Band of Angels [Mass Market Paperback]

Julian F. Thompson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1987

While traveling across the country, a group of teenagers decide to launch a kids' campaign against nuclear war unaware that they are being pursued by government agents determined to kill each of them.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Thompson's new novel is stagey and melodramatic, unlike his remarkable debut in The Grounding of Group 6. A woman friend of a couple who commit suicide takes their baby and keeps on the move. She's evading government agents who suspect the two might be hiding papers containing the formulae for a "super-virus." The child's parents have died to prevent its use in germ warefare and the secret is still safe, 14 years later. Then the unofficial guardian of the boy known as Jordan Paradise is killed by a hit-and-run driver and he's alone in a strange town. Riley Ropux witnesses the tragedy and she takes Jordan to her home where he meets a third teenager, Michael. The three get permission from Riley's father to drive across the country, a trip devoted to soul-searching and plans to avert a third World War. On the way, they pick up two more dropouts, a boy and a girl. The "band of angels" are tailed by two FBI men and the story's climax occurs at a confrontation in a wilderness, a scene almost predictable. So is the attraction between Riley and Jordan that idealistic Michael resents, the conflicting views of the pursuers and other plot contrivances.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 9-12 Thompson's attempt to deal with important issues is undermined by unbelievable characters and an improbable plot. Jordan Paradise has lived on the run since his parents' suicide over government interest in their discovery of a super-virus. Riley Roux and Michael Gordon are 16-year-old chums who "adopt" Jordan and then embark on a summer vacation: traveling together, sorting out their lives and discussing a means to nuclear disarmament. Throughout their journey, the three teenagers are the unwitting targets of Eric and Sweets, undercover agents who pursue Jordan and any secrets he might harbor. Thompson does not effectively blend the sublime global disarmament aspirations of his teenagers with their mundane concerns of physical attraction, jealousy and independence. Although the characters may be a band of political innocents with worthy ideals, they are socially precocious: writing their own itinerary, choosing their own companions and determining their own commitments with minimal input from offstage, permissive parents. Tongue-in-cheek asides to readers and an abundance of strong language seem transparent efforts to popularize the novel. Despite the suspense created by Sweets' final decision to save the teenagers from Eric's assassination plan, the overall quality and content of this novel make it a questionable selection. Gerry Larson, Chewning Junior High School, Durham, N.C.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Scholastic (April 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590405454
• ISBN-13: 978-0590405454
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,384,249 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not as timely but still worth reading, October 2, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: A Band of Angels (Paperback)

Chances are that if you're the same age as the characters in this novel (16), you don't remember what it was like to live with the possibility of nuclear war, no matter how real or imagined the danger. This book, however, is still very much worth reading, as are Julian Thompson's other early novels (Simon Pure, The Taking of Mariasburg, The Grounding of Group 6, Discontinued).

I was enchanted by Thompson's novels when I was in high school, and I am still highly impressed by his unusual (but believable) storylines and command of language. This particular novel deals with five teenagers who develop a plan of action to save the world, which is not as corny as it sounds, not by a long shot. So many novels for young adults are so narrow in focus that one would think that teenagers never consider any life beyond high school. This novel's breadth of subject matter and depth of focus does 16-year-olds credit.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The storyline is dated, but the message is timeless, January 28, 2002

By 

A.J. Chodan - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Band of Angels (Library Binding)

Perhaps, in the year 2002, it is difficult for someone who was born after the year this book takes place to identify with a question like "Are there going to be any such years as 1995, 2000?"

Perhaps, in a time when the main threats to the United States seem to come from the Middle East, rather than Eastern Europe, the continual concern about "making sure the Russians don't get it" sees out of place.

Perhaps, many years from now, this book will be viewable and readable as an historical novel?

What can I say? The idea that "five kids can change the world" is still a powerful one. The specifics of the storyline might seem odd and dated now, but the ideas and the struggles are timeless. Even if you have to ask someone what it all means, give this one a read. :)

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It is an outstanding story. I loved every page., May 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Band of Angels (Library Binding)

A Band of Angels

The story a band of Angels is a very interesting book about a couple of young scientist's. They are working for the government to create a virus that would be used in wars. They discovered the formula but decided the government didn't deserve to have it. With the money the got from the project, They took their baby boy to a friend, a woman and then they killed themselves. The boy, Jonathan never knew what happened to his parents and grew up running from town to town. Than one day a car hits and kills the woman, leaving him all alone. Well, However, a girl, riley, was standing on the corner, and sees it happen. She invited him to her house and then on a trip with her, and a friend, Michel. Now the three of them are alone in a car. There they run into two other people, another girl and a boy. Riley and Jonathan fall in love. Riley and Jonathan started dating and getting really serious about each other. Although they had no clue Jonathan was being chased by two FBI agents. As the FBI agents get closer they see Jonathan and Riley. They shoot at the two kids. This was a great book if you like happy endings. I love the twist and turns in this book. You never know what is going to happen next. There are survival problems and hundreds of surprise solutions. This book is great for anyone how likes to be surprised.