Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

This is a Buddy Read for Animorphs Boxset #9-12 & #12.5 by K.A. Applegate starting on March 1, 2024.

Happy Reading!

Links: Animorphs Boxset: The Secret / The Android / The Forgotten / The Reaction by K.A. Applegate



The Andalite Chronicles by K.A. Applegate

Andalite Chronicles, and all companion materials are optional, but add alot of context/backstory... and the Megamorphs ones are like Avengers blockbusters, with multiple POVs...

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More flipbooks:

Secret:



Android:



Forgotten:



Reaction:



Andalite Chronicles:



This last one is a longer one... Andalite Chronicles was originally released in 3 smaller chunks and them omnibused into a single volume... so each smaller chunk had it's own animation... all 3 telling a little story...

Oh eek, spiders!

Read #9 The Secret, this morning... (view spoiler)[this felt like it had the most group discord... the team, and especially Jake, weren't happy with Cassie's devotion to animals, for most of the book...

The skunk episodes were pretty hilarious tho...

The termites were another scary morph...

And then tricking Visser Three with grape juice... (hide spoiler)]

Iain, thank you so much for the awesome morph pictures!!!

Choko wrote: "Iain, thank you so much for the awesome morph pictures!!!"

They were such an integral part of the experience as a kid... bottom right corner of the books...

These books all had inner book cover images as well... they're all cataloged on the book pages at Seerowpedia, as well as colorized morph gifs from the Scholastic website back in the day (for the first few books, anyway, then it's just the in-book corner black and whites):

Book 1 - The Invasion:





Book 2 - The Visitor:





Book 3 - The Encounter:





Book 4 - The Message:





Book 5 - The Predator:





With book 5, they actually almost went with the Lobster Morph instead...





Talk about horrify, lol...

Book 6 - The Capture:





Book 7 - The Stranger:





Megamorphs 1 - The Andalite's Gift:





Book 8 - The Alien:





Book 9 - The Secret:





Book 10 - The Android:





Book 11 - The Forgotten:





Book 12 - The Reaction:





Chronicles #1: The Andalite Chronicles:





Some of this stuff is a repeat from before, but now that I found a source for everything in one convenient place, I plan to do this this way for all future threads...

For the second Andalite's Gift image, I actually showed a promotional image of the publishers morphing random fans... there's actually a website where you can do this with any 2 images (1MB or less, preferred): https://animorphgenerator.com/

AWESOME!!!

Halfway through The Secret #9 ... (view spoiler)[ ... First, did we know that Cassie is black? I didn't realize it, until I saw the cover for her book... Not that it matters, I just didn't know. Really, the only two characters I had some mental picture of were Rachel - the Scandinavian Xena, and Marko, short, dark Italian... I have no idea what Jake, Tobias and the human form of Ax look like...

That morph into termites was another disasterous one! They should really stay away from all hive insects. And Cassie's realization that Tobias had eaten two or three of the skunk babies was also very disturbing! This book has been nothing but rude awakening for the poor girl so far. I was raised by my mom with love for all animals and I remember the emotional devastation I experienced when I started watching those realistic documentaries about how different animals live... That moment and the moment I "discovered" that my dad is only human, were two of the moments I pivoted into adulthood... (hide spoiler)]

We knew, but it was never really focused on... she's just part of the group... probably 1-2 descriptive lines...

Other than Marco & Cassie, (and Rachel with her Scandinavian tallness) the rest of the group is jist generic white, I think... altho Ax could have ended up more of a melting pot, considering how he blended the DNA...

Tobias' human form barely matters, so far, since he's stuck in hawk form...

Choko wrote: "Halfway through The Secret #9..."

(view spoiler)[That moment when a kid learns their pets didn't go to "a farm upstate", but died... (hide spoiler)]

Yeah .. exactly! Sad day, but I guess necessary for emotional development... Stupid growing up!

Finished The Secret #9 ... A bit lighter on the battle front, but nice as character inside. Another enjoyable entry of the series:)))

Ooh, really cool picture gallery there! It's interesting, looking at them, and thinking on how much better photoshop tech has gotten in the last few decades... those are so obviously fake! LOL

Starting #9 The Secret and it's nice to have a Cassie POV again... just about 50% in also. (view spoiler)[I feel like I knew Cassie was Black, but it hasn't be described that way culturally, just in physical description... I don't think it ever talked about kinky hair or anything either.

I like the way Cassie observes the animals and thinks about what their actions mean--like with the skunk.

Termites... when has any of their bug morphs gone well? Bugs are always creepy.... (hide spoiler)]

Finished #9 The Secret and dittoing Choko--(view spoiler)[I definitely cracked a laugh when Visser 3 got sprayed! Hah! And the grape juice instead of tomato juice intel was very teen prank too.

I like how Cassie doesn't only see morphing as a way to fight the Yeerks, but also takes conservation issues very seriously... her acting as Skunk Mama was thought-provoking... (hide spoiler)]

Read #10 The Android last night (view spoiler)[another solid Marco story...

So much of what happens in these develops so fast, and is a bit lucky that everything is so centered around where these kids live... but I guess part of that is explained in that that's why these kids were randomly chosen, too...

This packed such an exploration of PTSD into so few pages... and with a fade to black combat sequence, too...

Spider morph... another horrific experience... between watching the morph happen, getting eaten, and having to morph out and fall from the sky as a cannonball blob mid-morph...

Erik was so nonchalant about it all, too... talk about lucky he wasn't a Yeerk ally for real... (hide spoiler)]

Read #10 The Android today, and I see what you're saying, Iain, about (view spoiler)[the packed exploration of PTSD... I felt bad for Erik, unable to forget, or trust that his memories will get softer edges... too bad he couldn't use the crystal to help...

I was surprised to find a new set of allies so quickly. Will they show up again? Or is this a one-off? If kind of feels one-off-y, like the violence Erik had to do caused the Chi to cut off all contact...

The bit about Erik not having a smell reminded me--wasn't there one morph where it seemed like they could smell the controllers? Didn't Yeerk-controlled people smell just slightly off?

I still enjoy Marco's humor, though I feel like most of it was weighted towards the opening sequence. And his attempt to get out of the spider morph. (hide spoiler)]

Nirkatze wrote: "Read #10 The Android today, and I see what you're saying, Iain, about..."

(view spoiler)[they recur, but mostly as a source of intel, as suggested at the end... my memory says they meet up at the mall alot... but I could just be latching on to one specific instance...

Anyway, the wiki says Erek appears in 19 of the books, but I don't know how many are true appearances, and how many are just they see him for a second or something, in passing...

They're definitely not one-off... I'm not sure anything in this series is one-off, unless it appears in a megamorph, like that dust particle alien hive thing they had to kill with water (the Veelak or whatever it was called)... (hide spoiler)]

That's good to know--I like the idea of things popping up again and building...

I love the mix of teen pranks and serious topics! Finding out your parents are people really is a huge eye-opener...

It's pretty realistic, for a series about alien invasion :D

Just because the Earth is in peril, doesn't mean they're not still kids with kid responsibilities / goals / mindset to have fun sometimes...

Yeah... I really appreciate that realism, both on heavier non-kid topics and on heavy kid-topics--it doesn't talk down to kids, which is always appreciated as a kid...

Read #11... 3rd Jake POV... this is a wild one... but right in my wheelhouse of favorite ideas... (view spoiler)[namely, time travel...

Basically let the group completely fail a mission and still come out the other end...

The rules for why Jake's the only one to remember feel flimsy... I mean, the others died too... (hide spoiler)]

I found a great/nuanced review re-reader, (view spoiler)[that noted how much the memory versions of the rest of the team (since Ax says they probably aren't real) all act super to Jake's expectations of their actions / strengths / weaknesses, etc... Rachel getting more aggressive after an injury, Tobias and bird fact hunger stuff, Cassie as caregiver and burden easier, etc...

I liked that interpretation... (hide spoiler)]

I also finished Android #10 ... (view spoiler)[ Marco is a great POV! The jokes about his haircut were adorable:))) Meeting Eric and the other Chi was very exciting and despite the unfortunate outcome of them not being able to help them physically fight, I think just knowing that they are there, and that there was a world filled with creatures living in peace, made them feel not so alone and hopeless... I am also kind of glad that the Chi chose to stay peaceful and pacifistic. This is who they are and I want them to stay that way...

As you guys were saying, and as Marco was saying, NO MORE INSECT MORPHING! They always end up traumatically! However, they are exciting to read about:))) (hide spoiler)]

Finished The Forgotten #11 ... For some reason, I have no idea why, of all the POVs, Jake's is my least favorite. This book is the weakest so far, in my opinion. I liked the idea of it, but the final product just didn't work for me. That's ok, I know there have to be some books like that in a mega series of this type. Jumping into the next one.

I agree... I just didn't focus on that in my comments... Jake is locked into the leader role, whether he likes it or not... the other characters get to be more fun...

Finished The Reaction #12 . We are back in good form!!! Loved this Rachel (view spoiler)[ having an allergic reaction to an animal's DNA! Haha! The way she "burped" the crock was hilariously hideous! The whole thing was awesome! And Cassie obtained Rachel's DNA! However, at the beginning, whenever she started having those spontaneous morphing issues, I was just thinking - ask Ax! Talk to Ax for goodness sake! He is the only one who might have some answers for you! Then she fell through her room's floor into the kitchen, and my immediate reaction was - man, I hope they can afford to fix this! I know I couldn't if it happened in my house... But her mom said they have insurance for situations like this one, so I was relieved... Marco as a Lama was great too! But her random morphing in the ocean was kind of scary! (hide spoiler)]

I forgot to comment one significant thing about book #11 ... That scene with the ants nests in the wetlands!!! That was horrifying!!! I wonder if Jake will be the only one who remembers that, and I kind of hope it is, because I think that would have traumatized Rachel and scarred her for life!!!

Choko wrote: "I also finished Android #10 ... ."

Hah right!! (view spoiler)[ but insect/bug morphing are probably the most useful ones for spying...
I felt so bad for Eric after realizing that memory would never fade... Totally understand their stance on violence! (hide spoiler)]

Also... it's a double meaning... "we bugged their apartment" :D

I just read #11 last night! I really appreciated the insight into (view spoiler)[Jake's "leadership"--made me think about how the most important aspect is just being willing to step up, and the weight of decisions... I liked the end quote for that too, on one of the responsibilities of leadership being to have good luck...

I do agree that Jake's tends to be my least favorite POV, but I enjoyed his parts of this one... it was the time travel situation that felt completely out of left turn... I feel like we've gotten several books lately with totally new elements tossed in, and haven't had much forward momentum lately.

And the ants situation was totally *shudder*!! HOW could Rachel sleep through that???? I think @Choko brings up a good point about memory--I think it will be just Jake, thank goodness... (hide spoiler)]

LOL@Choko, I opened your #12 spoiler thinking it was for #11 and I was like "how did I miss all of this????" and then facepalmed when I realized.

Reading #12: (view spoiler)[this is officially my least favorite book, so far...

I'm not a fan of plotlines that revolve around lying and keeping secrets, and Rachel just keeps doing that over and over in this book... being allergic to DNA and the idea that she's just gonna burp up a crocodile should be taken much more seriously than it's being taken in this book...

And, basically every time the burping happens she either almost hurts her family, or reveals her identity to the Yeerks, so I'm super frustrated listening to this book... (hide spoiler)]

I was extremely frustrated when she wouldn't ask Ax for advice! You have a person who might actually know what is happening, ask him!!!! The other stuff didn't bother me that much... But yeah, they shouldn't keep secrets between each other. It weakens them as a group...

Yea... I'm sure the book is accurate to their age/etc, it's just frustrating... not sure if I ever got so frustrated before, reading the ebook/eyebook... there's something to the audio medium... I don't like watching these kinds of plotlines on TV either, or social situations that would make me cringe in my own life/etc...

Also, re:12: (view spoiler)[how were they planning to de-Controller Jonathan Taylor Thomas Jeremy Jason McCole, if the croc plotline hadn't scared the Yeerk out?... super luck-based plot resolution... (hide spoiler)]

Haha! Now I can't stop picturing Jonathan Taylor Thomas!!!!

The name of his show was a cross between Full House & Home Improvement... very thinly veiled "teenbeat heartthrob" celebrity

Read #11 today.. Not one of my favorites... But what is with the ants! It just keeps getting worse lol
Does Applegate have A Thing against them?? hahah

Started Andalite Chronicles... this one has some big revelations... first super worthwhile companion book...

It's structured as like a black box final recording of Elfangor, probably recorded when he went back into his ship after giving the kids the morphing power, given the way the prologue plays out...

(view spoiler)[from the get-go, there's comments implying Elfangor had been to Earth before, knew one of the kids, and a woman named Lauren...

Then it jumps back 21 years, and it's crazy to hear the tonal shift to "teenage Elfangor" fresh out of miliatary academy... it's kind of like the Star Trek reboot with Chris Pine... hotheaded kids excited at their first military action...

Then we're introduced to new "butterfly aliens" that have a metamorphoses phase (Skrit Na), and the humans they kidnapped... including Lauren...

And (spoilers) (view spoiler)[future vice principal Chapman (hide spoiler)]

It's all connected...

I completely skipped over how Elfangor said the stuff with the Yeerks is all his fault (again spoilers, and this one is probably best left for the end of the book, since it spoils one of the biggest reveals in the book) (view spoiler)[this references the fact that it's Elfangor's fault that Alloran was captured by the Yeerk that became Visser Three (hide spoiler)]

Again, it's all connected... (hide spoiler)]

Elfangor's horrifying realizations about human anatomy are hilarious... reminiscent of Ax, with less sugar high / morphing...

Reading #12 right now--in Chapter 7 and (view spoiler)[Rachel playing with font size and margins to get the required page count for her homework... LOL. I remember doing that. Then again, I also don't remember having FIVE PAGE reports for homework? That would have been an insane amount! And definitely not... what, middle school? Like, one page double spaced max! Maaaybe two pages. High school 3 pages was a lot! (hide spoiler)]

Finished #12--agree with Choko (view spoiler)[was definitely thinking Rachel needed to talk to Ax! What's the use of having an Andalite friend if you don't ask him about Andalite problems? Would probably have felt Iain's feelings too, more strongly, if the book was longer or I wasn't so tired.

I found it interesting though, that with this allergy Rachel was able to go straight from one morph to the next without returning to base state. I've been wondering about this, and Tobias--what don't the Andalites know about morphing? Or, what don't they know about how it could be different for a species other than the Andalites? Makes me think of the Dragonback series, and how the characters discovered new things possible with different hosts... (hide spoiler)]

Reading Mood Matters... sometimes things annoy me at the drop of a hat... other times I let them slide...

Finished #12.5 Andalite Chronicles... I think it's crazy this is also broken up into 3 mini-books according to GR listings, and not simply published as one book/chronicle... (view spoiler)[alot was packed into this book, for not being much longer than an Animorphs book...

From meeting Lauren & Chapman... to the invasion of the Taxxon homeworld... a nothlit Andalite... Chapman's selfishness causing alot of bad stuff to happen... the Time Matrix... Alloran being turned into a Controller... the weird hijinks with the Time Matrix and 3 conflicting goals... cameo from the Ellimist and maybe it's ancient enemy (not sure if that laughing voice was supposed to be the Ellimist or it's Adversary...

Elfangor living on Earth as Al Fangor, lol... and being Tobias' dad... Tobias being some superchild is classic SF trope, but what that means is super vague for now...

This book is also perfectly timed in the ordering to come right before the next Tobias book, #13, which is another Ellimist book, I think...

I don't even know what to think of that Taxxon Living hive thing... there's not much art online about it, but there is this:



Designed as like a vintage travel poster: https://i.etsystatic.com/6728244/r/il... (hide spoiler)]

Read 12.5 Andalite Chronicles and really enjoyed it--love the travel poster art too, @Iain--I find it interesting that for a side book it 2x the size of a normal book, lol... (view spoiler)[It was nice to get Elfangor's backstory--and it was interesting to see how young he was... still a puppy in the military, not too much different from his brother.

The Taxxon sound like big ants, honestly--I see what y'all're saying about this being a recurring bit of horror... Really sucks for that one dude that he got stuck in this body... but I am very curious about the end-result--the Living Hive, and that they are not actually happily allied with the Yeerks...

Time travel/Ellmist-interference seems to be very much working on "the plot wills it so it shall be" rules--how exactly does time get turned back but Tobias still fathered by Elfangor? Also that means that Ax is his uncle. LOL. This also makes Cassie now the only one without a familial tie to the war... Marco has his mom, Jake his brother, Rachel has Jake... That whole plot point did answer a question... I was wondering if a morphed being was genetically changed enough to create viable children... On a romance point, it means that the Andalite are literally capable of romancing any species without cross-species difficulties... some of the pairings in Wandering Inn I have to wonder about the mechanics... reminds me of the romance options in Mass Effect, honestly. Did it explicitly say that Elfangor exceeded the 2 hour limit and accepted a life as a Al Fangor? In which case... the Ellmist can reverse those effects... which means it is possible... (hide spoiler)]

The Taxxon screech on audio is a bit of a jumpscare/nightmare fuel, every time it happens...

Nirkatze wrote: "Read 12.5 Andalite Chronicles and really enjoyed it--love the travel poster art too, @Iain--..."

Yes it did (view spoiler)[Elfangor was nothlit until the Ellimist intervened...

The Ellimist appears in the next Tobias book, too...

But something different is done there, since time isn't being rewritten in the same way... it's an interesting solution... (hide spoiler)]

Finally catching up to this thread...and you all will probably be moving to the next one XD