Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment may be a young adult novel, but that doesn't mean that it's full of ponies with ridiculously sugary names frolicking through a field. The truth is that the flock is in a lot of danger all the time. The School has sent the Erasers to hunt down the members of the flock and bring them back—and the Erasers do not do things peacefully. They're wolf-human hybrids, so they're all about brute force, even if it means killing and maiming their prey. Trust us: You don't want to come face to face with an Eraser if you can help it. You might not make it out in one piece.
Questions About Violence
- Why do you think the Erasers take so much joy in ripping their prey to shreds? Give examples to support your answer.
- Why aren't the flock members violent in the same way that the Erasers are?
- Do Iggy and the Gasman feel badly about blowing up the Erasers at their house? Why or why not?
- Do you think that Ari's death is justified?
Chew on This
The School pretends like they're acting in the hybrids' best interests, but all you have to do is look at how the Erasers are treated (as ruthless mercenaries) to know that the scientists are not the good guys.
Even though Iggy and the Gasman blow up the Erasers who come after them, their act is different because they're not actively hunting them down as prey. They're simply acting in self-defense.