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v_neptune's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Genocide, Slavery, Violence, and War
Moderate: Confinement, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Vomit, and Fire/Fire injury
eleanorjmca's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
One of my favourite books as a child. It was a joy to revisit this. A fast-paced sci-fi action story that is surprisingly dark given its intended audience. Even this first book grapples with very complex material considering it is basically 100 pages on the theme of “wouldn’t it be cool to turn into a tiger and fight evil aliens”. Never a dull moment.
I was never able to read the whole series as a child due to the unavailability (and price) of the books, so I’m excited to see how this series develops!
I was never able to read the whole series as a child due to the unavailability (and price) of the books, so I’m excited to see how this series develops!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery and Cannibalism
Minor: Bullying, Confinement, Gore, and Death of parent
wai's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This series was a special interest of mine when I was in elementary school. I was absolutely obsessed and loved it dearly. This is the first time I've really attempted a re-read of the series, and so far it holds up - while some of the references might be dated now, the characters still feel real and the conflict still feels intense and all consuming. I'm excited to continue the series and see if I continue to feel this way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, and War
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, and Death of parent
booksthatburn's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Slavery, Violence, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Death of parent
sarahdm's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I'm absolute here because of the Lord Ravenscraft video essay on Animorphs. (link at the end) I highly recommend you check that out if you are at all interested in this series (and don't mind some light spoilers).
I will start by saying that I did not read these as a child even though I was in the correct age range for them. This is because 1) My school never had book one available and 2) My family did not have money to spend on the Scholastic book fair. So this is my first time interacting with this series at the age of 30.
This shit absolutely slaps. It is incredibly mature and dark for a series targeted at 3rd graders. It has themes about death, war, personal sacrifice, grief, escapism. All while still keeping it appropriate for the 5-8 year old audience. I recently read the first Percy Jackson book as well and in comparison, The Invasion kept my attention, was less repetitive, and had deeper emotional writing. This feels like Coraline meets Power Rangers. Its got the vibe of a weekly children's TV action show while still having the heavy themes of a psychological thriller.
I will say I'm not sure I'm in love with the entire cast yet. This book is in Jake's point of view, so we only really get to know him. He is very much the reluctant leader, Red Ranger type. And he is so emotionally mature and has incredible insight into the danger of the situation they are currently in. But he still feel like a child. He loves video games, as a crush on a girl, doesn't like math homework, is interested in sports, and idolizes his big brother. He isn't just some one dimensional "leader" character and I have a feeling once I get to other books, I will feel the same way about the rest of the cast.
The only negative is that the books have very dated references. Which makes sense given that Applegate has stated that she took a lot of inspiration for the characters from tween magazines of the time. So I guess Animorphs is just a 90's time capsule in that way.
I also wanna shout out the audiobook. MacLeod Andrews does an AMAZING job with all the voices and emotions. I might pick up Warrior Cats just to listen to him read.
I finally decided to take a dive into Animorphs as a pick me up between books. I do not regret it. I can not wait to get to book two. 10/10 would recommend to all ages.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPRKzwgqvAA&t=1906s
I will start by saying that I did not read these as a child even though I was in the correct age range for them. This is because 1) My school never had book one available and 2) My family did not have money to spend on the Scholastic book fair. So this is my first time interacting with this series at the age of 30.
This shit absolutely slaps. It is incredibly mature and dark for a series targeted at 3rd graders. It has themes about death, war, personal sacrifice, grief, escapism. All while still keeping it appropriate for the 5-8 year old audience. I recently read the first Percy Jackson book as well and in comparison, The Invasion kept my attention, was less repetitive, and had deeper emotional writing. This feels like Coraline meets Power Rangers. Its got the vibe of a weekly children's TV action show while still having the heavy themes of a psychological thriller.
I will say I'm not sure I'm in love with the entire cast yet. This book is in Jake's point of view, so we only really get to know him. He is very much the reluctant leader, Red Ranger type. And he is so emotionally mature and has incredible insight into the danger of the situation they are currently in. But he still feel like a child. He loves video games, as a crush on a girl, doesn't like math homework, is interested in sports, and idolizes his big brother. He isn't just some one dimensional "leader" character and I have a feeling once I get to other books, I will feel the same way about the rest of the cast.
The only negative is that the books have very dated references. Which makes sense given that Applegate has stated that she took a lot of inspiration for the characters from tween magazines of the time. So I guess Animorphs is just a 90's time capsule in that way.
I also wanna shout out the audiobook. MacLeod Andrews does an AMAZING job with all the voices and emotions. I might pick up Warrior Cats just to listen to him read.
I finally decided to take a dive into Animorphs as a pick me up between books. I do not regret it. I can not wait to get to book two. 10/10 would recommend to all ages.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPRKzwgqvAA&t=1906s
Content Warnings
Minor: Body horror, Death, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and War
moonyreadsbystarlight's review
adventurous
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.5
This was hard to rate so the star rating is sort of subject to change. The writing style is cheesy and simple but the story is interesting and darker than I expected. Definitely going to check out book 2. I would probably have been into them if I'd read any as a kid. The descriptions of being in an animal's head, I would have loved
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Death of parent