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sarahdm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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? Yes
5.0
I didn't think I could love another character more than Tobias but here we are.
I think Marco is an incredible realistic look at childhood grief. The way that he copes with his trauma through humor is I think something a lot of kids can relate to. And while most of the time, Marco is masking his grief with humor, when he needs to be emotional the book allows these scenes to happen. There isn't pressure for Marco to tough it out or present everything is okay. And his friend is there for him in the way that he needs. Jake asking Marco what he needs from him and then giving them the space he desires while also letting him know that he will be there for him. I don't know but there is something genuine happening here.
As well, we are continuing to discuss the brutality of war. Applegate continues to not censor anything here. Don't you love listening to the thoughts of children as they are brutally ripped apart limb from limb, begging for their lives as they lose all sense of their self and conform to an animal like instinct to kill, knowing that death is upon them? Me too.
I really relate to Marco and I am really looking forward to his other books.
I think Marco is an incredible realistic look at childhood grief. The way that he copes with his trauma through humor is I think something a lot of kids can relate to. And while most of the time, Marco is masking his grief with humor, when he needs to be emotional the book allows these scenes to happen. There isn't pressure for Marco to tough it out or present everything is okay. And his friend is there for him in the way that he needs. Jake asking Marco what he needs from him and then giving them the space he desires while also letting him know that he will be there for him. I don't know but there is something genuine happening here.
As well, we are continuing to discuss the brutality of war. Applegate continues to not censor anything here. Don't you love listening to the thoughts of children as they are brutally ripped apart limb from limb, begging for their lives as they lose all sense of their self and conform to an animal like instinct to kill, knowing that death is upon them? Me too.
I really relate to Marco and I am really looking forward to his other books.
fishapods's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? Yes
3.5
giannidamaia's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
The Predator is still just as formulaic as the predecessors in this series, but here we take the momentum earned from The Message and follow it into the most interesting plot focused entry thus far. The twist that buttons this book’s climatic sequence might be telegraphed to some readers, but it doesn’t diminish its impact in propelling character development and adding dramatic stakes to the series. The villains in this series thus far have proven remarkably inept however which does not coincide with their impressive prowess that leads them to such power off the page. If these books are going to continue to throw children into the proverbial jaws of a lion only to have them escape so easily time and time again, the formula that was once so comfortable will become very grating. Fast.
thisislikebuffy's review against another edition
5.0
Body horror, grief, trauma, violence, and a shopping trip all in one book.
shiftycow1313's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
orsuros's review against another edition
4.0
I feel this one did a great job at upping the stakes while introducing even more new and complex things to worry about in future books. From start to finish, it managed to be intense and ended in a more meaningful way than some of the previous ones.
meemzter's review against another edition
5.0
"It’s scary. It’s so scary that sometimes you wish you could just go ahead and die because it’s easier than dealing with the terror"
THIS IS ONLY BOOK 5 AND WE'RE ALREADY AT THIS LEVEL OF WOE
This review contains spoilers
The first Marco book just delivers, okay? I think this is the best book yet. It is JAM-PACKED with content. The inaugural Ax-goes-to-the-mall scene. Lobster morphs. We are back at Chapman's! Ant morphs, which go down in history as a peak horrific moment in this series. Oh and btw these actual children are going to try and steal a bug fighter! Oops, they got captured by Visser Three and all is lost. WAIT MARCO'S MOM IS VISSER ONE. There is no more satisfying plot twist in history and you can quote me on that. Plus them being freed because of political infighting? Obsessed.
But this book also presents the JOY of being in Marco's POV. The other books have already mentioned that Marco is a shrewd, strategic thinker, but this book we actually get to see the inner-workings. We see that Marco's humor is an intentional and fully aware way of dealing with fear and sadness. We see Marco feel guilty for being too harsh but also being like "I said what I said." We see him feeling vulnerable and trying to hide it. Basically: Marco is just the best and this book is the indisputable evidence.
Marco's decision to leave the Animorphs has been heavily foreshadowed in every single book - he has been the most reluctant of the Animorphs from day 1 and very clear about his reasons why. But it still hits like a gut punch when he actually plans to leave. Obviously meeting Visser One changes that outcome, but I like to think that Marco wouldn't have been able to stay away even if he hadn't learned that his mom was alive.
Hidden gem scene: Rachel lashing out at Jessica in the cafeteria and Marco stepping in to break up the fight. I love their whole secret agent thing at school and love even more when they end up in each other's business because, well, they are all responsible for each other. Rachel/Marco are one of my favorite dynamics in the group anyway - they bicker constantly and are the loudest/most opinionated in the group but ultimately balance each other out.
Highlights: tobias riding around on marco's shoulder, visser one's hork-bajir speaking perfect english, cassie nuzzling jake rip, ax and tobias debating who has better bird vision, jake / marco being the most beautiful bffs
THIS IS ONLY BOOK 5 AND WE'RE ALREADY AT THIS LEVEL OF WOE
This review contains spoilers
The first Marco book just delivers, okay? I think this is the best book yet. It is JAM-PACKED with content. The inaugural Ax-goes-to-the-mall scene. Lobster morphs. We are back at Chapman's! Ant morphs, which go down in history as a peak horrific moment in this series. Oh and btw these actual children are going to try and steal a bug fighter! Oops, they got captured by Visser Three and all is lost. WAIT MARCO'S MOM IS VISSER ONE. There is no more satisfying plot twist in history and you can quote me on that. Plus them being freed because of political infighting? Obsessed.
But this book also presents the JOY of being in Marco's POV. The other books have already mentioned that Marco is a shrewd, strategic thinker, but this book we actually get to see the inner-workings. We see that Marco's humor is an intentional and fully aware way of dealing with fear and sadness. We see Marco feel guilty for being too harsh but also being like "I said what I said." We see him feeling vulnerable and trying to hide it. Basically: Marco is just the best and this book is the indisputable evidence.
Marco's decision to leave the Animorphs has been heavily foreshadowed in every single book - he has been the most reluctant of the Animorphs from day 1 and very clear about his reasons why. But it still hits like a gut punch when he actually plans to leave. Obviously meeting Visser One changes that outcome, but I like to think that Marco wouldn't have been able to stay away even if he hadn't learned that his mom was alive.
Hidden gem scene: Rachel lashing out at Jessica in the cafeteria and Marco stepping in to break up the fight. I love their whole secret agent thing at school and love even more when they end up in each other's business because, well, they are all responsible for each other. Rachel/Marco are one of my favorite dynamics in the group anyway - they bicker constantly and are the loudest/most opinionated in the group but ultimately balance each other out.
Highlights: tobias riding around on marco's shoulder, visser one's hork-bajir speaking perfect english, cassie nuzzling jake rip, ax and tobias debating who has better bird vision, jake / marco being the most beautiful bffs
missjuliamazing's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75