Maximum Ride: The Manga, Vol. 1 [Paperback]

James Patterson (Author), NaRae Lee (Author)

Book Description

Series: Maximum Ride: The Manga | Publication Date: January 27, 2009

Fourteen-year-old Maximum Ride knows what it's like to soar above the world. She and all the members of her "flock" - Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman, and Angel - are just like ordinary kids, except they have wings and can fly! It may seem like a dream come true to some, but for the flock it's more like a living nightmare. When the mysterious lab known as the "School" turns up and kidnaps their youngest member, it's up to Max to organize a rescue, but will help come in time?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up–Hiding out in the wilderness of Colorado, Max Ride, 14, and her ragtag family of mutant kids think they&'re safe from the clutches of &The School,& a secret government lab that has erased their memories and turned them into human/bird creations. When Angel, the youngest of them, is kidnapped by the &Erasers&–cruel half-man/half-wolf enforcers for &The School&–Max and several of the kids set off in search of her. Despite outwitting them in several instances, the Erasers are able to intercept them. But all is not as it seems when Max is released from her confinement only to be told the secret of her origin–that she was created to save the world. The story is based on Patterson&'s popular &Maximum Ride& series (Little, Brown), and Lee does a superb job of translating his text into attractive manga-style illustrations. Although the narrative is a bit slow at first, the action quickly picks up and is bound to keep readers turning the pages. Bridging the gap between contemporary YA fiction and manga/manhwa, Maximum Ride is a fine first choice for sci-fi/thriller-heavy collections.–Dave Inabnitt, Brooklyn Public Library, NY
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From Booklist

Patterson’s fantasy-thriller series is readily adapted here into a manga format. This opening volume introduces a handful of avian DNA–enhanced youths whose communal freedom is threatened when one of them is kidnapped and held captive in an evil lab. Teenaged Max and her charges, who include slightly younger Fang, blind Iggy, and the little kids Gasman and Angel, leave behind a nearly idyllic retreat and go into a world where they are threatened by paramilitary beasts. They learn soaring techniques from birds of prey, find temporary comfort with a small family of “regular people,” and are imprisoned by the man whom they thought was their foster father. All this plotting is presented with boisterous and nicely stylized images that purposively exploit manga features, postures, and symbolism. Young manga fans will find this a fast read, and suspense readers may be engaged by the combination of visual and textual elements. The volume ends on a cliffhanger that will entice readers to seek the next in the series. Grades 7-10. --Francisca Goldsmith

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Yen Press; 1ST edition (January 27, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0759529515
• ISBN-13: 978-0759529519
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 0.8 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,169 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #44 in Books > Comics & Graphic Novels > Manga

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful stuff, but short on storyline..., February 17, 2009

By 

J. Gotangco (Quezon City, Philippines) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Maximum Ride: The Manga, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

First of all, this is the first time that I got exposed to the story of Max and her "kin," so I am not familiar with the book series, but I have to say, this manga adaptation got me interested into looking at the whole series.

The manga is only 7 chapters long, and the whole book can be read in an hour or even less. That is the bad part because the next volume is scheduled on October 2009.

The good part is that the artwork of NaRae Lee is just breathtakingly beautiful. Sure the style is familiar, but the way she created each page along with the panels and pacing of the story is just great. I had to keep my eye a few minutes after reading each page just to enjoy the artwork further. The storyline of Maximum Ride is very western in style, but NaRae Lee was able to create a scene where the whole thing seems original and unique because of her style.

If you enjoy manga, do give this a chance. The story is intriguing but a bit predictable, but then its not so bad. The only real bad thing about this waiting for October for the next volume of the book.

16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars If you haven't read the series, don't start w/ this., January 10, 2010

By 

L. Sommer - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Maximum Ride: The Manga, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

I've always been a big Maximum Ride fan, and was excited to read a Manga that actually re-accounted the book. The artwork is very good, however I did picture some of the characters a little different then it was drawn. The book just mainly covers the main plot. It's a very fast pace book, and if you haven't read Maximum Ride before, I don't recommend to start reading it from these books. Even reading the books I was glad to have some background knowledge on how the books were in order to get the plot. I can't believe how lost someone who has no knowledge of the series would get lost. I understand that this is a Manga book, so only so much plot can be put into this. However, back to the artwork, and the characters. Max is what - 14? and yet she could pass for twenty, and I'm not so happy with the way Fang came out. I never, pictured him with long hair that goes down almost to his feet, and I feel like his character is portrayed wrongly in the Manga. Don't get me started on Nudge she's what - 11 and she looks like she's 17 in the book with her big boobs.

Personally, if you haven't read the Maximum Ride series before, don't start with these. The artwork is good, minus the fact that the characters don't seem to be right to me. I expected more from this. I was finally excited to actually get a Manga book for one of my favorite books, but it wasn't what I thought.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, March 30, 2009

By 

TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Maximum Ride: The Manga, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

With beautiful illustrations by NaRae Lee, this adaptation of James Patterson's characters takes on a new and exciting life.

Fans of the Patterson series featuring Maximum Ride, the genetically manipulated bird girl and her family, are in for a treat with this Manga edition. Taking the adventures from the pages of his books, NaRae Lee brings the story alive with action and adventure.

Maximum and the other five bird children have been left alone for the past few years in a remote cabin in the middle of nowhere. They believe Jeb, their "father," is dead, so they've been left to fend for themselves. But the night Angel, the youngest of the six children, gets taken by the Erasers, the remaining five know they have to go and
rescue her.

She has most likely been taken back to the "School." The "School" is the most horrible place to the children and somewhere they never wanted to have to return. But they have to go for Angel; she's one of their own.

The children head out on a daring rescue attempt to save Angel. They encounter more Erasers and other hardships along the way. But not everyone is out to harm the special bird children. Max finds a friend in the most unlikely place. And when they finally reach Angel, the biggest surprise of all is waiting for the children.

To discover how the story plays out, pick up MAXIMUM RIDE: THE MANGA, VOL. 1. The pages will seemingly turn on their own accord. With little dialogue and mostly action, the story will appeal to almost all age groups.

If you haven't read the stories that the Manga is based upon, have no fear. The story is easy to follow, and before you know it, you'll be hooked and eager for Vol. 2!

Reviewed by: Jaglvr