alive. What are they hoping for? How does hope affect Max’s desire to save the world?

Family—The members of the Flock view themselves as a family—even though they are not related by blood. Why are their bonds so strong? What makes them a family? Why are Max’s feelings for Jeb so conflicted? Is her anger toward him justified? How is Max affected when she learns that Ari is her brother?

Internet Resources

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetics
• http://www.greenpeace.org
• http://environmentaldefense.org
• http://conservationfund.org

About the Books

James Patterson’s YA masterpiece of non-stop action, mystery, and suspense soared to the top of bestseller lists and created an explosion of new fans for this beloved, multimillion-selling author.

Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment
AR 11.0
HC 0-316-15556-X / 978-0-316-15556-4
PB 0-316-06795-4 / 978-0-316-06795-9
MM0-446-61779-2 / 978-0-316-61779-6
Audio 1-59486-048-7 / 978-1-59483-048-8

Maximum Ride: School’s Out—Forever
AR 11.0
HC 0-316-15559-4 / 978-0-316-15559-5
PB 0-316-06796-2 / 978-0-316-06796-6
MM 0-446-61889-6 / 978-0-446-61889-2
Audio 1-59483-246-3 / 978-1-59483-246-8

Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports
AR 10.0
HC 0-316-15560-8 / 978-0-316-15560-1
PB 0-316-15560-8 / 978-0-316-15560-1 Coming July ‘08
MM 0-446-19404-2 / 978-0-446-194004-4
Audio 1-59483-908-5 / 978-1-59483-908-5

The Final Warning: A Maximum Ride Novel
0-316-00286-0 / 978-0-316-00286-8
Available Now!

Praise for James Patterson’s Maximum Ride

An ALA/YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
A VOYA 2005 Review Editor’s Choice Book
A London Times Children’s Book of the Week
A 2007 IRA Young Adult Choices title
A 2006 – 2007 Florida Teen Book Award Master List title
A 2007 New Hampshire Teen Readers Book Award Master List title
A 2007 – 2008 Missouri Gateway Teen Book Award Master List title
A 2007 – 2008 Colorado Blue Spruce Award Master List title

About the Author

Valedictorian of his high school class, James Patterson majored in English at Manhattan College in New York and earned a graduate degree at Vanderbilt University. Several years and 26 rejections later, his first book was published—The Thomas Berryman Number. The book went on to win the Edgar Award™ for Best First Mystery Novel.

In 2004 he started the James Patterson PageTurner Awards, the name inspired by his personal desire to write real page-turners. The award recognizes individuals, companies, schools, and other institutions that find original and effective ways to spread the excitement of books and reading.

Visit James Patterson online at:

• www.maximumride.com
• www.jamespatteson.com
• www.hbgusa.com

Guide written by Susan Geye