Max is just a kid, but she’s a kid with a lot of responsibilities—five brothers and sisters to be exact. Oh, and she and her siblings can fly. After the mutant Erasers abduct their youngest sister Angel, the “bird kids,” who are the result of genetic experimentation, take off in pursuit. Throughout their adventurous journey, they also find themselves struggling to understand their own origins and purpose as they fight to keep the only family they’ve ever known together, no matter what the cost.
This story, as well as the others in Patterson’s bestselling series, is adventure-packed and the characters are well developed. The plot is fast-paced and visually dynamic, with short chapters perfect for keeping even the most reluctant reader’s attention. The story tells of a futuristic world when child mutants are created to fight man’s wars in hopes of gaining the most power, even at the expense of the child. Tweens will have an easy time relating to the recombinants’ feelings of not belonging and feeling different, as well as Max’s feelings of responsibility for her younger siblings.
