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Animorphs #1-8
The Invasion / The Visitor / The Encounter / The Message / The Predator / The Capture / The Stranger / The Alien
Child's Social Studies textbook from Scholastic.
192 pages, Unknown Binding
Published January 1, 1983
30 people want to read
About the author
K.A. Applegate
251 books466 followersalso published under the name Katherine Applegate
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 7, 2024
Some friends advised me to read this series recently:
1.5 - 2 STARS: Invasion [ The Animorphs Book 1 ] - This volume held the usual origin story for a 'super team' fun but remnant of every other Saturday Morning Adventure series with all the ups-and-downs you'd expect. Including the failure of the first mission and with the appropriate nonsequences , with one exception the dark beginning to one Animorph's career heroing. But all-in-all not a bad start.
3 STARS: Visitor [ The Animorphs Book 2 ] - This volume was a noticeable step-up in both adventure and story. It did a great job of setting up the true horror of this invasion in a very Puppet Masters-y way. It also swung from hiding your 'super-heroing' from the people to your childhood 'issues' from family and friends around you.
It seems that each volume is from a different character's point of view, which is intriguing. In volume one Jake was the narrator but here Rachel (Jake's cousin) holds center stage. And therein lies my only real complaint, the tone of narration is exactly like that of book one. It's as if Rachel has no voice of her own... yet . I expect (or at least hope) this to change as this series goes on.
3.5 STARS: Encounter [ The Animorphs Book 3 ] - This volume focused on Tobias, the human cursed to live as a hawk because... he was clearly trying to runaway from his life since he was introduced. And frankly the other Animorphs are lucky he didn't get them all killed while working through his 'issues.'
So now the adventure is 'lost one' is reflected through the eyes of this 'finally free' of his human burdens - but trapped as a bird - boy as he struggles with a literal "human not matter what his exterior shape" parable. More importantly Tobias' voice is more pronounced, more differentiated then had been the case in the past narrative transitions. The story was pretty solid, bit of what kids might do in a Junior High RED DAWN sort of way.
Also the little mythos touches to his story echos a bit of the ole 'Eve & Lucien'
A SOLID 3 STARS: Message [ The Animorphs Book 4 ] - Here Cassie takes the stage... a bit of a 'Mary Sue' with her peace makining, 'tomboy - diamond-in-the-wrought' vibe and her superior morphing skills.
Some may argue that the 'Mary Sue' is Rachel but, from my point of view, she seems too tied up in her REVERSE-Lady Hawk dynamic with Tobias to have the time to be all-things-to-all-fans. Whereas her relationship with the animals and Jake drive this tale.
Here we get a sense that all are seeing the true dangers in their adventuring. From dolphin-minds to underwater alien planets, this was a romp. Though not enough to believe jumping into the cold ocean at 19 miles an hour wouldn't funk you up. Still a lot of good fun with the shadow of more excitement to come...
2 STARS: Predator[ The Animorphs Book 5 ] - This was a good read and the further you get into the series the more it becomes apparent that each volume is an episode of the live-action series.
ANOTHER 3 STARS: Capture [ The Animorphs Book 6 ] - This was tense!
ANNNNND ANOTHER SOLID 3 STARS: Stranger [ The Animorphs Book 7 ] - Okay I have to say this was an interesting way to take the series. I want more please!
3.5 STARS: Alien [ The Animorphs Book 8 ] - I was told this volume would be a game changer but I had no idea... talk about a nice little twist. I feel this YA Puppet Masters to be just as twisted and dark as some of the most adult SF tales I've ever read. I just hope things don't get too Harlan Ellison-y.
HIGHTLY RECOMMENDED... for what it is!
1.5 - 2 STARS: Invasion [ The Animorphs Book 1 ] - This volume held the usual origin story for a 'super team' fun but remnant of every other Saturday Morning Adventure series with all the ups-and-downs you'd expect. Including the failure of the first mission and with the appropriate nonsequences , with one exception the dark beginning to one Animorph's career heroing. But all-in-all not a bad start.
3 STARS: Visitor [ The Animorphs Book 2 ] - This volume was a noticeable step-up in both adventure and story. It did a great job of setting up the true horror of this invasion in a very Puppet Masters-y way. It also swung from hiding your 'super-heroing' from the people to your childhood 'issues' from family and friends around you.
It seems that each volume is from a different character's point of view, which is intriguing. In volume one Jake was the narrator but here Rachel (Jake's cousin) holds center stage. And therein lies my only real complaint, the tone of narration is exactly like that of book one. It's as if Rachel has no voice of her own... yet . I expect (or at least hope) this to change as this series goes on.
3.5 STARS: Encounter [ The Animorphs Book 3 ] - This volume focused on Tobias, the human cursed to live as a hawk because... he was clearly trying to runaway from his life since he was introduced. And frankly the other Animorphs are lucky he didn't get them all killed while working through his 'issues.'
So now the adventure is 'lost one' is reflected through the eyes of this 'finally free' of his human burdens - but trapped as a bird - boy as he struggles with a literal "human not matter what his exterior shape" parable. More importantly Tobias' voice is more pronounced, more differentiated then had been the case in the past narrative transitions. The story was pretty solid, bit of what kids might do in a Junior High RED DAWN sort of way.
Also the little mythos touches to his story echos a bit of the ole 'Eve & Lucien'
A SOLID 3 STARS: Message [ The Animorphs Book 4 ] - Here Cassie takes the stage... a bit of a 'Mary Sue' with her peace makining, 'tomboy - diamond-in-the-wrought' vibe and her superior morphing skills.
Some may argue that the 'Mary Sue' is Rachel but, from my point of view, she seems too tied up in her REVERSE-Lady Hawk dynamic with Tobias to have the time to be all-things-to-all-fans. Whereas her relationship with the animals and Jake drive this tale.
Here we get a sense that all are seeing the true dangers in their adventuring. From dolphin-minds to underwater alien planets, this was a romp. Though not enough to believe jumping into the cold ocean at 19 miles an hour wouldn't funk you up. Still a lot of good fun with the shadow of more excitement to come...
2 STARS: Predator[ The Animorphs Book 5 ] - This was a good read and the further you get into the series the more it becomes apparent that each volume is an episode of the live-action series.
ANOTHER 3 STARS: Capture [ The Animorphs Book 6 ] - This was tense!
ANNNNND ANOTHER SOLID 3 STARS: Stranger [ The Animorphs Book 7 ] - Okay I have to say this was an interesting way to take the series. I want more please!
3.5 STARS: Alien [ The Animorphs Book 8 ] - I was told this volume would be a game changer but I had no idea... talk about a nice little twist. I feel this YA Puppet Masters to be just as twisted and dark as some of the most adult SF tales I've ever read. I just hope things don't get too Harlan Ellison-y.
HIGHTLY RECOMMENDED... for what it is!
Displaying 1 of 1 review