Have you ever wondered what it would feel like
to stretch your arms and be airborne, flying over buildings,
trees, lakes and mountains? The 6 mutant children (98% human
and 2% bird) introduced in Patterson's Where the Wind Blows
have that luxury. Unfortunately they also have an assortment
of problems related to that ability. Born of normal parents,
they were taken to a laboratory where their DNA was altered,
giving them wings and other extraordinary features. 14 year
old Max and her flock of "angels" have escaped their
cages and are living a relatively normal life until they are
discovered by half-human, half-wolf Erasers who are sent to
kill them.
Max's pseudo-family consists of Iggy, Fang, Nudge,
Gasman and Angel, each of whom has unique superhuman abilities
and talents. This young adult science fiction thriller takes
the listener on exhilarating flights across the country to
Death Valley and then to New York City, where Max leads her
band into the hidden community of the denizens of the subway
system. Their constant quest, other than staying alive, is
to find answers to why they were abducted as children and
who their parents are.
Evan Rachel Wood's voice is convincing as the
resourceful and sensitive Max. Patterson has chosen to have
Max tell the story from her point of view, which adds a feeling
of reality to what would ordinarily be bizarre circumstances.
As a road trip book, this would be relished by
children and young adults and accepted by their adult chauffeurs.
It's a page turner for adolescents who will appreciate Max's
sarcastic distrust of adult authority figures, but the plot
is fast paced and will intrigue adult listeners as well. I
recommend this audio book and look forward to hearing more
of Max and the Flock's adventures.
by James Patterson and Evan Rachel Wood (Narrator)
