Reviews

Người Lạ by K.A. Applegate

Only show reviews with written explanations

kimbeey13's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.5

regi___'s review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.25

ihateprozac's review against another edition

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5.0

In this book, the Animorphs learn that the Yeerks access the Kandrona pool through a dressing room in The Gap, and exit through the cinema at the mall. When they attempt to infiltrate the pool and destroy the Kandrona, time suddenly stops. The Animorphs are introduced to a being called an Ellemist, an omnipotent and omnipresent creature that gives them a choice: stay on Earth and surely lose the war with the Yeerks, or travel to a new planet and start the human race anew.

The Ellemist shows them a future in which the Yeerks have won and Rachel is not only a Controller, but Visser Three (who has been promoted to Visser One)'s second in command. The Animorphs accept the Ellemist's offer, but realize that the Ellemist does not actually want to take them to this new Eden - he's trying to show them the location of the Kandrona without interfering directly! The Animorphs infiltrate a skyscraper downtown and destroy the Kandrona, which will cripple the Yeerks for the next few weeks. We learn that the Ellemist did not want the Animorphs to leave Earth to the Yeerks; it's too beautiful a planet to watch it go to waste.

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Oh man, I thought I loved The Capture, but I LOVED The Stranger! I just about piddled my pants in excitement when time stopped in the Yeerk pool and the Ellemist revealed himself. It reminded me of a potential storyline for Battlestar Galactica that I'd read about: ***SPOILERS FOR BATTLESTAR GALACTICA***the series creator had intended for God to appear on the algae planet and reveal that the Cylon Wars and history repeating had all been part of his plan. Ultimately the idea was scrapped because audiences probably would've hated it, but I adored the idea of this omnipotent and omnipresent being watching over the series, engineering every move. ***END SPOILERS***

I'd love to see what the Ellemists are like in their natural state, even though this book suggests they don't really have a natural state, they are everywhere and nowhere at the same time. They have to have some sort of shape and home though, they can't just be voices that hover around the universe! I'd love to know why it is that they can't interfere with other species - at least in angel texts we know they're rules imposed by God, but who presides over the Ellemists? Can an Ellemist die or procreate? Did they give the same choices to the Hork Bajir? Or not, because technically the Hork Bajir aren't going extinct under Yeerk rule?

Ugh, so much awesome in one kid's book.

goatpush's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

cellardoor10's review against another edition

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5.0

I would argue this is the best one yet - Rachel's narrative voice is really strong and authentic, and hearing her struggle with personal decisions when the group is presented with a huge macro decision, is a very effective format.